Unitronic Intercooler Upgrade Kit (15-20 A3, 15-23 S3, 16+ TT, 15-21 GTI/Golf, 19+ GLI)
Product Details
Description
The UH009-ICA Intercooler Upgrade Kit for 1.8/2.0TSI MQB engines will now be offered exclusively with a high-temperature black coat finish instead of the outgoing raw finish.
Unitronic’s direct OEM replacement bar and plate intercooler provides a significant reduction in charge air temperatures to ensure peak performance is achieved and resistance to heat-soak to allow for peak performance to be sustained.
- Highly efficient bar & plate intercooler core, constructed of T5052 Aluminum
- Drastically reduces charge air temperature for cooler, more dense air
- Significantly more resistant to heat-soak
- Over 60% more volume than OEM intercooler (Unitronic Core Dimensions: 23.5” x 2” x 16.5”)
- T6061 Cast Aluminum end tanks
- Direct OEM replacement; no bumper, radiator support, or other trimming required
Core & End Tanks
Unitronic’s bar and plate intercooler core is constructed of T5052 Aluminum featuring a unique staggered and louvered fin configuration to maximize efficiency, significantly reducing charge air temperatures allowing for cooler, more dense air to be ingested by the engine; ultimately resulting in an increase in engine performance. When intake air temperatures reach a specific threshold, the engine control unit begins to compensate to account for the air temperature, resulting in a decrease in performance. Unitronic’s core has 64% more volume than stock measuring 23.5” x 2” x 16.5”, allowing for a greater volume of air to exchange heat, which, combined with a proper fin configuration, allows for maximum efficiency and reduction in heat-soak thresholds without producing a significant pressure drop.
Utilizing its 2015 VW® GTI® for research and development provided Unitronic with a platform in-house to run through the testing. Testing was done on its in-house Dynapack hub dyno, using our standard cooling fans aligned with the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle’s front bumper/fascia was fully affixed for all tests and the appropriate data acquisition tools were used to collect pre- and post-intercooler air temperatures. All data was collected on the same day, starting with the OEM intercooler testing first. Temperature probes were tapped into the inlets and outlets of both the OEM and Unitronic Intercooler core end tanks. Ambient air temperature varied slightly throughout the day between 20-22 degrees Celsius (68-72 degrees Fahrenheit). Testing consisted of 9 consecutive dyno pulls with a 20 second pull and a 15 second cool down period in between runs, with both the OEM and Unitronic Intercoolers to collect inlet and outlet air temperatures to provide data on cooling abilities, efficiency, and resistance to heat soak compared to the OEM unit.
Despite the ambient and inlet temperatures being higher, Unitronic’s Intercooler Upgrade Kit provided significantly lower intercooler outlet air temperatures consistently throughout the consecutive pulls, resisting heat soak, unlike the OEM unit.
The graph below shows the Inlet and Outlet Air Temperatures for both the OEM and Unitronic Intercoolers, individually for each of the 9 runs. Once again, despite the higher ambient temp during the Unitronic Intercooler runs, and increased inlet temperatures, Unitronic’s upgrade provided significant reductions in outlet air temperatures resulting in a cooler, denser charge air being ingested by the engine, resulting in increased performance. It’s resistance to heat soak means that the core retains its cooling abilities, even though the most rigorous of conditions.
Entering and exiting the core is an important aspect and should not be forgotten about. With implications regarding airflow as well as fitment, the end tanks are also something that Unitronic went through many working prototypes and production samples prior to it being approved for production. Unitronic’s T6061 cast Aluminum end tanks are designed with tolerances of +/- 0.020” to ensure perfect fitment across all of our production units, paying very close attention to its multiple OEM mounting points with the OEM radiator/support, A/C Condenser, and lines constraints. Additionally, sufficient spacing between the A/C condenser and radiator was ensured to limit unwanted heat transfer between the elements. Inlet and outlet design has also been optimized to ensure smooth airflow through the intercooler and feature a “bead roll” to ensure the charge hoses stay securely affixed.
INSTRUCTIONS
Let’s face it, a comprehensive instruction manual is worth its weight in gold, so like virtually all of Unitronic’s Performance Hardware, a complete installation instruction guide is included for your convenience and made available in both paper and digital formats.
