APEX'i FMIC Opinion Needed!

[gsxsoul]

Hi everybody, was just wondering what everyone thought about the APEXi FMIC? Pros Cons, any special ntos etc...also, was just wondering if anyone knows if i HAVE to remove my front bumper (the big plastic piece under the fumper cover), or if i can cut a hole in it to let the piping through and still keep some of it? Also does anyone have any pics of this or any FMIC setup on a 2G? Thanks.

 

[turbodsm18]

Unless you absolutely have your heart set on the Apexi FMIC, there are much better and much cheaper options out there.

Also the Apexi FMIC utilizes a long route piping setup where as a lot of new designs use shorte route piping

 

[denniegst]

here you go:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159016&highlight=obx

its the same thing as as the apexi fmic

 

[Street Surgeon]

I've seen both up close and they're hardly the "same" at all. Similar in looks..... From a distance, but definitely not the same.

 

[siceclipse]

You can either go old school DSM'er and get a SPEARCO core and choose your endtanks to make your own piping or you can go new school and get the SSAutochrome FMIC for 300 with piping.

 

[denniegst]

I've seen both up close and they're hardly the "same" at all. Similar in looks..... From a distance, but definitely not the same.

how so?

 

[Slow99x]

It's a great intercooler for small to medium size tubos (T-25 to GT30r). Anything bigger and it's not as effective. This is the reason that I decided to sell mine and upgrade after three years. The core is very sturdy and I have only a couple of bent fins after all this time. The long rout piping doesn't make that much of a difference because it is all mandrel bends.

 

[GSX]

It's a great intercooler for small to medium size tubos (T-25 to GT30r). Anything bigger and it's not as effective. This is the reason that I decided to sell mine and upgrade after three years. The core is very sturdy and I have only a couple of bent fins after all this time. The long rout piping doesn't make that much of a difference because it is all mandrel bends.

Really well said. My opinion exactly. And same reason I upgraded...

 

[daren_p]

I havent seen the price on the Apexi setup recently but I believe their not a cheep setup. If your getting a good deal on one, then I'd say ya grab it as its not a bad setup. But if your paying full price I would say there are better options out there. You can keep the inner bumper support you just need to cut a couple pieces out of it which is normal for more larger IC cores.

 

[mitsuclipsegsx]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-9...002QQitemZ120064502132QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

cant beat that price

 

[Slow99x]

Go ahead and support a rip off company then. What does it matter other than the original companies will go out of business and not be able to bring you quality parts that have had extensive r&d instead of just being slapped together.

 

[siceclipse]

Go ahead and support a rip off company then. What does it matter other than the original companies will go out of business and not be able to bring you quality parts that have had extensive r&d instead of just being slapped together.

Does the same go for DSMers that build their own 3" exhaust systems?
HKS charges 6-700 for their R&D
I get that # cause most people on here who build their own exhausts at a local muffler shop only get charged 3-400 TOPS for EVERYTHING

A full HKS or APEX'i exhaust is about $800... and then there is shipping.

 

[Slow99x]

How is that the same? DSMers that build their own stuff are not trying to infringe on copyrights to make money on a global scale. They build things for their own use and maybe a couple of other people. The problem is that you see these companies like APEX'i and Greddy and HKS as your enemy because you think they are overcharging you for a product that you can get somewhere else for a quarter of the price. As a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. These companies spend countless hours and dollars on making these parts that perform well enough for a race car but last long enough for a street car. These rip off companies could care less about the performance of your car. They just want to copy something well enough that the uneducated consumer will buy it over the real part due to price point. They have spent no time or effort in the research and development of these products and never will. Why do you think they are constantly changing their name on ebay. I have never bought anything from these companies for the sake of saving myself a couple of dollars and I never will.

 

[gsxsoul]

ok well Thanks for the feedback so far guys, but i just need to know a couple more things...
1. Can this intercooler work with anyother intercooler pipiong, such as GReddy?
2. does anyone have any pictures with this intercooler isntalled without the front bumper cover?

Thanks.

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

I'm running ~25 psi on a GT2871R (~41+ lb/min) and it works great. It flows through well too, so you're not blocking airflow to the radiator very much. It was really easy to install. I just removed the bumper support, it's useless for a crash above a few mph anyway.

2. does anyone have any pictures with this intercooler isntalled without the front bumper cover?

random apex fmic pics:

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before bumper support removal:

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Hope this helps you and anyone else who finds this thru the search.

 

[siceclipse]

that looks so good!

 

[daren_p]

I'm running ~25 psi on a GT2871R (~41+ lb/min) and it works great. It flows through well too, so you're not blocking airflow to the radiator very much. It was really easy to install. I just removed the bumper support, it's useless for a crash above a few mph anyway.



random apex fmic pics:



Hope this helps you and anyone else who finds this thru the search.

