Ok so linking up with my pikey mod and my running issues thread I found my intake temps were rather high, sometimes you're not sure if you're intake temps are high because you've got a problem (such as boost leak) or you've got a problem because you're intake temps are high (ecu retards timing and holds back boost above 39 degrees).  I can't stretch to an FMIC so I fitted this:

 

 

Along with a new genuine MAP sensor.  Can't remember its dimensions now but it's about 2inch deeper than the AUM one I took off and with all alloy end tanks, more alloy surface area=more heat loss.  Its one of the turborevs ones, same pattern as Godspeed, and off the same production line as forge I believe, and it only cost me £60.  Put some neoprene washers round the mounting bolts as the oem rubber ones with inserts wouldn't fit.  I modified the ducting, ziptied that up and Fanny's your Aunt, one big fat SMIC.

 

So prior to this I had steady state temperature of 27, and a peek of 66 (WOT 3rd gear)

I now have a steady state of 16-18 and a peek of 46!  Not FMIC territory I know but a very very useful reduction indeed.  May even be a little lower when I get the actuator tuned correctly.

 

Oh and vcds logged torque at 337nms, other day before new smic it logged 332, I did see 335 on a logging run before smic though, but its still gone in the right direction.  Using the calculation, torque (lbs/ft) x rpm/5252 gives us 207bhp, which is what I expected from the car back on that fateful dyno day.

 

Moral of the story is, looks as though my aftermarket AUM cooler was pants, it felt good, but feelings don't count for much without logs, the judgement may have been clouded as I fitted it pretty much straight after my 'proper' remap, so I felt like the car was flying anyway compared to a dodgy map with limp mode on and off for a few months.

 

Plus there doesn't seem to be any lag, think this is because my map is asking top end of stage 1 so there's plenty of psi to play with.  Looks like my car has got its growl back, just need to finally sort the actuator...watch this space.

loved my side mount had one of these and a forge lot more useful than people think over oe 

loved my side mount had one of these and a forge lot more useful than people think over oe

Its definitely a good middle ground and I think a big SMIC is underrated as an effective mod on a budget. I was extra lucky this one was used but never fitted, got to love e bay sometimes. A 20 degree drop from the peek temps is nothing to be sniffed at, sure an fmic will probably be below 30 or thereabouts but 39 is the important number and only a few degrees over that. Hot days in summer will push it up obviously but the over 39 degrees was at redline so there is plenty of useful power before I get to that point. As I said the temps may come down a wee bit more when I get my other issue fully sorted and the turbo isn't working quite so hard to make specified boost. I'm not sure a gen smic is as bad as the pattern part one I took off but even so.

Anyway, all told for £60 and no need for any new pipework I'm pretty happy with it. Think it took me longer to fit the new undertray side piece. Cars definitely got its shift on now, pleased there's no lag too.