Airtec FMIC's.

Charlie Farley

Charlie Farley

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A question for those in the know really on the subject or Airtec FMIC's

After a bit more thinking I decided the JHM FMIC I purchased may only just suffice for my turbo project, I was informed it would be ok , but a larger unit may just have the edge.
With that in mind I sold it last week with a view to going something else, maybe a CTS unit similar to those on awesome , but not at there pricing though.
Airtec came to mind but I know a fair few of you guys have had issues.
So what is the format with the airtec units, are they just put together a bit poorly or is the overall design poor , or, both.
I'd be happy to buy one if they are not problematic, don't want to be sending bits back to be changed or modified .

any input would be appreciated.

rob
 
I'll finally fit mine if it stops snowing today...

I've had issues which I wouldn't expect from a bolt-on kit, but it's not all bad news. My thoughts:

- The intercooler, pipework, hoses and clamps are well made, robust items. I guess overall that's the most important thing.
- The bolts supplied for the MAP sensor are too short. I ended up stripping the thread as a result of this as I couldn't get an airtight seal.*
- The instructions start off very detailed (bumper removal copied from elsewhere, possibly) and end up quite vague.
- Relocating/bending the PAS pipe out the way is a bodge IMO, and the p-clip they provide is far too big. I've seen other companies relocating the PAS cooler, which is what I'll probably do long-term.

FWIW, I got mine via MAC Motorsport on eBay, at just 450-ish. Spend a couple of quid on longer bolts and save yourself the headache I had, then at this price I think it's a good bit of kit overall.

*After a bit of back and forth with Airtec, they wanted the pipe sent back. They helicoiled it and provided longer bolts, paid return postage and chucked in some freebie air-fresheners and a cup. Delayed due to COVID, but ultimately impressive service.
 
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Thanks for the info chap that's just what I was hoping to hear , gives me a ref point.
Snowing, really, well you are well north so maybe not that odd even in early may.

I'll have a snoop on the web to see what prices are at present.

cheers
rob
 
Why not try to mock up the already proven Toyosport IC's, with a set of pipes and hoses?
 
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I just want a straight forward retro fit if I can, if I had more time I may , but over run with work at present so just want a plug and plug fitment really.
 
I thought that day might come Rob, the only issue I had with the Airtec was the sealing of the maf sensor but I had a rubber bung anyway which in my case solved it, luckily I didn't have the issue with the bolts that sidrick mentioned, as for the maf sensor its common practise to need a reducer on a lot of aftermarket intercoolers anyway but my issue was why Airtec didn't just provide one, the other issue I had was the nut and bolts for the crash bar mounting to the intercooler for some reason they just didn't tighten and snapped so I used my own I had knocking around, instructions are terrible but its not a difficult part to fit which is lucky really as the instructions are shockingly bad, my build isn't done on a budget but I couldn't justify spending the extra hundreds other companies wanted when the Airtec is more than capable and quality is brilliant overall, hoses are good, clamps are strong.

Overall id defiantly recommend but buy a rubber reducer for the maf to save you the hassle on dyno day and get some PTFE tape for the bolts for the maf and your be fine :icon thumright:

Go choose your colour now :)
 
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Thanks chaps.
I'm very tempted to go with the airtec, before I order one I may just bring these point up with them with a view to things being sorted at the factory before dispatch , hopefully that would nip any possible issues in the bud.

Anyway , thanks for the really great replies chaps, top stuff as per normal.:icon thumright::yes:
 
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I'm very disappointed with Airtec frankly.
I appreciate these are difficult times for all of us but I would have expected some sort of return communication from them after 3 emails over 10 days.
Nothing , tried there tel number twice only to get we are closed message during working hours.
I was going to order one of there FMIC's but just wanted to be clear on the issues other buyers have had but nothing from airtec at all, not a good start from a buyer point of view.
I'll just go with a larger item from JHM I think and give airtec a miss .
 
