ARM Intercooler (FMIC) Kit for VW Mk8 GTI & Golf R
ARM Intercooler (FMIC) Kit for VW Mk8 GTI & Golf R
MK8FMIC-GTI-BIC-SVR
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Regular price
$767.00
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$767.00
Regular price
$747.00
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Software Requirements
Software Requirements
HIGHLIGHTS
• Improve Cooling Efficiency by 84%
• Lower IAT's
• True Front Mount Design
• Lower IAT's
• True Front Mount Design
• 100% Bolt-On Installation
• No Cutting or Drilling Required
• No Cutting or Drilling Required
PROFILE
The ARM MK8 GTI FMIC gives your GTI or Golf R increased power and torque by reducing intake air temperatures, making it one of the best upgrades you can give your MK8. The ARM MK8 GTI FMIC positions the intercooler in front of your radiator stack, the most efficient position to cool your Gen 4 EA888. This is where the intercooler can utilize the ambient air where it is coolest, before it passes through your other radiators causing the temperatures to increase.
The ARM MK8 FMIC uses an efficient bar and plate core measuring 27.8 x 9.5 x 2.5 inches. Making the total intercooler volume 660 cubic inches. With the OEM intercooler coming in at 550 cubic inches, the ARM MK8 FMIC is 20% larger than the OEM unit, positioned in the optimal location, and rated at a 700HP efficiency. Due to it's position in front of the radiator stack, the ARM MK8 FMIC is significantly more efficient than OEM location intercoolers, and therefore does not require as large of a core to produce similar results. The ARM MK8 FMIC is the best pound for pound option for your MK8 GTI or Golf R!
WHY YOUR MK8 NEEDS AN INTERCOOLER UPGRADE
When you increase the power on your MK8 with a tune, you are raising the boost pressure by asking the turbocharger to spin faster. The faster the turbo spins, the higher the temperature your charge-air will become, as the turbines will generate more heat the faster they spin. When the ECU detects that the intake air temperature (IAT) becomes too high, it will reduce timing and limit the amount of power your engine can produce in order to avoid damage.
An intercooler upgrade is so essential for the MK8 platform, that most tuners require an upgraded intercooler for flashing your MK8 with any tune above a basic Stage 1 map. Since we need an intercooler to make the power we want and keep our MK8 running efficiently, the best solution is to have an intercooler that is as small as possible while still keeping intake air temperatures (IAT) low. This is exactly what the ARM MK8 FMIC Kit does.
LOWER IAT's
At only 660 cu. in., the ARM MK8 GTI FMIC kept our project MK8 IAT's to a cool 21 degrees above ambient temperatures during 2nd - 4th gear pulls. During the pulls the IAT's only rose 7 degrees from the bottom of 2nd to the top of 4th! Compared to the OEM intercooler which rose to a blistering 114 degrees, 45 degree rise from start to finish. Even with a slight disadvantage due to higher ambient temperatures, ARM MK8 FMIC improved cooling efficiency by reducing the rise in IAT's by 84%! These runs were performed on an MT MK8R with a Stage 2+ tune running 28psi.
CONSTRUCTION
The ARM MK8 FMIC features a high-efficiency bar-and-plate intercooler core measuring 27.8 x 9.5 x 2.5 inches, resulting in a total core volume of 660 cubic inches. Compared to the OEM intercooler, which measures approximately 550 cubic inches, the ARM MK8 FMIC offers a 20% increase in core volume. Positioned in the optimal front-mount location, this increased capacity allows for improved heat rejection and consistent charge-air cooling, with efficiency supporting builds up to 700 horsepower. To further optimize airflow and fitment, the intercooler utilizes high-flowing cast aluminum end tanks with oval-shaped inlet and outlet ports cast directly into the end tanks. This oval design is engineered to maximize airflow while providing critical clearance between the intercooler piping and the vehicle’s frame, ensuring proper routing without compromising flow efficiency or fitment. The oval middle sections of the ARM MK8 FMIC inlet and outlet tubing are designed to retain the same overall cross-sectional area as the 2.5" round inlet and outlet of 4.9".
The ARM MK8 FMIC utilizes 2.5" intercooler piping at the inlet and outlet to connect directly to the factory charge pipes. This diameter is carefully selected to balance airflow capacity and charge air velocity, ensuring efficient boost response without introducing unnecessary volume that can slow turbo spool. By retaining a 2.5" connection size, the ARM MK8 FMIC maintains compatibility with OEM charge pipes and most aftermarket charge pipe upgrades, while supporting increased airflow demands from tuned and higher-boost setups.
The MK8 FMIC mounting brackets are designed to incorporate a dedicated ambient temperature sensor bracket, allowing the factory ambient air temperature sensor to be relocated and mounted correctly after FMIC installation. This ensures the sensor remains positioned in a proper airflow location, providing accurate ambient temperature readings to the ECU and vehicle systems. Proper sensor placement helps maintain correct engine management behavior and ensures temperature-based calculations remain reliable after the intercooler upgrade.
Included in the ARM MK8 FMIC Kit are silicone caps designed to block off the inlet and outlet of the OEM intercooler. These caps prevent dirt, debris, moisture, and foreign objects from entering the factory intercooler while it is not in use.
INSTALLATION
The ARM MK8 GTI FMIC is one of the easiest intercooler upgrades to install for the MK8 GTI. Like every intercooler upgrade for the MK8 platform, it does require the removal of your front bumper, but unlike stock-location intercooler upgrades it does not require any disassembling of the crash bar, radiator stack, or draining of the coolant. The ARM MK8 FMIC comes with MK8-specific mounting brackets to secure the FMIC without the need to cut or drill brackets into the crash bar. The full installation of the ARM MK8 FMIC only takes about 2-3 hours, even for the novice mechanic.
BI-COOLER UPGRADE
If you're running or plan on running an upgraded turbo on your MK8, you will want to opt for the ARM MK8 Bi-Cooler Hose Upgrade. The ARM MK8 Bi-Cooler Hose Upgrade allows you to utilize a stock location intercooler (OEM or upgraded) in conjunction with the ARM MK8 FMIC giving your MK8 improved cooling efficiency over the ARM MK8 FMIC alone. This is only recommended if you already have a turbo upgrade or plan on installing one in the near future as it can cause a slight pressure drop on the OEM turbo. 
IN THE BOX
• 1x ARM MK8 FMIC
• 1x MK8 FMIC Piping Driver Side
• 1x MK8 FMIC Piping Passenger Side
• 1x MK8 FMIC Piping Passenger Side
• 2x MK8 Mounting Brackets
• 2x FMIC to Piping Silicone Couplers
• 2x FMIC to ARM Charge Pipe Silicone Couplers
• 2x FMIC to OEM Charge Pipe Silicone Couplers
• 10x Constant Tension T-Bolt Clamps
• 2x FMIC to Bracket Bolts and Nuts
• 2x Bracket to Frame Bolts and Nuts
• 2x FMIC to ARM Charge Pipe Silicone Couplers
• 2x FMIC to OEM Charge Pipe Silicone Couplers
• 10x Constant Tension T-Bolt Clamps
• 2x FMIC to Bracket Bolts and Nuts
• 2x Bracket to Frame Bolts and Nuts
• 2x OEM Intercooler Block-Off Caps
