 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Intercooler - Worth the cost ? |
 
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2516  
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It’s dependent on the current and proposed use of your vehicle. If it’s going to be pushed harder, I.e heavily laden, towing a heavy trailer, lots of high inclines, run in hot climate, run at motorway speeds for a long time, over landing or a combination of some of these then a larger quantity high flow intercooler would be recommended.
Note Talking to BAS will help as Pete has answered this question to several members, noting sometimes he advises an intercooler is not required. A good point to note is that the standard LR intercooler does fail at the crimped seams, so putting extra boost through it will put more strain on the Intercooler and exacerbate the likelihood of failure. So this should be taken account in your decision. Lastly, BAS have also designed and manufactured a high flow intercooler. I have one and believe it is the best performing and most robust intercooler you can get for a Puma. If BAS has any in stock I would go for that , their 3 silicon hoses and their remap inc the mapping tool ( Gap IDTool ) with diagnostics. Ps. One thing to note , If you are looking to have a map then you really need to sort out the atrocious air intake pipework from the wing to the airbox. It is very poor and highly restrictive. I replaced mine with a much larger round hose and this in conjunction with a BAS intercooler, silicon hoses and nuggetstuff deluxe airbox gives me all the performance I need for my 2.2 110 XS station wagon without the need for a remap. Noting Where I live is pretty flat and I don’t regularly tow heavy loads. |
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9th Sep 2025 11:19am |
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| Rosco Member Since: 03 Dec 2010 Location: Burntwood Posts: 1875 
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I would say regardless of whether you go for a remap, ditch the standard land rover intercooler.
My 110 is only running a standard map, but has split two standard intercoolers in exactly the same spot.  Click image to enlarge 2007 - Stornoway Grey 90 XS SW - Gone 2002 - Black Discovery II - Gone 2014 - Montalcino Red 110 XS SW |
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11th Sep 2025 4:20pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2516
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Thanks for the picture Rosco, that’s exactly where mine split as well
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11th Sep 2025 6:41pm |
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| Shafski Member Since: 19 Jun 2023 Location: Chilterns Posts: 125 
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And me!
Ordered the Airtech, BAS have supply issues and that’s what Pete at BAS recommended as the alternative. If you search online you can find a discount code (10%) too. IanH, Airtech are also in Essex so you could save the £20 delivery! Fingers crossed postie delivers mine today  Shafski
_________________________________________ 2015 110 Montalcino Red Utility "Harriet" along with Puma on I.C.E |
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12th Sep 2025 5:59am |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2516
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Thanks Shafski, I was fortunate that when mine split BAS still had stock so I purchased and fitted one of his intercoolers.
It’s very Handy for others to know that Airtech is another alternative intercooler supplier , and that BAS recommends them . https://www.airtecmotorsport.com/product/a...-2-2-tdci/ |
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12th Sep 2025 11:33am |
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| Rosco Member Since: 03 Dec 2010 Location: Burntwood Posts: 1875
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Mine split about 3 weeks ago, and my first port of call was to BAS to order a replacement, but unfortunately they were closed for holiday, and due to time constraints of wanting to use the Land Rover the following weekend I went elsewhere.
Happy with the quality and service (they managed to squeeze me in to get me mobile again) but since then I've noticed it is taking longer to spool up. I dont know if this is due to the larger intercooler, or a placebo effect having spent 2 weeks driving a regular car (clutch cylinder developed a leak the weekend after fixing the intercooler issue), but can an oversized intercooler effect the spool up time? Do I need to consider a remap to suit? 2007 - Stornoway Grey 90 XS SW - Gone 2002 - Black Discovery II - Gone 2014 - Montalcino Red 110 XS SW |
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12th Sep 2025 1:35pm |
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| Jabberwocky Member Since: 27 Oct 2021 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 241 
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Alive’s intercooler will get the most from their or anyone’s remap, cooler air gives a bigger bang and more power, it also helps to keep EGTs lower. Worth noting they test there’s to silly amounts of horsepower so shouldn’t be any issues with blowing a hole in it.
I had a stage 2 remap put on my TD5, not alive, and then subsequently fitted Alive’s ultimate intercooler and I could feel a noticeable improvement, I’ve now got an Alive remap and couldn’t be happier, now considering a VNT turbo to get rid of some of the low end hesitation. Is the intercooler worth the money? Only you can decide that, it was for me. It’s easy to fit so you can save a little there. |
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15th Sep 2025 1:32pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 11067 
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Iv'e got an Airtech full size intercooler on Millie, it's been on for a good few years now, no problems with the delivery and install
 Clayton.
1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up. Keeper. |
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18th Sep 2025 8:47pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2395 
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Darkside are a nice big cost efficient option. Not reassuringly expensive (sorry) but good value for money.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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18th Sep 2025 9:38pm |
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| HardCharger Member Since: 03 Mar 2013 Location: Manila Posts: 794  
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I got mine from PWR Australia together with their radiator. Nice and big. No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy
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19th Sep 2025 8:35am |
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| Crash7 Member Since: 21 Feb 2024 Location: South Posts: 38
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I am having a Serck fitted to mine. - Its runs an IRB stage 1, I have no intention to map to stage 2 - its not driven hard but I am looking to lower EGT's for reliability.
The cooling system on the 2.2 as a whole is not good, everything runs to hot, anything that lowers temps is a good thing, I am interested to see the outcome. |
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19th Sep 2025 8:44pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2687 
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Doing some pretty un-scientific observations over the last five weeks along various parts of the south of the country, if you are looking for performance gains, pop along to Halfords and get a 'Baby on Board' placard for the rear window.
Do parents not give a toss for their kids anymore, no wonder they are all messed up and don't know if they want to wear a dress or use the cat litter tray 
On another note my insurer wanted an additional 25% increase for a larger intercooler. I didn't bother, I just improved the incoming and exiting air, Its fast enough for me. |
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20th Sep 2025 6:54pm |
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