PROFILE
The ARM Audi B9 3.0T S4 / S5 Competition FMIC is engineered to keep IAT's low during back-to-back pulls. By dramatically increasing intercooler core volume to a staggering 1,485cu/in and improving airflow efficiency with internal air channels, this system is designed to reduce heat soak, stabilize intake air temperatures, and maintain consistent performance pull after pull. Whether you have stock turbo or upgraded turbo, the ARM B9 FMIC will keep your EA839 running cool!
OEM FMIC vs. ARM FMIC — IAT TESTING
Testing was performed on our 2019 B9 S4 with FBO and E40 tune, data was logged at a 77°F ambient air temperature, giving a clean baseline to measure heat soak against.
On the OEM intercooler, IAT's climbed from 95.45°F to 111.65°F during the pull, that's +18.45°F above ambient (24.0%) at the start, building to +34.65°F above ambient (45.0%) by the end of the run.
With the ARM FMIC installed, IAT moved from 84.65°F to 81.95°F,starting at just +7.65°F above ambient (9.9%) and actually settling to +4.95°F above ambient (6.4%) by the end of the pull, trending down instead of up. By the end of the pull, the ARM FMIC was running 29.7°F cooler than the stock unit (26.6% lower), and only 4.95°F over outside air versus the stock setup's 34.65°F climb.
The OEM FMIC is struggling to reject heat under sustained boost, nearly doubling its temperature rise above ambient by the end of the pull, while the ARM FMIC keeps intake charge temps close to ambient throughout,which means denser air, less ignition timing pulled for heat management, and more consistent power delivery pull after pull.
During the multi-gear pull, the ARM FMIC handled two full shift events back to back, climbing through 3rd, 4th, and 5th gear over roughly 17 seconds of sustained boost. RPM climbed to redline three separate times (peaking around 6,450–6,490 RPM each time) before dropping at each shift and climbing again. Despite that repeated load, intake air temp opened the run at 83.3°F and closed it at exactly 83.3°F, a net change of 0°F. Even through the brief dips at each shift point, the intercooler gave the intake charge enough recovery to return to its starting temperature rather than trending upward gear after gear. The ARM B9 FMIC isn't just handling a single pull well, it's holding steady under sustained, repeated boost across a full run.
The OEM intercooler on the Audi B9 3.0T platform is sufficient for light daily driving, but it quickly becomes a limitation under sustained boost, aggressive driving, or tuning. As intake air temperatures rise, timing is reduced and power output becomes inconsistent, making your second or third runs suffer from reduced power.
CONSTRUCTION
At the heart of the ARM B9 Competition FMIC is a high-efficiency bar-and-plate intercooler core measuring 22.5" x 17" x 5.5" inches, resulting in a massive total core volume of 1,485 cubic inches. By adding the additional stepped portion at the bottom of the ARM B9 FMIC we were able to increase the overall volume of the intercooler by 337.5 cu in, resulting in a almost a 30% increase. The ARM B9 FMIC is a staggering 290% larger than the OEM B9 FMIC, with the OEM B9 FMIC coming in at a paltry 511 cubic inches, it is dwarfed by the ARM B9 FMIC standing at 1,485 cubic inches. Almost 3x bigger than the OEM B9 FMIC!
The frontal surface area plays a critical role in intercooler efficiency, as it determines how much airflow is exposed to the cooling fins. A larger frontal area allows more heat to be shed to ambient air, improving heat rejection and helping intake air temperatures recover more quickly between pulls. The ARM B9 FMIC has a frontal surface area of 382.5 sq in, a staggering 235% more than the OEM B9 FMIC which has only 162.5 sq in. Compared to the factory intercooler, this represents a significant increase in thermal mass and frontal surface area. The larger core allows more heat to be absorbed and dissipated, slowing temperature rise and improving recovery between pulls.
The ARM B9 FMIC makes the most of it's massive surface area by incorporating internal air channeling in the hot-side end tank. The internal air channel design promotes uniform airflow across the core, minimizing pressure imbalance and localized hot spots near the FMIC inlet and outlet. This results in improved thermal efficiency, better heat soak resistance, and more consistent cooling performance.
The ARM B9 FMIC features precision-machined inlet and outlet connections with integrated sealing ribs designed to create a tight, leak-free seal with the included boost couplers. This machined interface improves clamp grip, reduces the chance of boost leaks or your couplers popping off and leaving you stranded with no boost.
INSTALLATION
Installation of the ARM B9 FMIC is straightforward and can typically be completed in approximately 2–3 hours. The front bumper does need to be removed to access the factory intercooler mounting location, but no cutting or trimming is required. The ARM FMIC installs using OEM mounting points and fully retains the factory crash bar, ensuring a clean, factory-style fitment with no permanent vehicle modification.
IN THE BOX
• 1x ARM B9 FMIC
• 1x Driver Side Coupler
• 1x Passenger Side Coupler
• 1x Driver Side Mounting Bracket
• 1x Passenger Side Mounting Bracket
• 2x Joining Pipes
• 4x T-Bolt Clamps
• 2x Worm Clamps
• 6x Bolts/Washers
FITMENT GUIDE
