what's the best Intercooler for 1M ?

[M3Power79]

Originally Posted by RPMracing

Akra full
Good Tune
Filters
Charge pipe

That must be a very good tune ( or an optimistic dyno )

[RPMracing]

3 x times different dyno ...

and yes a very good tune ( www.mega-speed.de )

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by RPMracing

3 x times different dyno ...

and yes a very good tune ( www.mega-speed.de )

Is the 442 PS number at the wheels/chasis or flywheel? Either way this is considerably higher than the advertised number on the Mega Speed website of 415 PS at the flywheel which is theoretically 15% higher than at the wheel.

[Tuned1M]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

Is the 442 PS number at the wheels/chasis or flywheel? Either way this is considerably higher than the advertised number on the Mega Speed website of 415 PS at the flywheel which is theoretically 15% higher than at the wheel.

I will say that's at the crank.

[Jet Mech]

Originally Posted by Em/1

I like my Forge--well made and no cutting.

+1. Very high quality and super easy install.

[Mdawood]

Originally Posted by Jet Mech

+1. Very high quality and super easy install.

+1

[octainejunkee]

personally, i dont like the look of any of the current intercoolers on offer-hence why im getting one of the best ic fabricators in the game to make me one.
spec r- will be making mine in sept. once theyve got the measurements they'l be able to offer them off the shelf.
il post up the results once mine is done.
cheers jamie

[sergeremi]

Interesting...



but, still subscribed

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Jet Mech

I like my Forge--well made and no cutting.

Originally Posted by Em/1

+1. Very high quality and super easy install.

Originally Posted by Mdawood

+2

+3

[Alexey]

Originally Posted by ///M1

+3

+4
442 hp when is stock 360 hp on Dyno

[inline.6]

Originally Posted by RPMracing

Akra full
Good Tune
Filters
Charge pipe

I currently have the HPF 7" and had the huge AA FMIC on my 135i, the thing you should look for is a deep core, 7" preferably if you are fully tuned. And it also depends if you want to keep stock piping for replace it. HPF could offer you both ways and they are very big. Others i would suggest are the ETs 7" and other that have 7" cores for max performance cutting is required.

[RPMracing]

Originally Posted by inline.6

I currently have the HPF 7" and had the huge AA FMIC on my 135i, the thing you should look for is a deep core, 7" preferably if you are fully tuned. And it also depends if you want to keep stock piping for replace it. HPF could offer you both ways and they are very big. Others i would suggest are the ETs 7" and other that have 7" cores for max performance cutting is required.

HPF 7" ... ok... i see is a good intercooler !

Helix, Wagner, HPF, AMS, Forge....

[ChrisBuer]

Originally Posted by ///M1

+3

Originally Posted by Alexey

+4
442 hp when is stock 360 hp on Dyno

+5

I'm really impressed with my Forge. Great quality, no lag and a good power increase with it.

[Pete_vB]

Has anyone seen a chart with all the various intercooler weights? I know some vendors suggest weight as a "feature" to help delay heat-soak, but adding 15 lbs out on the front bumper is not high on my list of things to do. I started making a chart myself, but didn't find many weights listed.

[Tuned1M]

The 7" VRSF FMIC supposedly adds roughly 10 lbs. upfront according to another forum member. I'm just worried that the larger radiator fans we have may create too tight of a fit even with trimming. A 5" is in my future at this point.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Pete_vB

Has anyone seen a chart with all the various intercooler weights? I know some vendors suggest weight as a "feature" to help delay heat-soak, but adding 15 lbs out on the front bumper is not high on my list of things to do. I started making a chart myself, but didn't find many weights listed.

I didn't weigh my Forge officially (have to check on their website if they do give out an actual weight). It was heavier than stock, but IMO not by 15lbs.

At the end of the day, just about any aftermarket FMIC would add weight, but marginal, so to me the benefits outweigh the cons. It's at a fairly low point in the car, so center of gravity isn't all that impacted, ditto for the weight distribution considering this is a 35-3600+lb car (with driver) after all.

[Pete_vB]

Originally Posted by ///M1

I didn't weigh my Forge officially (have to check on their website if they do give out an actual weight). It was heavier than stock, but IMO not by 15lbs.

At the end of the day, just about any aftermarket FMIC would add weight, but marginal, so to me the benefits outweigh the cons. It's at a fairly low point in the car, so center of gravity isn't all that impacted, ditto for the weight distribution considering this is a 35-3600+lb car (with driver) after all.

It's an individual call if the benefits are worth the weight or not, but that's very nearly the last place you want to add weight.

The stock IC is 6.5 lbs.
Looks like Forge claims 16.5 lbs.
ETS is 15.6
Wagner ~20
Helix ~23 lbs (?)

