At the weekend I removed the SMIC grill in the O/S of the front bumper of my Octy vRS, to check how clean the intercooler core was (it was clean-only done 11K).... and discovered that approx 10% of the cooling air that enters the SMIC bumper grill is able to escape into the engine compartment.

The air is able to escape because the inboard edge of the SMIC ducting behind the bumper grill stops short of the front bumper.

I had some 1/32" gauge ally that was pre painted black, which I carefully cut to size, bent and shaped to complete the ducting to OE standard.

My Pikey mod fitted so well, it only needed one (hidden) self tapping screw to hold it in place....looks totally standard....and should help keep boost temps....cool....

bill.

Sounds good! Any pictures? :P

Isn't some of the air flowing through those grilles supposed to be going to the front brakes?

i wouldnt have thought so as there are no vents in the inner wheel arches that would let the air flow through

I thought about firing up the old dremel and cutting some vents into the inside wheel arch, would that allow the air to flow through the intercooler and out into the wheel arch or is there something else stopping the flow?

Nope, that should do it - check out the Fabia arch vent mod, it's remarkably similar

Cheers guys; I need a manual, so I can work out where the air comes from, and where it goes to.