[Mikey335]

So I've been in the market for a new intercooler for a while now. I saw that Wagner is having some of their intercoolers highly discounted(I was told that they are discontinuing the lines for newer versions). It was 490 down from 690

I purchased the Evo 1 Performance. It's 5" stepped.

I finally received it and I was honestly shocked with the build quality. The welds all look awful, huge blobs of start/stop points as well as not being remotely straight. Very surprised for a "higher end" brand of intercoolers.

I was wondering who makes them for Wagner? Because some of the Chinese ebay ones look better.


It's now making me think I should return it and just buy another brand, Any suggestions?

[Bimmer_Engineer]

What does the fin spacing look like? I bought an eBay one for $215 that looks exactly like that except the welds are nicer...fin spacing was about 12 per inch...

[Mikey335]

Looks like..... 12-14?

[Bimmer_Engineer]

I would send it back...just me...it looks like ray Charles built it...

[threetirtyfive]

No that's just mig welds as opposed to tig. Not all welds look the same.

[Mikey335]

Originally Posted by threetirtyfive

No that's just mig welds as opposed to tig. Not all welds look the same.

I'll agree with you that mig and tig look different. But It doesnt matter if its mig or tig welded. If you have pools of weld upwards of 1/2" in spots all over, it's a bad weld. If the beads aren't even remotely straight, it's a bad weld.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

ETS intercoolers have picture perfect welds. Made in the US.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

ETS intercoolers have picture perfect welds. Made in the US.

That’s a nice looking intercooler for sure...

[Mikey335]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

ETS intercoolers have picture perfect welds. Made in the US.

If you can get me a 5" ets for the price I paid for this wagner let me know and I'll buy right now

[WatchWolf34]

LOVE my ETS - install was a beaut too.

[snedanator]

ETS is excellent. And as is Pinnacles PSP 600ic.... I have it and it's beautifuly made.... I'm a welder myself... and the welds on this are probably the best I've seen on an intercooler. Perfect fitment too and high density fins as well and a great price to. A well fabricated piece of kit 👌. Probably $400 cheaper than the ETS. And identical 🙂

[IllSic_Design]

Even though it's not Tig welded, those are still some sloppy and lazy mig welds. I could most likely throw down some better mig welds with my eyes closed(seriously).

I would send it back and go with someone else, like the cheaper and just as capable VRSF models. They have new cores with better fin spacing, although their welds are also not always the greatest.

[snedanator]

Yeah VRSF are good as well. Brilliant value....and with high density cores as well. 🙂

[feuer]

Welds look OK to me and anyhow why does it matter so much who they look like especially when they won't show once mounted. I would care about fitment and core density, not welds so much.

[9krpmrx8]

I always wondered how the Wagner compared to the cheap ones. I got mine with no name brand on Amazon for like $250.00, IAT's are great even in this 100F weather at 20+psi.

[nekbreaker]

Originally Posted by feuer

Welds look OK to me and anyhow why does it matter so much who they look like especially when they won't show once mounted. I would care about fitment and core density, not welds so much.

I was just thinking the same

[nekbreaker]

Originally Posted by Mikey335

So I've been in the market for a new intercooler for a while now. I saw that Wagner is having some of their intercoolers highly discounted(I was told that they are discontinuing the lines for newer versions). It was 490 down from 690

I purchased the Evo 1 Performance. It's 5" stepped.

I finally received it and I was honestly shocked with the build quality. The welds all look awful, huge blobs of start/stop points as well as not being remotely straight. Very surprised for a "higher end" brand of intercoolers.

I was wondering who makes them for Wagner? Because some of the Chinese ebay ones look better.


It's now making me think I should return it and just buy another brand, Any suggestions?

I got the same fmic i like how's well made maybe the weld doesn't look nice I didn't care nobody will see it anyway works good does the job

[nekbreaker]

Originally Posted by nekbreaker

I got the same fmic i like how's well made maybe the weld doesn't look nice I didn't care nobody will see it anyway works good does the job

here's a pic of mine

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8

I always wondered how the Wagner compared to the cheap ones. I got mine with no name brand on Amazon for like $250.00, IAT's are great even in this 100F weather at 20+psi.

Link?

[Mikey335]

Originally Posted by nekbreaker

I was just thinking the same

Because I bought a product with an expectation of quality. Yes you're right welds wont been seen when installed. But wagner is known for having high quality products. And I felt these welds that look like they were done by a monkey aren't a sign of quality.

[nekbreaker]

Originally Posted by Mikey335

Because I bought a product with an expectation of quality. Yes you're right welds wont been seen when installed. But wagner is known for having high quality products. And I felt these welds that look like they were done by a monkey aren't a sign of quality.

mine I have say did not look like your at all the welds where not the perfect ones but they did not came close to yours that's why I got this fmic I like wagner quality

[snedanator]

Originally Posted by Mikey335

Because I bought a product with an expectation of quality. Yes you're right welds wont been seen when installed. But wagner is known for having high quality products. And I felt these welds that look like they were done by a monkey aren't a sign of quality.

Its a shame to cause Wagner used to be top notch when it comes to quality.... not any more by the looks of it. ..