Last edited:
I'm Just Rob. said:
I'm very disappointed with Airtec frankly.
I appreciate these are difficult times for all of us but I would have expected some sort of return communication from them after 3 emails over 10 days.
Nothing , tried there tel number twice only to get we are closed message during working hours.
I was going to order one of there FMIC's but just wanted to be clear on the issues other buyers have had but nothing from airtec at all, not a good start from a buyer point of view.
I'll just go with a larger item from JHM I think and give airtec a miss .
Click to expand...
Unfortunately Rob that's just how things are at the minute were running really low on oil heating it was suppose to of been topped up last Friday and the company isn't on the phones due to covid there only contact is email and I'm struggling to get any kind of reply, I've always used them with no problems and they always contact me on the day of delivery but this time due to the circumstances its been and still is a nightmare.
 
I'm Just Rob. said:
I'm very disappointed with Airtec frankly.
I appreciate these are difficult times for all of us but I would have expected some sort of return communication from them after 3 emails over 10 days.
Nothing , tried there tel number twice only to get we are closed message during working hours.
I was going to order one of there FMIC's but just wanted to be clear on the issues other buyers have had but nothing from airtec at all, not a good start from a buyer point of view.
I'll just go with a larger item from JHM I think and give airtec a miss .
Click to expand...

WOW!! Not very often I get angry but from what I've just read I'm not actually sure you do "appreciate" how difficult times are for some. People are dying, struggling to feed their families, loosing jobs and that's just scratching the surface of the problems many are having to endure. Not quite sure what planet you are on but people are following government guidelines are not working, closing businesses that are non essential and you the nerve to complain because an intercooler company do not respond to some emails, show some empathy for f**k sake
 
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I'm on planet earth aswell, and lets be quite clear , I know 1st hand how bad things have been and I won't go into it as this is not the place.
I know exactly how it feels to loose loved ones to this virus and family members loose there lively hoods , so do not pick an arguement with me on this .
I run my own business like many others, i get by the best way i can .
If a company is working and say they are open for business , which they say they are, then replying to business enquires should be part of the job, if they cant then they should clearly say otherwise.
 
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I'm not quite sure you understand the nature of business, ajax 1976.
Is business' really are struggling they really will be finding alternative ways to survive. They would have diverted emails to a home address and carried on as usual, as best they can.
Just because some people have lost a relative, and if you are one you have my condolences, life and business must get on. And if answering an email means a happy customer then that's how businesses must operate, if they want to survive.
 
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They are surviving by operating on minimum staff so they can maintain social distancing within the work place. If it was my my company what would I concentrate my staff on? Fulfilling orders to keep up with demand and keep a steady cash flow coming in or sitting replying to emails in the off chance they may eventually place an order?
Annotation 2020 05 20 215827
 
All business rely on customers even in dark days and uncertain times, if they have to change there method of operation and communication to stay afloat then that is what must be done.
In this instance to my reply , airtec has made alternative operating plans and say they are open for business and can be contacted by phone or email.
I have done both numerous times without any reply, if they can,t reply due to low staff level etc then that is fully understandable but they could just add that info to there web page., on the covid19 section.
If they cant work in there normal sales operation then email inquires should be very important.

anyway, i'm not banging on about it anymore, plenty of other companies are managing to get by and offer service levels way beyond what anyone would expect under the circumstances.
 
Email enquiries lead to orders, or maybe not.
Emails can be answered from home, can they not?
Just keeping people informed, it's not much to ask.
 
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If they added , something like "due to the current situation emails may take longer to be answered " or we cannot take tel enquires at present please contact by email and we will reply as soon as we can , then that's not an issue for me, I'm not a mind reader and don't know what there situation is do I.
 
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Not sure you need to be a mind reader to know that there may be a delay just now, Rob :)

I can see why companies would not focus on individual enquiries (not sales) at this time when they've a network of resellers to keep happy/supplied. That's their lifeblood after all.

FWIW, they answered regularly and quickly via Facebook. They did need chased up when I had issues, but I accepted that because it's not really 'business as usual' for a lot of places.

Also, can we all please chill out :) At least you have an alternative with JHM, Rob :)
 
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I'm Just Rob. said:
If they added , something like "due to the current situation emails may take longer to be answered " or we cannot take tel enquires at present please contact by email and we will reply as soon as we can , then that's not an issue for me, I'm not a mind reader and don't know what there situation is do I.
Click to expand...

