Mk7/7.5 GTI ARM Motorsports Front Mount Intercooler!

Today, we installed the ARM Motorsports Mk7/7.5 GTI Front Mount Intercooler on Tyler's Mk7.5 GTI! During the time of filming this video, the FMIC was not yet available however they are now live on their website! Install was fairly easy and can be done within a couple of hours! Recommended to have some friends help you out just to properly fit the FMIC. Hope you enjoy the video and as always we'll answer any comments or questions in the description below! We'll see ya in the next one!
Mk7/7.5 ARM Motorsports FMIC:
www.armmotorsp...
Songs Used:
Sincere Love - Joakim Karud
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Shine - Joakim Karud
/ shine
Spring Light - Joakim Karud
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Firecracker - Quiet Bison
/ firecracker
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ARM Motorsports:
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[@DubChasers]

***CORRECTION*** ARM Motorsports' Mk7/7.5 FMIC is now available on their website!!! Link in video description

[@mikeboba]

Thanks for posting this. This was a huge help during my install. I did have to remove the IAT tab because it was causing fitment issues on my vehicle. Looking forward to more videos!

[@jacobdub619]

hey man, i know this comment is old but i am having the same exact issue. the driver side bracket is about a quarter inch short away from lining up and my bracket still has some tabs left from being removed. was there a specific grinding wheel you used to get yours off?

[@mikeboba]

@@jacobdub619 I just kept wiggling it back and forth with needle nose pliers until it came off. Luckily it came off cleanly and there were no fitment issues after that.

[@jacobdub619]

@@mikebobagood deal man, thanks for responding. i’ll give that a shot tomorrow 👌🏼

[@rambow70]

So nothing on the bumper needed to be trimmed or removed? I might have missed it in the video when you were installing it but you said you kept the airducts? I ordered this kit and I'm hoping I don't have to permanently remove anything that came on the car. Thank you for the video btw

[@ED-ml2ji]

Thank you for posting this video. Between the online instructions provided by ARM and your video I was successfully able to mount my FMIC. However, I have an issue with the hose clamps provided by ARM. Based on your video there should be two sizes of clamps: 71 /63 (Smaller) and 75 / 67 (Larger). The clamps I received directly from ARM are 68 / 60 (Small) and 71 / 63 (Large). So far I was only able to use the larger clamp I recvd (71/63) for the narrow connection from the turbo and to the engine - which is exactly what you show in your video. I've sent an email to ARM to verify if it was an error sending me the smaller 68 /60 clamps.

[@DubChasers]

So we can’t verify the clamps we received at this time due to them being on the car, but that does sound like a simple packaging error. In our experience, ARM is pretty good about support, I don’t doubt they’ll be able to send over the correct clamps

[@grembal.]

I got the same size clamps, ended up reusing the oe pipe clamps on the smaller connections and removing the springs for the larger connections...the clamps were a bit of a PITA to work with, might end up just getting some constant tension clamps from mcmaster-carr. Were you able to hear back from ARM?

[@DubChasers]

@@grembal. We didn't have any issues with ours so we had no need to contact them for this

[@Since2010The1]

Ayeee from IL too 🤣 Just bought my ARM intercooler for the Mk7 Gti, can’t wait to get it installed, nice vid👌🏻

[@gli3536]

I’ve got the same one on my mk7 GLI. Took .7 seconds off my 1/4 times!

[@DubChasers]

Steven Wason that’s awesome! IAT’s have dropped a significant amount since installing it, we’re pretty happy as well :)

[@bradclevenger]

Any fitment issues on the GLI?

