Opinions on this Interooler condition from vendor

[fulanititoo8198]

Got this intercooler and It looks "Okay" but I'm not satisfied. It has a few dinged/torn/dented fins and gaps. So what I'd like to know is am I being to picky? Do they all generally come a little beat up? maybe because of assembly? Or should I talk to the vendor about a return/replacement. I understand intercoolers will get bent and dinged with time. BUT it's suppose to be BRAND NEW. So check it out let me know what you think.I spent 600+ on just this core by the way.

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[alex99gst]

I'm sure it will perform just the same as it would if it were immaculate, although that it not very good condition for a new core. I personally would talk to them about it if you spent that much money.

 

[Coup D E'Tat]

Can I ask what kind of core it is (I.E eBay special, Garrett, etc.)

 

[fulanititoo8198]

Can I ask what kind of core it is (I.E eBay special, Garrett, etc.)

Sure it's a garret core 24x12x3.5

 

[Newlogics]

It looks like this core has been hanging around vendor's shelf for too long, or has been packaged poorly. Even $200 Ebay FMICs arrive immaculate, so for $600 they could've excersized a bit more care.
I still think it's not worth the hastle of exchange. Let them know about the situation may be they'll give you some store credit or something.

 

[cfisher]

I wouldn't be happy about it and I'd be requesting a new one or a partial refund check.

 

[daren_p]

You guys really think it looks that bad? Its hard to tell from the blurry pics but alot of time the flash from a camera makes things look alot worse then they are. My first thought was it's not in perfect shape but its not in really poor shape either. In the first couple pics it looks like maybe more fins are "missing" then normal. Maybe you can get some better pics? Here is what my core looked like when new, it to had some bent fins etc.

Edit: Seems that I can't upload the pic to another post, its in my gallery if you want to check it out.

 

[cfisher]

The missing fins is not a big deal but it looks like he has alot of smashed and bent fins there. My ebay intercooler came in alot better condition than that. This could be on the shipping company as well but yes, if I paid $600+ I'd want a BRAND NEW 100% condition intercooler. Thats just me though.

 

[project_tsi]

Looks like an SBR race core, which I have bought before. And mine looked about like that when I bought it. I will tell you about all the SBR cores look that way. The fins are not there at the ends b/c that is where they welded the tanks to the core, and they probably melted them off during the welding. Mine had a few bent fins and scratches in it too, actually I found my turbo to be laying on top of the FMIC when I got it, but the markings were on the back so its not visible.

 

[boostedinaz]

While I can agree that performance wise it will most likely not make a difference I will say you should send it back. A beat up DSM may perform just as well as a clean DSM, but most people would rather buy the nice DSM.

I got my FMIC from Extreme PSI and it only had on or two bent fins. These were all fixed in a few seconds with a screwdriver. Would you mind posting pics of how it was packaged?

 

[fulanititoo8198]

You guys really think it looks that bad? Its hard to tell from the blurry pics but alot of time the flash from a camera makes things look alot worse then they are. My first thought was it's not in perfect shape but its not in really poor shape either. In the first couple pics it looks like maybe more fins are "missing" then normal. Maybe you can get some better pics? Here is what my core looked like when new, it to had some bent fins etc.

Edit: Seems that I can't upload the pic to another post, its in my gallery if you want to check it out.

It doesn't look that bad for a 3-400 dollar core I agree, but for what I paid I was expecting better you know? And actually I took those pictures with my phone that doesn't have flash. If I had a good camera you could REALLY see it.The main thing that bothers me are CRUSHED fins. I can't straighten them like bent ones. I checked out your picture can't really tell because it's far away, looks good though.

 

[daren_p]

It doesn't look that bad for a 3-400 dollar core I agree, but for what I paid I was expecting better you know? And actually I took those pictures with my phone that doesn't have flash. If I had a good camera you could REALLY see it.The main thing that bothers me are CRUSHED fins. I can't straighten them like bent ones. I checked out your picture can't really tell because it's far away, looks good though.

