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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > N54 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications - 335i > Intercoolers



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      05-09-2012, 12:17 AM   #1
mrogo44
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Intercoolers

I am looking into getting an intercooler for my e92 and I am curious about a few things: 1. Is it worth getting an intercooler on stock, as in do you see a noticeable difference? 2. Has anyone had any issues with theirs? Which brands are best? 3. Do many warning lights/sensors trip when it senses a new intercooler? 4. I just want to learn/hear more about intercoolers in general, so anything you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the help!
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      05-09-2012, 01:04 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrogo44
I am looking into getting an intercooler for my e92 and I am curious about a few things: 1. Is it worth getting an intercooler on stock, as in do you see a noticeable difference? 2. Has anyone had any issues with theirs? Which brands are best? 3. Do many warning lights/sensors trip when it senses a new intercooler? 4. I just want to learn/hear more about intercoolers in general, so anything you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the help!
First thing I would do would be do more research. Because if ur asking this much of a general question you probably haven't done any research. The people on this forum will ride u for it. Plus it keeps down excessive repeat threads...

Anyway the first mod I would do before anything would be a tune. Do some research though some good ones to look into would be PROcede, JB4, Cobb, and GIAC...those are the main ones. Also with a tune you would be spending about the same money and be getting way more power!

Some of the intercoolers to look into though would be Helix, HPF, ETS, and Evolution Autowerks.
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      05-09-2012, 01:13 AM   #3
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Thanks for the help.

Do you know of any threads that would explain a bit more to me?
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      05-09-2012, 02:37 AM   #4
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i did a lot of research and went with the evolution racewerks complete kit. And yes it helps your car breath a lot easier and less stress on turbos if i under stand correctly but then again I'm not a expert lol
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      05-09-2012, 07:17 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrogo44 View Post
Thanks for the help.

Do you know of any threads that would explain a bit more to me?
If you are on a computer, in the upper right of the grey forum menu bar there is a button called "SEARCH".
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      05-09-2012, 08:09 AM   #6
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Tune > Front mount intercooler (FMIC) > Down pipes (DP's) > Intake > Exhaust.
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      05-09-2012, 09:35 AM   #7
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As long as you connect everything securely, no error codes will appear.


As for which is the "best", it's pretty much personal preference as they all are upgrades over stock. I personally chose the ER (Evolution Raceworks) model and am very happy with it.
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      05-09-2012, 09:39 AM   #8
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I think the best FMIC on the market right now is the ER FMIC so that would be my recommendation, but without a tune you aren't really going to see much gains.

Mike
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      05-09-2012, 09:46 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrogo44 View Post
Thanks for the help.

Do you know of any threads that would explain a bit more to me?


like evry1s already said, any aftermarket mod is usless unless you have a tune. Assuming you have an N54 motor, the big 3 tunes are the BMS JB4, the COBB AP & Vishnu PROcede. From there decide how much you want to mod your car (Intake, FMIC, DPs, Meth) and see what fits you best

**If you have an N55 you can only pick the BMS (Stage 1 or 2) or Vishnu tunes
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      05-09-2012, 10:05 AM   #10
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OP even without a tune the two must have mods are a upgraded FMIC and DPs. These two areas are two of the biggest restrictions on the n54 platform.

IMO u should get the car ready for a tune with the supporting mods before upping the power....
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      05-09-2012, 10:25 AM   #11
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      05-09-2012, 03:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zasquatch View Post
If you are on a computer, in the upper right of the grey forum menu bar there is a button called "SEARCH".
Nice - have you actually tried that little gray button? I have, and the end result is about 17 pages of mostly useless, non-related threads with little or no objective information about intercoolers.
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      05-09-2012, 03:36 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by MHirt View Post
Nice - have you actually tried that little gray button? I have, and the end result is about 17 pages of mostly useless, non-related threads with little or no objective information about intercoolers.
Yep... and we have just added one more thread to that list
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      05-09-2012, 03:54 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrogo44 View Post
I am looking into getting an intercooler for my e92 and I am curious about a few things: 1. Is it worth getting an intercooler on stock, as in do you see a noticeable difference? 2. Has anyone had any issues with theirs? Which brands are best? 3. Do many warning lights/sensors trip when it senses a new intercooler? 4. I just want to learn/hear more about intercoolers in general, so anything you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the help!
Like everyone said, the cooler IAT's from an aftermarket intercooler are where the gains are at. This allows you to run a more agressive tune that raises boost, advances timing, etc. Evolution Racewerks currently runs our software in conjunction with their intercooler (and other supporting modifications), on their Time Attack racecar. Feel free to PM or email me if you would like some more help on this topic!
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      05-09-2012, 04:38 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas@GIAC View Post
Like everyone said, the cooler IAT's from an aftermarket intercooler are where the gains are at. This allows you to run a more agressive tune that raises boost, advances timing, etc. Evolution Racewerks currently runs our software in conjunction with their intercooler (and other supporting modifications), on their Time Attack racecar. Feel free to PM or email me if you would like some more help on this topic!