Product Video
Product Features
- Black coated finish
- Machined Inlet & Outlet to properly secure the silicone boost
- Highly efficient bar & plate intercooler core, constructed of T5052 Aluminum
- Drastically reduces charge air temperature for cooler, more dense air
- Significantly more resistant to heat-soak
- Over 60% more volume than OEM intercooler (Unitronic Core Dimensions: 23.5” x 2” x 16.5”)
- T6061 Cast Aluminum end tanks
- Direct OEM replacement; no bumper, radiator support, or other trimming required
installation
warranty
Lifetime Warranty on Hardware & 15-day Satisfaction Guarantee on Performance Software
Customer Pictures
Customer Reviews
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Excellent
First impressions out of the box, this intercooler is very well built and looks great.
Installation took a little over 2 hours start to finish, and it fits absolutely perfect. Zero modification needed on anything.
Haven’t driven the car enough at the time of writing this to comment on how it performs.
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A "must have" upgrade.
Fit and finish on this intercooler is amazing. Great manufacturing quality. Bring on the hot southern summer temps!
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Great product
Quality piece and this install can be done by yourself. The pictured directions are horrid. Look for better directions online. I am admittedly a novice so I needed all the help I could get. I exclusively order from Modded Euros whenever possible. They ship the fastest and have the best customer service. Thanks again ME
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Unitronic Intercooler Upgrade Kit for my '15 GTI SE
Doing a build on my '15 2-door 6-speed GTI SE. After doing a fair bit of research, I decided to go with Unitronics, as they offer basically what is a bumper to bumper solution. So I've got their intercooler, intake, turbo-back exhaust and stage 2 ECU upgrade. The intercooler install wasn't hard, just nitpicky. Would definitely consul having another person there; to get the bumper off/back on cleanly and for help getting the intercooler lined up as it's going in. Lining the a/c condenser up was a pain, the guides on the intercooler are part of casting and we noticed as the condenser was going back in the condenser guides were not opened up enough to allow the condenser to slide down. We had to very carefully pry these open with a screwdriver, the whole time worried they were going to break off. Other than that, it's basically all about taking the front end of your car apart and putting it back together. No real big deal. I haven't flashed the ECU yet as I'm waiting on a Stage 2 DKM clutch, but with my Neuspeed Power Module, Neuspeed Sport Shocks and 25mm rear sway bar, the car is so much fun to drive! Can't wait to do the flash after I get the new clutch in.
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Awesome intercooler
This was installed on a 16 golf r, everything fit perfect, very tight fit, zero modification needed, heavy brick but all quality not sure if the Apr or Wager would gave been worth the extra $$$, moddedeuro was the best site they gave free shipping and they ship it quick. Usually on these heavy items you dont get shipping @ other sites. I started the install by myself but putting the intercooler back was a pain without extra muscle. Dont forget to check all plugs before you start engine or you'll pull a CEL. Car feels really nice this was so worth it like a stage 1 tune was, the car just wanna go. Just get it if you'rethinking about it save money skipp the big brand names.
Thanks moddedeuro for free shipping.. -
Fits pretty well, feels great, but directions SUCK!
Actually grabbed directions for installing the CTS Intercooler for my car (2016 A3).
Said was supposed to fit my car but the only install directions on this site or Unitronic site were for the VW GTI I believe.
Removing the bumper was an issue because of 2 screws that were not discussed in any directions ... until we found the install directions for the CTS Intercooler install for my particular model!!
Overall, happy but very disappointed in the complete solution provided by Unitronic!
4 stars for the fit (had to cut off some metal), 2 stars for the directions provided, 5 stars for the feel of the car after installed. -
Unitronic Intercooler
Great intercooler, no more heat soak. Install wasn't to bad if you've done so work on cars before. I wouldn't recommend installing yourself if you're not fairly good with this sort of stuff. I'd say it requires an intermediate level of skill not really for a novice. Took about 4-5 hrs. A professional could do it faster I imagine. Anyway the actual intercooler is great and moddedeuros.com is a good solid company to deal with. Good customer service fast shipping.
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Great Product!
Installed on my MK7 with zero fitment issues. My P3 gauge reads between 5-10 above ambient temperature once installed. Very happy with the results so far.
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added this to my 2015 GTI when i got tuned and can def see the difference. nice quality kit