Install review for HPF FMIC

[Juicehead]

So I decided to go ahead and install the FMIC today.

First off, for those wondering how much "trimming" is actually involved, put it this way. It is more "material removal" than trimming. I had to remove the whole cross piece behind the lower grill to get this thing to fit! The HPF video on YouTube is very deceiving because they are performing the install on a 335i.

The long and short of it is like fitting 10lbs of chit in a 5lb bag.

Now the good part.
Got everything buttoned back up and took a test drive and...

Holy Chit Man!!! What a huge difference on the butt dyno

Totally worth the time involved. I will post a couple pics tomorrow.

For reference, mods so far
Cobb Accessport
BMS DCI
Berk Sport Exhaust (DP Back)
HPF FMIC

[BMW86]

Thanks for the review. How long did the trimming taking and did you only use a dremmel? I've heard the trimming is quite extensive for this FMIC.

Also, where did you notice the gains? 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th?

[Frampton]

can you do a few short data logs on the AP with the car fully warmed up? i would love to see the difference between some of the boost data (pressure drop) and the intake manifold temps.

I was doing a ton of WOT today and was seeing temps creeping over 120 degrees even with driving at an average speed of 45 and saw it peak over 130 yesterday when it was in the upper 80's here in Texas.

im trying to justify to myself that i "need" a new fmic...

[roo97ss]

just installed my ets yesterday.

sotp dyno says nice gains, esp once the car is warm, heat soak on the open dci doesn't seem as big a problem. However, it's still cool here in delaware so probably won't see any big difference in temp for a while. I will do some logs once it warms up.

It was a no cut affair, quite nice. For me, not going any further than this for mods (doubt i'll do down pipes, nor meth) it was an easy decision. Sure it's not the huge hpf unit, but due to fancy design packs a fair bit of cooling, and feels about twice as heavy as the stock unit, plus has bigger charge pipe, and smooth elbows.

The HPF is a nice unit, but i wasn't ready to hack things up under there.

[thez99]

Can u still use the lower grill with the HPF unit or not??

[Juicehead]

BMW86 - I used a cut-off wheel. You need a decent size disk to cut the material. The trimming took a couple hours only because I had a cheap harbor freight cut-off wheel and had to trim 4 different times to get it just right, a better quality wheel will net better results of course. I would say it could be done in less than 2 hours. A dremmel may work with the right bits.

Frampton - As soon as I get some time, I will do a few pulls for you. I live in florida so my reasoning is pretty much the same as yours.

r0097ss - If I did not have the access to the tools, I most likely would have gone ets as well. One option I like with the HPF is that it attached to all the stock piping.

thez99 - I was still able to use the lower grill with just trimming about 1" of the vertical tabs with a razor blade.

[thez99]

Did you hafta remove that piece under the grill for good? Or is it always separate

[escobar929]

Did you have to cut anything else? Or just whats in the pic?

[Boosted_N54]

Will the HPF fmic fit in the 135i sport m bumper

[Juicehead]

Originally Posted by escobar929

Did you have to cut anything else? Or just whats in the pic?

just what is in the pic...

Did you hafta remove that piece under the grill for good? Or is it always separate

It is gone for good....

I guess if you ever had to replace it, you would need to replace the whole plastic underneath the bumper. No worries though, it is by no means structural...

[Juicehead]

Originally Posted by maxnix

Nice write up. I am not quite sure where that part in the bottom of the picture goes? So all done without removing the front bumper cover?

Need some (better quality!) installed pictures.

lql

I know I know, after about the 4th hour rolled around (because for the crappy cut-off wheel), I just wanted to get it done. If someone can get me a pic of a 135i with the front lower grill removed, I can show where the cut is...

yes, you can do it with the bumper cover on, but definitely remove the lower grill...

[Juicehead]

Originally Posted by maxnix

So you did remove the front cover?

Looking forward to some installed pictures.

no, front cover stayed on

I will get some pics this evening for ya

[red_stapler]

Originally Posted by Juicehead

So I decided to go ahead and install the FMIC today.

First off, for those wondering how much "trimming" is actually involved, put it this way. It is more "material removal" than trimming. I had to remove the whole cross piece behind the lower grill to get this thing to fit! The HPF video on YouTube is very deceiving because they are performing the install on a 335i.

The long and short of it is like fitting 10lbs of chit in a 5lb bag.

Now the good part.
Got everything buttoned back up and took a test drive and...

Holy Chit Man!!! What a huge difference on the butt dyno

Totally worth the time involved. I will post a couple pics tomorrow.

For reference, mods so far
Cobb Accessport
BMS DCI
Berk Sport Exhaust (DP Back)
HPF FMIC

Did you really notice a HUGE difference? When i put my FMIC in, there was a small difference, but nothing like chip or DPs.

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by red_stapler

Did you really notice a HUGE difference? When i put my FMIC in, there was a small difference, but nothing like chip or DPs.

I'd like to know this as well. I'm getting one either way but after hearing all these great reviews about huge power difference I've got really high expectations.

[infinitekidM2C]

Get some catless downpipes next Juicehead

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by BMW86

I'd like to know this as well. I'm getting one either way but after hearing all these great reviews about huge power difference I've got really high expectations.

An aftermarket intercooler is going to help with avoiding heatsoak on the track or in Australian street driving but it's not going to give you a large power increase.

For power: tune, methanol kit, downpipes. Pretty much everything else makes not much difference in terms of power.

[Juicehead]

Originally Posted by infinitekid2002

Get some catless downpipes next Juicehead

haha, they are sitting in my garage waiting to be put on (iCarbon thermal coated).

Cobb said to be safe, wait till they release stage 2 as the catless DPs could cause an overboost issue.

As far as difference it made, no it wasn't as noticable as say the Cobb reflash but the best way to explain was..

4th felt like 3rd gear, 5th felt like 4th, etc... 3rd gear pulled a bit better, but not as good as second. Anything over say 1/2 throttle in 2nd gear with Cobb stage 1, I lose traction, it is just retarded...

Definitely more noticable at speed obviously. Oh, and nice cool mornings as well.