Ya I know where your coming from. My core is probably right in that price range as well as it was a $1000 kit (just checked it out & its a $632 core ). Like I said it did have some bent fins & some small crushed areas but overall your looks to be worse. I used a screw driver to pull out any crushed fins & then I took one of those combs that they use on home airconditioner fins etc & used it to straighten any that were out of shape. If you feel there is more damage then normal I guess your best bet would be to contact the vendor & see if they will exchange it or like others have mentioned give you some money back.

 

[turbodsm18]

I think you should talk to the vendor, but if you think about it, once you install it and go driving, its going to get beat up anyways.

 

[fulanititoo8198]

Hey guys just to close this thread up , I contacted the vendor and they didn't do anything about it. Haven't even replied, its been over a week. W/e lesson learned not ordering from them again. PLEASE FEEL FREE to message me if you would like to know what company. Either way I'm going to be throwing this I/C on shortly.

 

[GSX]

PM me if you would like to know what company.

PM sent. As others have said already, IC cores will show signs of wear very quickly so don't let it bother you too much.

Thanks,

 

[prostreetdsmx1]

it is something that ia hard to get around bud. No matter what you do the core moves around a bit and the fins bend very easily. It won't affect anything as far as performance and the fins can be straightened out pretty easily.

 

[m1nd64m3]

That sucks, you pay 600 for an intercooler and its all dinged up. I would return it and get another if I were you.

 

[BREW]

I was placed in the same situation when recieving my core. I was upset but I managed to straighten the fins out to suit my anal attention to detail. You have to remember one thing though, you can straighten out every fin on that cooler, make it look better than brand new, the first rock/debris on the road that jumps up and pings the core will make all that hard work all for nothing.

CIRCUMSTANCE:

I'd rather have a core that looked semi worn, with the promise of protection from outside elements, than a pristine core that was subject to damage from road debris. **Understand that both of these situations are proposterous, but I think you understand what I'm trying to say. Damage is inevitable.**

With that being said, I can be one ignorant son of a bi***, so I painted mine black to try and avoid said inevitabilities

 

[99gst_racer]

I was placed in the same situation when recieving my core. I was upset but I managed to straighten the fins out to suit my anal attention to detail. You have to remember one thing though, you can straighten out every fin on that cooler, make it look better than brand new, the first rock/debris on the road that jumps up and pings the core will make all that hard work all for nothing.

CIRCUMSTANCE:

I'd rather have a core that looked semi worn, with the promise of protection from outside elements, than a pristine core that was subject to damage from road debris. **Understand that both of these situations are proposterous, but I think you understand what I'm trying to say. Damage is inevitable.**

I agree.


If you're upset about the 10 bent fins that it has upon arrival, I could only imagine how pissed you'll be 2 months from now when there are 60 bent fins from daily driving and average road debris.

And one year from now you will not care about every little bent fin anymore because you will realize that damage is inevitable and it will not affect it's ability to function.

I agree that you would not want to recieve damaged goods, but a line must be drawn. I would cinsider that core to be in fine shape and not worth any time and effort mailing back for a replacement. Just my .02 though.

 

[DSM90AWD]

I agree that the minor cosmetic fin damage though aesthetaically displeasing will not have any real impact on this cores performance.

I would however strongly suggest hooking the core up to an strong shopvac to such out any debris therin and then pressure test it to 30 or so PSI to make sure nothing leaks

 

[fulanititoo8198]

I get what you guys are saying, but like I previously mentioned there are "crushed" fins. As in you can't straigthen them. But none the less I get your points, Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Newlogics]

I get what you guys are saying, but like I previously mentioned there are "crushed" fins. As in you can't straigthen them. But none the less I get your points, Thanks for all the replies.

That's exactly what I was gonna say. Many fins look to be shited, not just bent.
Besides, I had my FMIC on for over a year and I have a total of 2 bent fins.
Chicken wire does a great job at protecting the FMIC.

 

[fulanititoo8198]

A little update I put the intercooler on, no leaking, which I didn't expect eitherway. I straightened the fins that could be straightened as much as I could with tweezers. Other than the company never replied and... I'll leave it at that. Like I said feel free to message me for more info.

Later