how to tell if intercooler is stock or aftermarket

vr4spd · 08-13-2014, 10:11 AM

I recently had the water pump replaced and the shop charged me an extra 120 dollars labor insisting that my intercooler was aftermarket and required extra labor to remove. To my knowledge the car was 100 percent stock when I purchased it. Is there a way to quickly determine if it's one or the other.

jlombar5 · 08-13-2014, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vr4spd

I recently had the water pump replaced and the shop charged me an extra 120 dollars labor insisting that my intercooler was aftermarket and required extra labor to remove. To my knowledge the car was 100 percent stock when I purchased it. Is there a way to quickly determine if it's one or the other.

they are full of shi***** it takes about 5 minutes max to remove a IC.... dont give them that $120. The IC will be bigger..much.. also it probably wont have a plastic piece on it. that is one way to tell. The depth of it will be very shallow as well.

Bimmer Barney · 08-13-2014, 10:14 AM

Plastic end tanks?

Jklad · 08-13-2014, 10:14 AM

120 bucks? What did they charge you $60 per extra bolt or something?

Seymour Boost · 08-13-2014, 10:14 AM

If it looks like a POS with cheap plastic endtanks, it's OEM.

vr4spd · 08-13-2014, 10:18 AM

Well unfortunately my gf picked up the car and I didn't have the opportunity debate with the tech. However he did mention that the stock intercooler was "plastic" assume he was reffering to the end tanks.is there a easy way to get a quick
view of the end tanks?
t

BlackBB6 · 08-13-2014, 10:21 AM

Do you have a picture from the front?

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 08-13-2014, 10:59 AM

Black Plastic End tanks. The shop is full of bologna because the stock is hard to remove. The aftermarket is actually easier!

Pop the hood and take a look or look through the front of the bumper.

If you can't tell after that then you need to remove the bottom under belly partially.

mike@x-ph.com · 08-13-2014, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seymour Boost

If it looks like a POS with cheap plastic endtanks, it's OEM.

OP take a picture of the FMIC and we can easily identify it.

v1nc86 · 08-13-2014, 02:10 PM

Share a pic and we will tell you!

import36 · 08-13-2014, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

Black Plastic End tanks. The shop is full of bologna because the stock is hard to remove. The aftermarket is actually easier!

Pop the hood and take a look or look through the front of the bumper.

If you can't tell after that then you need to remove the bottom under belly partially.

^THIS

brewnami · 08-13-2014, 02:23 PM

Yeah, aftermarket is harder to remove due to the clips it uses on those rubber hoses. In fact, they're one time clips that you have to break to remove and half the time, people inadvertently dig into the stock rubber hose when trying to break those clips rendering those useless. Aftermarket intercoolers use single T bolt clamps, and speaking for the ER FMIC I installed on my car, uses the same center mounting point as well. I would say it would take half the time to remove my ER as it would the stock one. What you are saying is the primary reason I learned how to work on my own car. I don't have to worry about shady shop owners trying to BS there way into taking more of my money.

chepy24 · 08-13-2014, 02:24 PM

wow do not pay that it seriously does not take more than 5 min to remove stock or aftermarket (assuming undertray is already off and car in the air) and 5 min is with a couple sipps of a beer

stanlalee · 08-13-2014, 04:26 PM

So a stock IC takes what 30 minutes on jack stands by yourself to take out (first hand experience). I'm guessing even if an aftermarket one took longer it would take what 32 minutes? Either way intercooler removal is not labor intensive so to jack up the rate just doesn't make sense.

Tiago@VRSF · 08-13-2014, 04:51 PM

They're definitely taking advantage of you, I wouldn't pay the difference.

335NJ · 08-13-2014, 05:07 PM

CHECKERED · 08-13-2014, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335NJ

pics of GF also

Rule 22

j1gilles · 08-13-2014, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHECKERED

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335NJ

pics of GF also

Rule 22

+1
Pictures of girlfriends are always required...wives,..not so much

vr4spd · 08-13-2014, 09:28 PM

I post some in the morning. It's difficult to snap a decent pic with the plastic mesh in place

CHECKERED · 08-13-2014, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vr4spd

I post some in the morning. It's difficult to snap a decent pic with the plastic mesh in place

you keep your GF in a plastic mesh...thats kinda messed up

bigdaddycane · 08-14-2014, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHECKERED

