Intercooler advice?

[Cavpilot2k]

Looking for a plug & play (with a tune, of course - JB4 or Cobb).
I want the best performance gain I can get with NO cutting required. I wouldn't say price is no object, but I'm not going to nit-pick for a hundred dollars or so.

Suggestions?

[vivanapoli806]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

Looking for a plug & play (with a tune, of course - JB4 or Cobb).
I want the best performance gain I can get with NO cutting required. I wouldn't say price is no object, but I'm not going to nit-pick for a hundred dollars or so.

Suggestions?

Vrsf stepped core for sure. Send Tiago a message

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by vivanapoli806

Vrsf stepped core for sure. Send Tiago a message

He'd have to be ok with a tiny amount of cutting with that one. Totally agreed it's generally the best bang/buck option though.

[bokyo1987]

The Wagner unit is pretty good if you don't want to cut anything.

[Cavpilot2k]

Thanks for the inmput, guys. You are pretty much confirming what I had heard previously, but it's been a while since I looked into it.

Looks like the stepped core may or may not require trimming. I suppose if it's just a little on the shroud, that's okay - just don't want to dig out the bumper.

[wobbles1]

Went with the wagner stepped core fit perfect.

[Eyeman]

ETS

[potxoli]

sorry for the newb question, but does just a better FMIC with no DP give more power with a tune? I don't want a DP due to passing emissions on my n55. On the fence about FMIC.

[EM58NDS 135i]

I have the AA Sport FMIC, and whilst it required a little bit of cutting to make it fit right, i am happy with it for the price. If i had a little more cash i would have gone with the Wagner Tuning stealth look stepped core FMIC. It is in my opinion the best FMIC out there for performance, quality and fitment combined.

[vivanapoli806]

Originally Posted by potxoli

sorry for the newb question, but does just a better FMIC with no DP give more power with a tune? I don't want a DP due to passing emissions on my n55. On the fence about FMIC.

Yes you will get more power with a tune and a fmic. I was talking to the guys at cobb and you will actually see more power running a stage 1+ map than a stage 2 map for downpipes. Idk if ur running cobb or jb4.

[Freon]

Wagner has four different part variations, and the bottom of the line one looks pretty awful according to their own data sheet. It's the one most vendors are selling as well, and unfortunately everyone seems to recommend it on this forum.

http://www.wagner-tuning.com/BMW-135...ines_p_42.html

240g/s airflow is probably about stock airflow at stock boost and power (depending on efficiency you can roughly estimate on 1.1-1.3 bhp per 1 g/s). And 2.5 psi drop at that airflow is awful. It's the model with a bar and plate core and OEM style connections. I recommend avoiding it like the plague. It's not remotely sufficient for a car with a JB or Cobb AP tune.

Their two top end models based on a tube and fin and 70mm (2.75") connectors look pretty solid, though. It seems hard to find them.

Otherwise, this topic has been beaten to death. Use search feature unless you want to roll the dice on this one new thread having the best information amongst the dozens of times a thread on this subject is made every year.

[houtan]

Im really happy with the ATM intercooler. My review is here: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1069879

There is currently a group buy as well

[3002 tii]

The performance you "gain" with Wagner is not worth it imo. I would rather cut just a little or find one that may not necessarily use OEM couplings but still considered no cut. Else pay up and get the Forge ic.

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by Freon

Wagner has four different part variations, and the bottom of the line one looks pretty awful according to their own data sheet. It's the one most vendors are selling as well, and unfortunately everyone seems to recommend it on this forum.

http://www.wagner-tuning.com/BMW-135...ines_p_42.html

240g/s airflow is probably about stock airflow at stock boost and power (depending on efficiency you can roughly estimate on 1.1-1.3 bhp per 1 g/s). And 2.5 psi drop at that airflow is awful. It's the model with a bar and plate core and OEM style connections. I recommend avoiding it like the plague. It's not remotely sufficient for a car with a JB or Cobb AP tune.

Their two top end models based on a tube and fin and 70mm (2.75") connectors look pretty solid, though. It seems hard to find them.

Otherwise, this topic has been beaten to death. Use search feature unless you want to roll the dice on this one new thread having the best information amongst the dozens of times a thread on this subject is made every year.

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

The performance you "gain" with Wagner is not worth it imo. I would rather cut just a little or find one that may not necessarily use OEM couplings but still considered no cut. Else pay up and get the Forge ic.

I agree with the opinions on the Wagner plug and play intercooler. I bought the Dinan intercooler on sale and I'm extremely happy with the performance gain. It was plug and play but there is some cutting involved to fit (6 inch core). Forge is another good option if you want plug and play but it's about as expensive as Dinan. The Mishimoto also looked interesting as a plug and play option and is almost half the cost of dinan and forge but you are leaving performance on the table imo.

[mike@x-ph.com]

VRSF 5" stepped core or the ETS 5" intercooler

[TurboBullett@Ambient Thermal Management]

Originally Posted by houtan

Im really happy with the ATM intercooler. My review is here: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1069879

There is currently a group buy as well

We have 6 units available for immediate shipping!

[Miko226]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

VRSF 5" stepped core or the ETS 5" intercooler

+1

My stepped core performs amazingly well even in extreme conditions it keeps IAT relatively ambient which is impressive in south florida summers 90%+ Humidity and 95*+ even after multiple pulls IAT's drop right back down extremely fast. The Cutting involved is a 1 inch little tab that gets in the way of the stepped core and its hardly considered cutting since you can do it with a razor blade or strong scissors.

[Tiago@VRSF]

The stepped core has been really popular lately and only requires a small amount of trimming on some cars. Some of the cores mentioned use an inferior and less expensive tube/fin core which I wouldn't consider an upgrade and they retain the restrictive OEM connectors which neck down to less than 2" before and after the intercooler.

[Freon]

Tube and fin isn't necessarily inferior... Out of Wagner's four products, the two tube and fine units are their "best" or at least targeted at the highest performance level.

[Tiago@VRSF]

I'd hate to start a debate on which is better but take a look at any high HP street/drag car and you'll see they all use bar and plate for a reason

[Gregoriovv]

Have any of you seen the Stett Intercooler? It looks nothing like all the others. Instead of being short and fat, it's tall and thin. I don't know if this is an advantage or not but it looks pretty legit. I am still in the research stage and that one shot to the top of the list. Google Stett Intercooler and see what you think!

[PeterPure]

Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF

I'd hate to start a debate on which is better but take a look at any high HP street/drag car and you'll see they all use bar and plate for a reason

I have to agree here. For street use and quartermile races get a bar and plate fmic.

I tested 4 fmics. One of them being wagner competition tube and fin fmic. And cooling was slightly better than stock fmic due to stepped core with larger frontal area. I also tried 5" forge bar and plate fmic. While good cooling it has high pressure drop.

Now i tried atm fmic and i am impressed with it. Great cooling and minor pressure drop due to half rounded tubes. I will put my review up during weekend. Its by far the best FMIC and very well priced.