TMIC- is it worth it?

djza2u1

Member
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08 Black MS3
I am still on the wire about purchasing a TMIC. I would but the SU model but i dont know if it would be worth it. I know i can use the cobb ap tune for it but i heard that there is not that big of a performance differance.

Please chime in
 
....not much of a difference???? The stock IC is small and restrictive. The upgraded one will cool the charged air more effectively as well as allow more air flow through.
 
The next mod that i want is performant driven.
So i might go the route of the PG reworked Turbo.
I just dont know if i need to "beef" any other compoinent up before getting the upgrade.
 
tmic is way easyier to install then fmic if thats another option your on the fence about.
 
tmic is way easyier to install then fmic if thats another option your on the fence about.

I 110% agree with you i had to help my friend with a speed 6 and it took almost 12 hours to convert it FMIC i cut my hands in so many places

i highly recommend a TMIC then a FMIC

(yippy)
 
I 110% agree with you i had to help my friend with a speed 6 and it took almost 12 hours to convert it FMIC i cut my hands in so many places

i highly recommend a TMIC then a FMIC

(yippy)

So your saying the 12hour labour and skin/blood loss was not worth the outcome.... I hear good things about the FMIC....
 
not when the gains from a TMIC (1 hour of sweet, no blood, no tears) are comprable to a FMIC
 
I'm thinking about the same thing, I just got done reading the other thread on SU TMIC install and I'm really leaning forward to getting one. I only wanna do easy install mods. Sounds like everyone says it is worth it.
 
Heat soak is SOOO easy with the TMIC.... FMIC won't really suffer from it.... That's a big advantage in the summer.
 
Yes it might be worth it, but the reworked PG stock turbo nets a 30 WHP gain. For about the same price.
 
In most cases where a car comes with a TMIC in its stock configuration:

FMIC>aftermarket TMIC>stock TMIC.

If you're planning a bigger turbo, I would think an upgraded IC would be a good idea. If you try to push too much air thru any IC, you'll suffer from hotter intake air charge. And with a TMIC's propensity to suffer from heat soak in the first place, why push it?
 
A FMIC (for most) is just not worth the cost or hassle. If pressed, I think most people would admit that part of their reason for getting one had to do with looks. That's just lame in my book. After all, the sleeper look is part of the appeal of the MS3. But if someone is truly dropping $1500+ (parts and labor) on a FMIC (THEN a boatload of $ on an upgraded turbo and various other mods to make the FMIC 'worth it') then... yeah... maybe that makes sense. Not quite sure why anyone would even NEED that kind of output... from a FWD no less but no matter. There does come a point where one needs to think about how much money they're putting in and whether it might've been better to simply buy a 'better' car (or at least a car more in line with what they're looking for) But I digress...

I too am on the fence about the SU TMIC I've heard a lot of good things but until I see a dyno, I'm not convinced. It's human nature to get all giddy about a fairly larger purchase... By telling the world how awesome it is, you in turn feel better about dropping that amount of coin. That's not to say the praise isn't legit. Often it is... but you have to take it with a grain of salt. #s dont' lie
 
I don't know..... heat soak friggin sucks. I wish they had a FMIC for the CX7, I'd be all over it. Our engines perform like they're worthless when they're heat soaked... and it doesn't take much to get it to that point.
 
as far as when you evaluate all the factors the tmic is a way better bargin for this car. factors like time to install effort to install, cost of parts, performance gains. unless your trying to make big # and thats all you care about, but as chico said if all you care about is # the ms3, ms6, cx7 probably wasnt the best bet.
granted heat soak sucks but with upgraded tmic there is more thermal mass so takes longer to heat soak and the more efficent heat dissapation factors it will relive the eccess heat as soon as air flow returns.
 
any intercooler is better than the stock one. hows that for a gross oversimplification of the argument? i see talk about the reworked turbo. i would recommend a better intercooler with the turbo. when you are pushing more volume from the turbine, its nice to have a core that flows enough and cool enough to match.
 
A FMIC (for most) is just not worth the cost or hassle. If pressed, I think most people would admit that part of their reason for getting one had to do with looks. That's just lame in my book. After all, the sleeper look is part of the appeal of the MS3. But if someone is truly dropping $1500+ (parts and labor) on a FMIC (THEN a boatload of $ on an upgraded turbo and various other mods to make the FMIC 'worth it') then... yeah... maybe that makes sense. Not quite sure why anyone would even NEED that kind of output... from a FWD no less but no matter. There does come a point where one needs to think about how much money they're putting in and whether it might've been better to simply buy a 'better' car (or at least a car more in line with what they're looking for)

to most people, its all about the fun in being able to take this car and figuring out the best ways/combinations to make it look better and go faster. its a great hobby. yea everyone knows you can just go get a faster car for the same amount of money you end up putting into this thing, but where's the fun in that? then they would just get bored with a "better car".
 
i dont think its worth it cause u already have a tmic. for 3-400 bucks more your getting the best possible cooling solution
 

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