[@gli3536]

@@bradclevenger lower crash bar has to be cut off for this fmic to fit but after you cut it off fitment is great. Lower crash bar isn’t doing much anyways. There is a big one right above my fmic

[@TheModernSkater]

Hell ya I just bought a 21 GTI. looking forward to adding some sleeper mods. Looking at the Cobb stage 3 🤤 def need grippier tires though... look forward to seeing more of your videos

[@Jack112312312]

Did you had trouble with the brackets? I’m trying to install and like the bracket hole is 1/4 inch shorter. Or how you did around the plastic bunper

[@DubChasers]

As far as I can remember, I don't think we had any issues with the brackets? It is a tight fit but we managed to get it in

[@jacobdub619]

i’m having the same issue bro. did you ever find a way to get it mounted up???

[@Jack112312312]

@@jacobdub619 I managed to install and If I remember correctly the driver side where the o2 sensor is that bracket had to be cut and than was sitting flush and the holes aligned.

[@jacobdub619]

@@Jack112312312 was there a specific tool you used to get the rest of the bracket off? thank you for the reply btw 🙏🏼

[@Jack112312312]

@@jacobdub619 honestly don’t remember it was long time ago but I think I just used a saw and after that just a grinder to smooth it the surface

[@cesarflores1529]

Hey man I installed this in my car and I have a cat back exhaust and knn air filter system but I haven’t got tune but when I installed it feel slow on the throttle and a “EPC” light came on the and my turbo is not working it’s not spooling up and not boost is being made. Any advice ?

[@DubChasers]

Sounds like there may be a boost leak somewhere. Have you checked all your pipes to make sure they're all tight?

[@alexmelchert3436]

Good video. Buy Vince a beer!

[@petescarp4275]

hey there I just installed the arm front mount intercooler on my GTI all connections are nice and tight under full peak boost I'm getting a whistling noise did you experience this?

[@DubChasers]

We didn't notice any abnormal amounts of whistling. I would double check to make sure all connections are tight. Is your car tuned/do you have a way to monitor boost levels?

[@johndaluga8341]

Bro. Where did you get the ARM stencil? I can find it for like 20 bucks online but seems pricey for a one-time use stencil.

[@DubChasers]

Normally it should be an add-on for the intercooler. I checked and saw it wasn't on the Mk7/7.5 intercooler page. If you email them and ask I'm sure they'll be able to help you out. They have pretty good customer service

[@DubChasers]

Also, if you mention Dub Chasers, you'll get the VIP treatment ;)

[@johndaluga8341]

@@DubChasers Bro! Thanks so much! Dropped your name and they sent me the stencil when I provided a proof of purchase! Went with a nice red and it really pops! You rock!

[@SupernovaCNS]

Is it worth upgrading the intercooler with the stock is20 turbo or would it only be beneficial if you're going to swap to a bigger turbo?

[@DubChasers]

Definitely would be worth upgrading the intercooler even on the stock IS20. Even most stage 2 tunes will greatly benefit from it

[@DaseggMQB]

How’s the intercooler holding up? I’ve got a stage 2 2019 rabbit edition and I think this will be the one, but I hear mixed things on it. I work from home so it’s a weekend car. Never goes to the track. Just some fun Saturday driving

[@DubChasers]

So far so good! No issues on our stage 2 2015 Mk7 that is running it as well. Temps are usually 10-15 degrees F above ambient at highway speeds. Perfect for a fun weekend setup

[@DaseggMQB]

@@DubChasers happy to hear it bro. I’m gonna be ordering this in a week or 2. About to do a car trek from GA to TX in a C8 z51 and a redeye wide body then the gti gets some lover after lol 🤙🏼

[@DubChasers]

@@DaseggMQB Sheeeesh, let us know how that Z51 is haha

[@russellmaynard6948]

@@DaseggMQB C8 Z51 + GTI combo crew

[@saucydwarf470]

So I always thought you would remove the old intercooler and replace it. Is that not the case ?

[@DubChasers]

So there are kits out there that replace the stock intercooler. This is a Front Mount Intercooler so it goes in front of the existing one and the radiator

[@josephfregoso592]

@@DubChasers so now the car has two working intercoolers? The stock plus the front mount?

