 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Serck Intercooler. Any good? Anyone got one? Thoughts? |
 
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5878   
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Morning all.
Shopping around for an intercooler. Currently focus is on BAS. However Alive has recently added Serck Intercoolers to their range, and was wondering what people thought of them? I trust Alive enough to think they’ve chosen well, but I’m wondering if any on here have hands on experience, on a Defender or any other motor. They do have a good race pedigree, but I’ve also heard from a forum member that he’s heard mixed reviews of them. I love the look and design background to the BAS, but the cost difference (£150) covers the cost of hoses and shipping, so the money saved could be used on other parts 
Any thoughts? https://www.alivetuning.com/product/serck-...tercooler/ Monsieur Le Grenadier I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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19th Dec 2021 8:13am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5878
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Agreed, the BAS cooler is a thing of beauty. But as you mention, Serck have serious ‘previous’ in areas of real applicable interest (military, rallying) and are still hand built. As beautiful as the BAS is, it will rarely be seen and I’m only keen on two things from the intercooler and that doesn’t include looks: performance and build quality/reliability (that might be three things). So if the Serck one is equally as good, what need is there to spend an extra 150 quid?
If build quality and performance is 50% better then fine. But is it or indeed can it be over a company with the rep of Serck? I’m led to believe that Allisport intercoolers offer the same performance but people wonder at their build quality. They’re very similarly priced, so is this because of the aluminium construction which keeps the costs down but perhaps doesn’t have the robustness of the BAS version? Does this matter for a mainly road going Defender? I’m not racing it off road. Interestingly I first searched for them (I knew the name already but didn’t know they had Def coolers) after seeing one used by Guy Martin in his Defender build. I know they get parts free, but also advice, so they must be floating around the race circuit. Talking of which, wonder what Bowler use? Given their Dakar pedigree etc, I wonder if they use a mainstream manufacturer or someone more specialist like BAS. I want someone who knows the answers to all these questions. Who are you? And where are you? Monsieur Le Grenadier I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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19th Dec 2021 8:54am |
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| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074 
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The Scottish Farmers Conundrum (deep pockets short arms
 ) has me leaning towards the Serck. I'm towing a lot next year esp in the summer and I don't fancy risking it with an 18 year old intercooler with plastic end tanks.
The main thing to remember is you don't gain power from an intercooler, it lets everything else you have make the most of the power they can give you. |
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19th Dec 2021 9:14am |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1804 
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|I've had a Serck on for about 5 years - no problems at all
HTH Keith |
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19th Dec 2021 9:17am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5878
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Tru dat  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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19th Dec 2021 9:35am |
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| barbel jim Member Since: 12 Dec 2012 Location: Northants Posts: 1432  
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I ran a serck for 8 years before I had issues. Then discovered heat cycles/soak had deformed the input output flanges. It’s worth checking the operating pressure. IIRC serck has/had 2 rated at different pressures. I know the Alive ultimate intercooler is rated at 3bar because it has cast end tanks as opposed welded. I’d presume the Bas is the same? It’s the cast end tanks that add the ££ but you gets what you pays for
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19th Dec 2021 10:50am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5878
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Thanks Jim. Yes, was wondering if Bar rating was the issue. Cast versus alu etc. Didn’t realise it was specifically the end tanks that mattered, which having watched the BAS video are clearly excellent kit. I’m still focused on BAS (I’ve got the remap tool as well) so it would be nice to keep it in the family.
As for ‘getting what you pay for’, that’s often true, but living in a ski resort that shares its pistes with the most exclusive ski resort in France (14€ hot chocolate anyone?) it’s not always the case. But I agree it is for anything stamped BAS. Then of course there’s this pied piper and his unbelievably stupid followers….
https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/food-dr...s-22342674 Monsieur Le Grenadier I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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19th Dec 2021 12:26pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6317  
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I'm not suggesting the above isn't correct but from a laymans perspective I'd be doubtful. I'd expect the ends to have more substantial welds / larger welds compared to all the welds where the coils/fins join the ends and expect those welds to be smaller / weaker yet the pressure will be the same throughout? I've not checked the construction of these intercoolers and as such the above may be gibberish. I've had a Serk for the last circa 7 years without issue and while I agree with the comments on the BAS units looking the part however once fitted how much is visual - if any? I know you can see the a/c radiator at the front but cant recall if the intercooler is visible? |
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19th Dec 2021 1:25pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6317
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I'm not suggesting the above isn't correct but from a laymans perspective I'd be doubtful. I'd expect the ends to have more substantial welds / larger welds compared to all the welds where the coils/fins join the ends and expect those welds to be smaller / weaker yet the pressure will be the same throughout? I've not checked the construction of these intercoolers and as such the above may be gibberish. I've had a Serk for the last circa 7 years without issue and while I agree with the comments on the BAS units looking the part however once fitted how much is visual - if any? I know you can see the a/c radiator at the front but cant recall if the intercooler is visible? |
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19th Dec 2021 1:25pm |
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| barbel jim Member Since: 12 Dec 2012 Location: Northants Posts: 1432
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I’m sure Pete at has will advise you accordingly, and I very much suspect he had input into the bowler intercooler, as it’s a well know rumour that he’s responsible for the bowler performance maps
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19th Dec 2021 1:26pm |
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| barbel jim Member Since: 12 Dec 2012 Location: Northants Posts: 1432
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Unfortunately I don’t have the photos anymore, but it did look a mess, especially where the clamps held the hoses on. It did last 8 years and 100k miles before it failed, which was on the weld .Yes the welds are bigger, but the material itself was alot thinner, and flexed . It was also on the hot side of the cooler. This was a standard turbo running a strong map, used for towing at 1.5 bar. When it came to the replacement it was a no brainer really, especially as I’m now running a vnt , nothing to go with form….. all about function. You’d cry if you saw my average mpg 
IRB, BAS and Alive all offer performance intercoolers, which I believe all have cast end tanks ………… |
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19th Dec 2021 2:23pm |
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