Im not sure if its just the angle but did you have the area thats notched out from where you removed the black part of the bumper filled in? If so what did they use to do this? One other thing did you completely remove the inner bumper when you removed the black piece over the opening, or did you just notch it out?

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

To cover that cut away area I used a sheet of metal and cut/shaped it to the right size and painted it to match. It forces all the air through the IC and radiator instead of escaping around and through the holes etc around the radiator. I just completley removed the bumper support piece, I don't know if it will fit with some cutting, but I didn't want it anyway. It's kinda heavy and is pretty much useless in any significant crash.

 

[marq95gst]

How is that the same? DSMers that build their own stuff are not trying to infringe on copyrights to make money on a global scale. They build things for their own use and maybe a couple of other people. The problem is that you see these companies like APEX'i and Greddy and HKS as your enemy because you think they are overcharging you for a product that you can get somewhere else for a quarter of the price. As a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. These companies spend countless hours and dollars on making these parts that perform well enough for a race car but last long enough for a street car. These rip off companies could care less about the performance of your car. They just want to copy something well enough that the uneducated consumer will buy it over the real part due to price point. They have spent no time or effort in the research and development of these products and never will. Why do you think they are constantly changing their name on ebay. I have never bought anything from these companies for the sake of saving myself a couple of dollars and I never will.

You mentioned Greddy. My Greddy type-s (not a knock off) is a leaking piece of crap. So much for their R&D. Alot of their price is not just for R&D, but money for the teams they sponsor, etc...one example is the notoriously hated "knock off" Evo3 gt 16g. I bought one last year and installed it inot my last car (95gst). Damn thing was awesome, and still boosting with the new owner. Some "knock off" companies do R&D (check out www.turbochagers.com article on the R&D for the evo3gt16g), and the only reason why they are knock off is because they don't put all of their energy into advertising, marketing, and so forth. They know that most car enthusiasts are on Ebay, so why not just sell there?

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

The Apex'i fmic kit has been around for a long time. Many DSMers have used it with different setups, from big turbos to small ones. Just like the Greddy 24R fmic kit. However, before those were really the most "Affordable" choices compared to spearco kits with short route that would run 1000+ compared to the greddy and apexi option which I believe are around $800.

Now for $300 you can get the ss autochrome fmic kit that has short route piping, bigger better core, and despite the company who brought it out, it has been proven by many of us here. So its really hard NOT to pick that because of the value/price/and positive testimonials.

The only thing I see that the APEX'i beats it on is being able to say you are sporting an APEX'i brand. But to DSMers, that doesn't seem to be important, unless you are throwing out brands of your tuning device, turbo, and internal components. If you must stay with apex'i get the knockoff, or if you want the most for your money read the gigantic ebay fmic thread.

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

The Apex'i fmic kit has been around for a long time. Many DSMers have used it with different setups, from big turbos to small ones. Just like the Greddy 24R fmic kit. However, before those were really the most "Affordable" choices compared to spearco kits with short route that would run 1000+ compared to the greddy and apexi option which I believe are around $800.

Now for $300 you can get the ss autochrome fmic kit that has short route piping, bigger better core, and despite the company who brought it out, it has been proven by many of us here. So its really hard NOT to pick that because of the value/price/and positive testimonials.

The only thing I see that the APEX'i beats it on is being able to say you are sporting an APEX'i brand. But to DSMers, that doesn't seem to be important, unless you are throwing out brands of your tuning device, turbo, and internal components. If you must stay with apex'i get the knockoff, or if you want the most for your money read the gigantic ebay fmic thread.

True stuff. I bought mine used so I got it for cheap. The Apex IC is the only one that has the delta fin shape which definitely makes a difference as far as airflow through itself and to the radiator. A number of people and some DSMers use the Apex design in road racing as it doesn't block air to the radiator as much as most FMICs.

 

[Slow99x]

Sorry to hear about your Type-S bypass valve. Not every mechanical peice of equipment can be perfect. The point is that by buing ebay junk you are supporting companies that don't care if your car is fast or reliable. If you don't either, go for it.

 

[gsxsoul]

Thanks alot of the input so far guys =) but does anyone know if i can use this intercooler with any other sorts of piping, such as GReddy...? and also, does anyone know if i can keep that black plastic bumper if i cut it properly? Thanks.

 

[chicagoavenger]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237530&highlight=lets+talk+ebay

Why spend all that cash on a Apexi or whatever these companies charge an ungodly ammount? Nothing but good reveiews on this and I believe the same core agp uses but charges $800+ somone correct me if I'm wrong. $295 shipped for short route piping and core it's a no brainer.

 

[Slow99x]

Yes you can keep the bumper support when you cut it. You can't use it with Greddy upper pipes unless you modify them. I don't know why you would anyway. The Greddy pipes are much smaller in diameter than the APEX'i. I used the Dejon Tool UIP because they match well except the flange to the throttle body was paper thin so I had to get a thicker one welded on. I'm getting rid of the entire setup because I have outgrown it.