[@DubChasers]

@@josephfregoso592 sorry if we weren’t clear enough. This kit is designed to replace the stock intercooler. However, the location is in front of the stock intercooler and radiator. There are delete kits out there if you would like to remove the stock intercooler, but we left it in for simplicity

[@josephfregoso592]

@@DubChasers ohh ok thank you !!!

[@jimbrown5605]

​@josephfregoso592 ARM does make bicooler pipes (silicone) to run OEM and ARM IC together in parallel. Hear it makes turbo pressure drop lower than oem which is 3.5psi. ARM bicooler setup claims 3psi. .5 psi less than oem IC.

[@samihamady8569]

I put in a golf r stock location intercooler on my stg 2 gti and i was told that i could use both the stock location and the front mount intercooler in tandem, is that false? I would put the stock front mount from an rs3 in addition to my golf r intercooler on my gti, I got the intercoolers for free

[@DubChasers]

So technically that is a real thing people do. Its called a "twintercooler" setup (twin intercoolers). Essentially just splits the charged air between the two. We haven't done any research on it so can't exactly recommend it from our standpoint

[@samihamady8569]

@@DubChasers thanks, do you know if i would have to use a special kind of charge pipe to run a twincooler setup? I have the intercooler, may as well use it unless I’m gonna have to spend a few hundred $ on custom charge pipes, in that case, it’s not worth the trouble

[@DubChasers]

@@samihamady8569 Yes, you will need custom charge pipes/intercooler piping that branches off to both intercoolers

[@1drumshark]

Will this fit on a mk7.5 with ACC and radar distance sensors? I know it wouldn't fit on the mk7 with ACC, but the mk7.7 has the sensor in the VW logo, so I'd assume it would be fine, right? And the distance sensors shouldn't get in the way either I'd hope

[@DubChasers]

We would assume so? Unfortunately our Mk7.5 is a base model so we didn't get the chance to check clearance on those sensors

[@DRdyslexic]

Just installed mine (mk7.5 2018 se)with ACC super easy just unplug the battery before disconnecting the ACC and don’t plug it back in until the install is done.

[@jiurongzhu1521]

@@DRdyslexic Is your ACC senor on the emblem or the lower grill? I have 1 mk7.5 2018 Autobahn and the ACC sensor is on the lower grille like two radars points. Is your car the same?

[@maxlelievre]

Did you have to cut the IAT tab off the crash bar? It seems the IC doesnt sit straight. Thanks

[@DubChasers]

So you could cut it, or bend it out of the way like we did. Either way, you will have to move it in order to fit the intercooler

[@boroboro8278]

Any improvement with iat? With fmic you don t add air flow restrictions to the radiator?

[@DubChasers]

A definite improvement! For sure worth the investment if you plan on tuning your car. No restrictions that we've noticed so far

[@grembal.]

Thanks for this my dudes. Looking at getting the FMIC and DP from them since they have a discount going on right now, wasnt sure if it'd fit my mk7.5, I've read they're a little tighter in the front bumper area compared to the mk7. It looks like it's a pretty snug fit in there? Any concerns with the IC/hoses rubbing against anything?

[@DubChasers]

Yeah we noticed it was a bit more snug on our 7.5 as well. No concerns with the hoses, just know you will have to either cut or bend the temperature sensor bracket in order for the intercooler to fit

[@grembal.]

@@DubChasers So just to update in case anyone was curious I installed mine in my 2019 today and had issues with the IAT sensor bracket. It was blocking the IC just enough so that I couldn't thread the bolt through to the upper bracket. I didn't feel like cutting the IAT bracket off so I just made a quick extension to be able to install it. It'd probably work if the ARM bracket holes were notched further too. Not a fan of the tight fitment especially near the ac condenser on the pass. side, added some insulation foam to contact parts to hopefully help if it rubs. It's installed though, and it works great! Also got some weird brackets and extra bolts and nuts from ARM that I never used; did you guys get extra hardware too? They were never mentioned in the installation manual

[@DubChasers]

@@grembal. Yes we noted the tight fitment on our 7.5. We believe the intercooler was designed on a Mk7 and thus the slight fitment issues. I believe we had some extra bolts as well so I wouldn't worry about it

[@grembal.]