For every ten pounds you add there you add 12 lbs to the front wheels and subtract 3 lbs from the back. Put another way, adding your Forge IC has more impact on your car's weight distribution as swapping your motor for the M3's V8. For a car that is already too nose heavy that's an issue- no it's not a huge change, but every little bit helps putting power down, etc.

In light of this, and the big differences between the brands weight, I personally feel pretty strongly that weight is a factor that need to be taken into consideration. But I autocross, I don't drag race.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Pete_vB

It's an individual call if the benefits are worth the weight or not, but that's very nearly the last place you want to add weight.

The stock IC is 6.5 lbs.
Looks like Forge claims 16.5 lbs.
ETS is 15.6
Wagner ~20
Helix ~23 lbs (?)

For every ten pounds you add there you add 12 lbs to the front wheels and subtract 3 lbs from the back. Put another way, adding your Forge IC has more impact on your car's weight distribution as swapping your motor for the M3's V8. For a car that is already too nose heavy that's an issue- no it's not a huge change, but every little bit helps putting power down, etc.

In light of this, and the big differences between the brands weight, I personally feel pretty strongly that weight is a factor that need to be taken into consideration. But I autocross, I don't drag race.

You are correct in a few things:

1. It is an individual call/choice (like everything else I suppose ). For people running tunes and in hot climate (raises hand), benefits of a proven FMIC clearly outweigh a 10 lb 'penalty', every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Would I have been happier if there were no weight penalties, surely, but as the saying goes...'gotta pay to play'.

2. Nearly the last place you wanna add weight - I can think of others far worse, like rotational mass (wheels, wider tires, spacers, some BBKs), but overall yes better not add any weight if possible, especially on a RWD drive car weighing more than 50% up front.

3. Weight is a factor that needs to be taken into consideration. It is, again it is in the eye of the beholder. 20" wheels are not optimal for the car, yet many have them, so I suppose to each their own.

So in your example above, should we all consider adding the Akrapovic titanium exhaust actually a detriment to the car as it lightens the rear and only adds to the front heaviness and even more unfavorable weight distribution? Or driving always with a 1/4 tank as it improves weight distribution? Not trying to be argumentative, but there is a point where you have to draw the line. I bet the winter rubber mats people put in the car add more than most IC would (granted at midsection), but my point is 10lbs in the grand scheme of things is not necessarily worth hairsplitting, unless we are running an open wheel racing series team.

PS: I don't drag race either, but I suppose I am used to driving a front heavy performance car, so going from a 52/48 to a 52.05/47.95 ratio isn't that badly felt...

[Pete_vB]

Originally Posted by ///M1

I suppose I am used to driving a front heavy performance car, so going from a 52/48 to a 52.05/47.95 ratio isn't that badly felt...

52.0 to 52.2, btw. In reality running on light fuel it's more like 53%+ on the nose, when we'd prefer it was 53+% on the rear... And yes, this it may well slow you down despite the increased power on a tight autocross. I absolutely fuel my car for weight distribution at the autocross, by the way. YMMV.

No need to get your your panties in a twist, I am not attacking you personally or your modding skills. I am saying that if and when I choose an intercooler, weight is something I'll be considering among other factors. I'd suggest others might as well, though it seems you've got one of the lighter ones already.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Pete_vB

52.0 to 52.2, btw. In reality running on light fuel it's more like 53%+ on the nose, when we'd prefer it was 53+% on the rear... And yes, this it may well slow you down despite the increased power on a tight autocross. I absolutely fuel my car for weight distribution at the autocross, by the way. YMMV.

No need to get your your panties in a twist, I am not attacking you personally or your modding skills. I am saying that if and when I choose an intercooler, weight is something I'll be considering among other factors. I'd suggest others might as well, though it seems you've got one of the lighter ones already.

We're cool man, my panties were never twisted, takes a lot more effort to do that. Perhaps typing through the interwebs often puts a connotation (and hence an interpretation) that isn't really there (or intended). Didn't take anything you said personally, but more as a different point of view. (actually not altogether different as I am not sure we principally disagreed on anything that was said).

[bdaddylo]

According to my scale, the Forge weighs 17.5#. I'm very skeptical on the claims of HP increases. I haven't installed mine yet.

[HP Autowerks]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

According to my scale, the Forge weighs 17.5#. I'm very skeptical on the claims of HP increases. I haven't installed mine yet.

In our experience upgrading just the IC will likely not get you any HP gain on the 1M and often you will end up with a bit less. However, when combined with a tune then it's a different story.

ETS has been proven to support around 400 whp without high IAT's. Wagner will be tested next. 7" IC's will obviously support more hp at the expanse cutting up the core support for the install.