The New Wagner Intercooler

[Kiwi Peter]

One of my customers twisted my arm badly, so i parted with my treasured HPF race intercooler.
My task now is to replace it with something as good, over the years i have fitted many different types of intercoolers to these cars, some i like some i don't.
I remember fitting a Wagner stepped plug & play street spec intercooler a few years back and was impressed with the quality of the product, so i jumped on line and found that they now do a race/Competition unit with a TUBE & FIN core.
After looking at all there flow charts i decided to make a purchase.
Fantastic service from Germany took 4 days

Time now to do some custom tuning and get my head around the Cobb protuner software, fun times ahead

[DR-JEKL]

So tell us, what's so special about the wagner Pete?

Or do you just like that the black core will match the colour scheme of your car?

[Kiwi Peter]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

So tell us, what's so special about the wagner Pete?

Or do you just like that the black core will match the colour scheme of your car?

HaHa No i am just a sucker for tube and fin intercoolers, great air flow through the face of the core and through the tubes as well, this core is fitted with turbulators, is stepped and black what more could i ask for.
Nearly as good as a JDM Trust intercooler

[Knightelf]

So I am guessing Martymil who suddenly found a second hand HPF FMIC bought it from you...

[questionable]

What did it set you back Pete ?

[sparoz]

I have that on my 1M for a while now but no one else like it.

[Kiwi Peter]

Originally Posted by Knightelf

So I am guessing Martymil who suddenly found a second hand HPF FMIC bought it from you...

Yep

[Kiwi Peter]

Originally Posted by questionable

What did it set you back Pete ?

With shipping and GST it was around $1370.00

[1MOz]

Looking good Pete.

Very similar to the Cobb's you installed on mine.

[John_01]

Buying an intercooler can be confusing. Just about every maker seems to claim their technology is superior to other imitation products. unless we get some flow bench testing done we probably won't know if we got a good one.

I'm expecting delivery of an intercooler quite soon, and its different from the two above.

[Kiwi Peter]

I guess it depends who's propaganda you read, but you are partly correct, most bar and plate poor quality intercoolers flow badly in fact worse than the stock intercooler.

I would say that the only way to test a unit is with two pressure gauges one at the entry and one at the throttle body, run the engine at full power on the dyno and log the pressure difference.

Then do the same test to measure the temperature difference and make your call, junk or not junk.

At the end of the day a pipe has no pressure drop but wont cool the air stream.

A poor quality intercooler may cool the air but it has poor flow, with all BMW turbo cars there is no space and poor air flow to fit a proper intercooler so it will always be a compromise no mater what you do.

From my experience, big is best, Tube and fin for best flow, bar and plate for best heat transfer.

With this in mind i chose the Wagner Tube & fin as there Propaganda seems to stack up, but who knows maybe if i have time i will test it out on the dyno and make the call.

[Dackelone]

Nice work Peter!

The Wagner "tube & fin" FMIC is called the EvoII. It has new rubber silicone hoses that come with the intercooler.

For a totally PnP FMIC Wagner makes their EvoI, FMIC which uses the factory clip connectors. I think for most this is the intercooler most guys should go for. The EvoII is more for the guys who want every last bit of Hp for their car.

Both are made in Germany. But Wagner also ships from California too.

[Eddie135]

What about Forge ones?

[Kiwi Peter]

Originally Posted by Eddie135

What about Forge ones?

Forge is a fine intercooler and works very well

[John_01]

Originally Posted by Peter@Advan

I would say that the only way to test a unit is with two pressure gauges one at the entry and one at the throttle body, run the engine at full power on the dyno and log the pressure difference.

Then do the same test to measure the temperature difference and make your call, junk or not junk.

That sounds fair. I've received my intercooler, so I'll be in touch regarding installation. As you know I'm only running PPK tune, looking at about 220rwkw. I am hoping the intercooler back pressure won't too bad at that power level. I may be curious enough to get the car on the Dyno for some testing. Mainly I would like to know what is happening to the boost pressure at high RPM.

[Kiwi Peter]

Originally Posted by John_01

That sounds fair. I've received my intercooler, so I'll be in touch regarding installation. As you know I'm only running PPK tune, looking at about 220rwkw. I am hoping the intercooler back pressure won't too bad at that power level. I may be curious enough to get the car on the Dyno for some testing. Mainly I would like to know what is happening to the boost pressure at high RPM.

All good John, see you soon

[UR25IO]

Originally Posted by John_01

That sounds fair. I've received my intercooler, so I'll be in touch regarding installation. As you know I'm only running PPK tune, looking at about 220rwkw. I am hoping the intercooler back pressure won't too bad at that power level. I may be curious enough to get the car on the Dyno for some testing. Mainly I would like to know what is happening to the boost pressure at high RPM.

Hi John

Just curious to know do you have any other mods done to get the 220rwkw with PPK tune?

That is really a good figure if its PPK tune only.
Im (N55) only putting out 196rwkw with just PPK

[thezone135i]

Originally Posted by UR25IO

Hi John

Just curious to know do you have any other mods done to get the 220rwkw with PPK tune?

That is really a good figure if its PPK tune only.
Im (N55) only putting out 196rwkw with just PPK

Geez thats low imo. Im a stock N54 with 80,000km and Im pulling 196rwkw.

[John_01]

Originally Posted by UR25IO

Hi John

Just curious to know do you have any other mods done to get the 220rwkw with PPK tune?

That is really a good figure if its PPK tune only.
Im (N55) only putting out 196rwkw with just PPK

Recorded 211.7rwkw on the Advan Dyno in June 2013. Totally stock with PPK (N55) as I haven't even upgraded the air filter. Lets see if it will get 220 with an intercooler upgrade. The DME was upgraded by the dealer back in February and it seems to be running better since then.