@@DubChasers Ok so I figured out through this thread - www.golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/baun-performance-fmic-installation-guide.353248/ - that this IC is basically a copy of the Baun Performance FMIC, the extra brackets that I got are pretty much exactly like the ones shown in the thread. Just throwing it out there in case anyone else bought one of these and was wondering what those brackets are for. Using them looks like it makes for a pretty secure install compared to using the black brackets, but you have to drill some holes into the crash bar. Also the Baun install is more comprehensive compared to the ARM install instructions, covering some extra obstructions like the SAI pump bracket. edit - I went and used the other brackets and followed the Baun install, fitment is way better and more secure. Recommend going this route on a MK7.5 instead of using the ARM brackets, if you don't mind drilling into the front bumper support

[@jimbrown5605]

To furthet add years later. On a Golf R, the washer fluid resivor is basically making contact with the passenger side hose. Snug is an understatement. Also slightly crooked w/temp sensor bent back maybe try forward? I opted not to cut so I can return to stock if needed. Snug.

[@samuelgm98]

How did you guys tackle the piping and clamps? I can not seem to get it and they sent 2 extra hoses

[@DubChasers]

If you’re on a Mk7.5 the fitment is a bit tighter and can be challenging. On the Mk7’s there shouldn’t be any issues. Did you purchase the optional charge pipe upgrades as well?

[@saucysesa3563]

I’m currently installing mine rn are the charge pipes from arm required for the installation

[@DubChasers]

No sir, you can use your stock charge pipes

[@_tsukuyomi_4878]

@@DubChasers is there a noticeable difference in using the stock charge pipes?

[@DubChasers]

@@_tsukuyomi_4878 To be honest, not really. The only benefits of upgraded chargepipes are larger diameter for smoother airflow, and the metal construction (mitigates the risk of the stock plastic pipes cracking under high boost). Would really only recommend them if you plan on tuning your car

[@ryanreader9233]

Can anyone confirm that this will fit behind the MK7 1.8t TSI bumper? I know the grill is a little thicker. From my measurements it should fit but no FMIC is listed as fitting 1.8t MK7

[@VoltageXO]

do i have too buy the full charge pipe kit?

[@DubChasers]

You do not! ARM's intercooler kits are designed to work with their own charge pipes, as well as OEM pipes

[@harrisonswindler838]

Where do the brackets go? Can’t figure that part out.

[@DubChasers]

So it would be a little hard to explain through a KZbin comment, here's ARM's installation guide which has a better description as well as helpful pictures: cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0082/6687/4995/files/MK7_FMIC_Install.pdf?v=1600367544

[@johnmiles6405]

did you disconnect your battery?

[@DubChasers]

There’s no need to disconnect the battery for this install, but you may do so if you feel the need to!

[@bretgtimk7968]

did you remove factory intercooler?

[@DubChasers]

We left in the factory intercooler. I don't believe they have an OEM delete kit quite yet

[@bretgtimk7968]

@@DubChasers ecs has one for $100

[@DubChasers]

@@bretgtimk7968 From our experience on the Mk6, it was really only worth it if you plan on tracking the car. Was a huge pain to remove the core support and then slot it back into place for minimal weight savings

[@wode467]

My passenger side pipe came off my hose 2 mins into my first drive 😭

[@jimbrown5605]

Tighten that clamp until you think you are crimping your IC outlet. I cranked them thangs to oblivion and has not popped off.

[@peru6691]

Does the OE intercooler stay in place?

[@DubChasers]

Yes, as of now the kit from ARM does not have an OEM delete option

[@elsauljr676]

You instagrams