On this point... almost all of these kid of businesses don't run their own website. A 3rd party will, so updates like the above can be delayed, or missed, or whatever. Especially during these times.

I'm old, not as old as you ( :p), so I'm not really on the facebook/Instagram/twitter wagon, but these resources are the best gauge of a company's activity, as demonstrated by Ajax's post above where they let folk know the situation.
 
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I'm not on anything social, but then i'm just a grumpy old geezer, well sometimes.:yes:
 
Wow this thread soon took a turn in a different direction!

Now everyone's stopped being little girls lets get back to the point of the thread, don't rule airtec out Rob customer service or not the product speaks for itself its an awesome bit of kit and not just for the money either, get a rubber reducer for the maf and your be more than happy with the end result. :icon thumright:
 
As Sidrick eluded to, I’m sure most people, myself included would assume that priorities have to be made and exercise a level of understanding and expect delays.
Try going direct, ryan@airtechmotorsport.co.uk, he’s expecting your email.
 
Everything ordered lately has been delayed for us, catch 22 really not an ideal situation for customers or businesses but all to be expected.
 
ajax1976 said:
As Sidrick eluded to, I’m sure most people, myself included would assume that priorities have to be made and exercise a level of understanding and expect delays.
Try going direct, ryan@airtechmotorsport.co.uk, he’s expecting your email.
Click to expand...
See the next time it's your mate. Try not to be so offended.
 
So after a good few weeks I've never received any reply from Airtec regarding my questions so safe to say now I wont hear anything, shame really as it doesn't do there business any favours if they cant reply to pre purchase queries.
On Sidrick's recommendation I'm going with one from Mac motorsports , in the meantime what was the conclusion to the bumper height adjusters .
Are they omitted with the new kit or can they retro fitted?
 
I just get the feeling the height adjusters provide some extra support aswell as allowing for bumper height adjustment, maybe a retro fit job looming on the horizon.:yes:
 
There's no bumper height adjusters on the new bar. The existing ones are rivetted to the aluminium bar, so can't easily be transferred to the new steel item. I'd get things fitted first before worrying about it. I've noticed no difference now that I don't have them.
 
Sidrick said:
There's no bumper height adjusters on the new bar. The existing ones are rivetted to the aluminium bar, so can't easily be transferred to the new steel item. I'd get things fitted first before worrying about it. I've noticed no difference now that I don't have them.
Click to expand...
Ill second that I also see no difference with not having the bumper height adjusters, makes you wonder why there on in the first place tbh.
 
I'm Just Rob. said:
So after a good few weeks I've never received any reply from Airtec regarding my questions so safe to say now I wont hear anything, shame really as it doesn't do there business any favours if they cant reply to pre purchase queries.
On Sidrick's recommendation I'm going with one from Mac motorsports , in the meantime what was the conclusion to the bumper height adjusters .
Are they omitted with the new kit or can they retro fitted?
Click to expand...
Just googled the mac motorsports intercooler I've never heard of that one, the size looks good being longer and wider than the airtec hopefully the build quality is there to back it up if it is then its certainly an alternative choice and half the price of the airtec.
 
Not sure if my recommendation was misunderstood? I recommended MAC as a reseller for the Airtec kit.
 
Sidrick said:
Not sure if my recommendation was misunderstood? I recommended MAC as a reseller for the Airtec kit.
Click to expand...

No it's fine Scott, I know what you meant.:thumbs up:
I'll just go with airtec now as it is the easiest , can't be messing around with it anymore.

Just really issed off with Airtec's lack of response frankly.
If they can respond to facebook stuff then there is no reason why they cant reply to emails, not everyone lives on facebook or social media, I don't.
 
Easier to get facebook on your home device than company email if you can't attend the office, though :)
 
Something I've noticed is that the pipework does appear to obscure both the intake vents, does this not then hamper intake airflow.
 
I've realised the vents are now surplus as the side IC's are history..lol
 
Yep, not sure what I was thinking lol, well I know what I was thinking and it wasn't even close to being car related.:yes:
Back to normal functioning now though.:thumbs up:
 
With the original use of the vents now obsolete it could be a good opportunity to fabricate an extra source of intake air to the air box, the more air available the better for our old buses.
 
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