you keep your GF in a plastic mesh...thats kinda messed up

yeah, they stay fresh that way. surprised you didn't know that

v1nc86 · 08-14-2014, 07:54 AM

Pic or didnt happen - intercooler
Pic or didnt happen - girlfriend

haha

08-13-2014, 10:11 AM	#1
vr4spd Private First Class 7 Rep 132 Posts Drives: E93 335is Sapphire Black Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	how to tell if intercooler is stock or aftermarket I recently had the water pump replaced and the shop charged me an extra 120 dollars labor insisting that my intercooler was aftermarket and required extra labor to remove. To my knowledge the car was 100 percent stock when I purchased it. Is there a way to quickly determine if it's one or the other.
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08-13-2014, 10:14 AM	#3
Bimmer Barney Lieutenant Colonel 1250 Rep 1,502 Posts Drives: 2011.5 E90M ZCP Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California iTrader: (4)	Plastic end tanks? __________________ 2011.5 E90 M3 DCT ZCP Slicktop
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08-13-2014, 10:14 AM	#4
Jklad Lieutenant Colonel 421 Rep 1,643 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Palatine, IL iTrader: (0)	120 bucks? What did they charge you $60 per extra bolt or something? __________________ 2007 E92 335i MT
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08-13-2014, 10:14 AM	#5
Seymour Boost Private 3 Rep 80 Posts Drives: '09 335i xDrive Join Date: May 2014 Location: Buffalo, NY iTrader: (0)	If it looks like a POS with cheap plastic endtanks, it's OEM.
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08-13-2014, 10:18 AM	#6
vr4spd Private First Class 7 Rep 132 Posts Drives: E93 335is Sapphire Black Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Well unfortunately my gf picked up the car and I didn't have the opportunity debate with the tech. However he did mention that the stock intercooler was "plastic" assume he was reffering to the end tanks.is there a easy way to get a quick view of the end tanks? t
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08-13-2014, 10:21 AM	#7
BlackBB6 Lieutenant 65 Rep 554 Posts Drives: E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Dallas iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 335i [8.00]	Do you have a picture from the front?
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08-13-2014, 10:59 AM	#8
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	Black Plastic End tanks. The shop is full of bologna because the stock is hard to remove. The aftermarket is actually easier! Pop the hood and take a look or look through the front of the bumper. If you can't tell after that then you need to remove the bottom under belly partially.
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08-13-2014, 02:10 PM	#10
v1nc86 Captain 25 Rep 633 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	Share a pic and we will tell you! __________________ YouTube \| 335xi Best 1/4 mile: 12.3@110 MPH \| 335xi Top speed: 0-270 kph (165+ mph)
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08-13-2014, 02:23 PM	#12
brewnami Major 100 Rep 1,040 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 335i M Sport Coupe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (5)	Yeah, aftermarket is harder to remove due to the clips it uses on those rubber hoses. In fact, they're one time clips that you have to break to remove and half the time, people inadvertently dig into the stock rubber hose when trying to break those clips rendering those useless. Aftermarket intercoolers use single T bolt clamps, and speaking for the ER FMIC I installed on my car, uses the same center mounting point as well. I would say it would take half the time to remove my ER as it would the stock one. What you are saying is the primary reason I learned how to work on my own car. I don't have to worry about shady shop owners trying to BS there way into taking more of my money. __________________ 2009 335i M Sport coupe, BSM with black/aluminum interior, 6MT, JB4 G5, MDH Backend Flash, Walbro 255 inline LPFP, VRSF Inlets, BMS 3" catless DP's, Borla Aggressive catback, ER FMIC, ER charge pipe, Tial BOV, BMS 2.3 gal Meth Kit, BMS Sport Oil Cooler Valve, Ported CDV, RB PCV, Cyba ram air scoops, Status Gruppe SRS coilovers, ECS trailing arms, Forgestar F14 SDC.
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08-13-2014, 02:24 PM	#13
chepy24 Captain 30 Rep 780 Posts Drives: 2009 alpine white 335i xdrive Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: denver iTrader: (0)	wow do not pay that it seriously does not take more than 5 min to remove stock or aftermarket (assuming undertray is already off and car in the air) and 5 min is with a couple sipps of a beer
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08-13-2014, 04:26 PM	#14
stanlalee Major 261 Rep 1,093 Posts Drives: 07' E92 335i manual Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Newport News, Va iTrader: (0)	So a stock IC takes what 30 minutes on jack stands by yourself to take out (first hand experience). I'm guessing even if an aftermarket one took longer it would take what 32 minutes? Either way intercooler removal is not labor intensive so to jack up the rate just doesn't make sense.
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08-13-2014, 04:51 PM	#15
Tiago@VRSF 2095 Rep 43,350 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doral, FL iTrader: (99) Garage List 2014 F30 328xi [0.00] 2015 F82 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 Ducati 1199 Pa ... [0.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	They're definitely taking advantage of you, I wouldn't pay the difference.
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08-13-2014, 05:07 PM	#16
335NJ Colonel 533 Rep 2,872 Posts Drives: 2008 335i 6MT E90 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NJ/Philadelphia Suburbs iTrader: (1)	__________________ *BSM E90 6MT*-JB4 G5 ISO-BMS DCI-Golf-Tee Mod-Hankook S1N2 Non-RFT-ER Chargepipe/TiAL BOV-E40 blend-VRSF V2's-M3 CDV-MHD/JB4 FLASH-VRSF 5" STEPPED FMIC
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08-13-2014, 09:28 PM	#19
vr4spd Private First Class 7 Rep 132 Posts Drives: E93 335is Sapphire Black Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I post some in the morning. It's difficult to snap a decent pic with the plastic mesh in place
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08-14-2014, 07:54 AM	#22
v1nc86 Captain 25 Rep 633 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	Pic or didnt happen - intercooler Pic or didnt happen - girlfriend haha __________________ YouTube \| 335xi Best 1/4 mile: 12.3@110 MPH \| 335xi Top speed: 0-270 kph (165+ mph)
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