There you go ladies and gentleman right from the tuners mouth(keyboard)...use the FMIC which has shown time and time again to have the BEST ait control and suppression>HELIX
Tell Garrett Mark Q(AWE) says hi!
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      05-09-2012, 05:26 PM   #16
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here is what i did, first got cobb and dual afe intake set at the same time/ next on my list is intercooler and diverter set.
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      05-10-2012, 08:12 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrogo44 View Post
I am looking into getting an intercooler for my e92 and I am curious about a few things: 1. Is it worth getting an intercooler on stock, as in do you see a noticeable difference? 2. Has anyone had any issues with theirs? Which brands are best? 3. Do many warning lights/sensors trip when it senses a new intercooler? 4. I just want to learn/hear more about intercoolers in general, so anything you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the help!
I'll just answer all your questions to put this to rest
  1. Is it worth getting an intercooler on stock
    No, because the car is set for factory performance (boost), you'll just be getting colder air in the engine. So while you're efficency will increase & the engine won't be working as hard (cold air is better for the engine), you won't see your HP/TQ numbers jump. A tune should ALWAYS be the 1st performance mod you make.
  2. Has anyone had issues? What brands are best?
    If installed properly, you should have NO problems except minor trimming for fitment. Some FMICs can slide right into the OEM slot, others you have to make some trimming for it to fit --- No real problems. Popular brands are Helix, HPF, Evolution Racewerks, AMS, Wanger + ETS. IMO, Helix is the best w/ its stepped design -- Can't go wrong w/ any of them tho
  3. Do warning lights/sensors trip when it sense a new intercooler?
    If you're completely stock, it's possible. That's the whole purpose behind getting a tune, the tune would support the FMIC and you wouldnt get any lights. Just like when ppl install DPs on their cars, if they leave it on the stock or lower performance maps, they'll get a CEL. Change the MAP you're using for something more aggressive & your tune will clear the CEL off your dash.
  4. General Comments:
    Get a tune, get an intake & then get a FMIC. I see you live in FL so you have hot-dense humid air. That's going to raise your temps quickly and make the engine work harder on hot air. If you really want to get max performance while protecting your car, without a doubt you should be shopping for a FMIC before you even start looking at things like DPs or Meth (ESPECIALLY if you're gonna really get on your car with lots of highway pulls, drag strips & track days).

Last edited by benzy89; 05-14-2012 at 11:49 AM..
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      05-11-2012, 10:29 AM   #18
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I just finished a 3000 mile road trip where I looked at IATs in various conditions with the Helix intercooler. Temperatures were very stable. At steady-state, off-boost highway driving, the temperatures averaged 12 degrees over ambient. When I did a series of on-boost pulls, the temperature dropped 3 degrees and stayed consistent until I went back to steady-state driving. The temp would then temporarily raise 5-6 degrees for 30 to 60 seconds, and then stabilize at about 12 over ambient. After hard, on-boost driving, if I came to a stoplight and waited for 60 seconds or more, the temperature would raise to 22-26 degrees over ambent. By the time I was through the intersection, temps drop 5 degrees. In light-to-light driving with heavy traffic, the temps varied from 15 to 18 over ambient, dropping by 5-8 degrees during a on-boost pull.

Even with abusive, on-boost city driving, I could never get sustained temps more than 20 degrees over ambient.
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      05-11-2012, 12:08 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by douwe22 View Post
here is what i did, first got cobb and dual afe intake set at the same time/ next on my list is intercooler and diverter set.
That's pretty much the same direction our 335 took at first. We went with the Forge intercooler on our 335 and Forge Diverter Valves. Since then we've switch the Forge Vavles out for a RD BOV set up, but the Forge intercooler remains.
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      05-11-2012, 01:55 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eric@helix View Post
I just finished a 3000 mile road trip where I looked at IATs in various conditions with the Helix intercooler. Temperatures were very stable. At steady-state, off-boost highway driving, the temperatures averaged 12 degrees over ambient. When I did a series of on-boost pulls, the temperature dropped 3 degrees and stayed consistent until I went back to steady-state driving. The temp would then temporarily raise 5-6 degrees for 30 to 60 seconds, and then stabilize at about 12 over ambient. After hard, on-boost driving, if I came to a stoplight and waited for 60 seconds or more, the temperature would raise to 22-26 degrees over ambent. By the time I was through the intersection, temps drop 5 degrees. In light-to-light driving with heavy traffic, the temps varied from 15 to 18 over ambient, dropping by 5-8 degrees during a on-boost pull.

Even with abusive, on-boost city driving, I could never get sustained temps more than 20 degrees over ambient.
That's really interesting.
Do you know what temperature the stock intercooler would read, just to gauge the difference?
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      05-11-2012, 01:56 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ECSTuning View Post
That's pretty much the same direction our 335 took at first. We went with the Forge intercooler on our 335 and Forge Diverter Valves. Since then we've switch the Forge Vavles out for a RD BOV set up, but the Forge intercooler remains.
Which tune did you use?
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      05-11-2012, 02:46 PM   #22
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Which tune did you use?
We started with Cobb Stage 1, now we are running Stage2+
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