do88 intercooler for MQB platform

[Lucas_R]

Is anyone with a Mk7/7.5 GTI or R running the do88 intercooler?

Any feedback?

I've been doing some research on intercoolers lately as this will probably be my next mod, and the do88 intercooler is one of the best performing intercoolers available and is priced several hundred lower than most, at $1,245+ $90 shipping.

I was initially going to buy a IE or Wagner intercooler, but these are about $300-600 more than the do88 and in most cases, perform worse. The IE is the closest rival.

The do88 intercoolers are from Sweden, not China like I initially thought when I saw the brand name.

Given the amount of testing this guy has done on all of the known MQB intercoolers, he recommends the do88 or IE intercooler as being the best performing.

Intercooler Test of the Volkswagen Mk7 GTI | My Golf Mk7 GTI

do88 Intercooler Bench Cooling Test | My Golf Mk7 GTI

do88 Intercooler Flow Test | My Golf Mk7 GTI

AUDI / SEAT / SKODA / VW 1.8 / 2.0 TSI (MQB) INTERCOOLER – DO88

[Lucas_R]

Well....after more research I found some more good feedback on the do88 products, as well as finding out that they supply products for Koenigsegg which is pretty cool. Im sure that if they can keep 1000+hp hypercars cool then they will keep my humble GTI under control also.

Ordered directly from do88 in Sweden instead of via the Australian distributor it was about $200 cheaper buying directly. Total cost including shipping was $1,168 AUD at today's exchange rate. This makes it pretty much the most affordable aftermarket intercooler for the MQB chassis (unless you count the Chinese intercoolers on ebay etc), and according to testing done in the links above, one of the best performing.

[Sharkie]

Why do you do this to me, Lucas?

I have just acquired a DP for the R and was thinking about an intercooler next ..... now this

[Lucas_R]

Why do you do this to me, Lucas?

I have just acquired a DP for the R and was thinking about an intercooler next ..... now this

. You are just too easy Sharkie haha. Basically, the do88, Unitronic and the Integrated Engineering are the best performing intercoolers for the MQB chassis cars. And the do88 is substantially cheaper than both the Unitronic and IE.

I have owned several Unitronic parts previously and they were beautifully made, so no doubt the intercooler would be also. Same with IE, I would have preferred to use IE as I already have their tune, intake and downpipe - but I just cant justify $1600+ for an intercooler. Even at $1,168 for the do88, its expensive for an intercooler. Will update this thread with pics and feedback (and logs if possible using the IE logging tool) in the coming weeks.

IE
$1629 is the cheapest place I can find this currently (DubAddiction and VW Central)

Unitronic
Cant find a local price for the Unitronic online, but it can be purchased direct from USA for around $1250-1300 AUD. There are local dealers for Unitronic though so im sure a local price could be obtained.

[Lucas_R]

Giddy up - the intercooler has left Sweden and should be here mid-next week.

[genebaby]

Exciting stuff.

Noting all these things down when it's time to play with performance on my car.

[Lucas_R]

Intercooler arrived and first impressions are good - it looks very nicely made.

It was well packaged and arrived undamaged which is always a good thing. I would not recommend UPS for a courier, their tracking was hopeless at best and then once it arrived in Australia they hand it over to Startrack to deliver. Startrack use a different tracking number which was also useless and I am not a fan of Startrack from my previous experiences. So if anyone else buys directly from do88 in Sweden, pay a little more for the far better and quicker DHL shipping.

[gregozedobe]

I can also vouch for DHL. They might cost a bit more than other international couriers, but they have impressed me several times now.

[Lucas_R]

The original GTI intercooler is a very basic unit, obviously made to a very low cost and leaves a lot of room for improvement. You could easily upgrade to an intercooler thats 1/2 the size but with a better quality core, and have a better performing intercooler.

The new do88 intercooler is a considerable upgrade in both core quality, thickness of the core (from 30mm to about 58mm) and more durable larger capacity cast end tanks.

Time to rip the whole front of the car off. Thankfully my trusty battery powered ratchet wrench made the job of removing a million Torx bolts faster:













Standard VW intercooler core:



do88 intercooler core:



Core comparison:



Putting it all back together:

[amunra]

looks good mens .