OEM N52 Oil Cooler - Worth it for tracking?

[Mach1er]

Has anyone installed the OEM "Heat Exchanger" on their non-Euro spec N52?
Texas is awfully hot in the summer and it seems somewhat torturous to track a car in this heat. Just wondering if it's a worth-while upgrade for those of us whose N52 a) didn't come with the stock oil cooler b) doesn't have the sport bumper with the ability to retrofit the N54 oil cooler mounted in front of the wheel.

P/N 11427525333

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_3753

[KNS]

Interested as well, I'm considering adding one to my car. I'm in Phoenix and I'd also like to take it to the track.

[bNks334]

Don't even bother. Just buy the OFH and OTH and a cheap 25 row oil cooler kit from ebay.

That heat exchanger wont do anything worth while on track.

[AlexR6]

Originally Posted by bNks334

That heat exchanger wont do anything worth while on track.

I'm not so sure... I have it since my 125i has it stock and never got the engine overheated and no engine derating even after 40 min session on track.

And I have 265 hp and OEM cat which contributes to high engine temps!

However I eas consider to install an air to oil cooler but I don't have any idea about my current oil temp during track sessions!

[squidge]

RealOEM shows that the N54 135i doesen't have an external oil cooler. I checked three different build dates. Strange, is that correct? http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_3867

I found the OTH/OFH for an N55 car though: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_4465

Those parts should still work for an N51/N52, right?

[squidge]

I'm seeing two good aftermarket conversion kits which can be purchased with the correct housing, for around $1300:

http://evolutionracewerks.com/node/132

http://www.shop.stettperformance.com...9&categoryId=5

Definitely a bit expensive, but might be worth it for the fit and finish vs. a DIY eBay cooler. I'm fairly against putting eBay-level stuff on this car.

Does anyone have a definitive answer as to whether any sort of coding is required? I can't imagine why it would, but hey, BMW.

[AlexR6]

Originally Posted by squidge

I'm seeing two good aftermarket conversion kits which can be purchased with the correct housing, for around $1300:

http://evolutionracewerks.com/node/132

http://www.shop.stettperformance.com...9&categoryId=5

Definitely a bit expensive, but might be worth it for the fit and finish vs. a DIY eBay cooler. I'm fairly against putting eBay-level stuff on this car.

Does anyone have a definitive answer as to whether any sort of coding is required? I can't imagine why it would, but hey, BMW.

No coding for sure, there is no electronic component involved in the oil cooling circuit!

Anyway, 1000+$ for a radiator, two hoses, some fittings or a adapter plate and a thermostat valve is a theft!

Originally Posted by squidge

RealOEM shows that the N54 135i doesen't have an external oil cooler. I checked three different build dates. Strange, is that correct? http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_3867

I found the OTH/OFH for an N55 car though: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_4465

Those parts should still work for an N51/N52, right?

Don't know about US version but euro version has it!
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_3971

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by squidge

RealOEM shows that the N54 135i doesen't have an external oil cooler. I checked three different build dates. Strange, is that correct? http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_3867

I found the OTH/OFH for an N55 car though: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_4465

Those parts should still work for an N51/N52, right?

It's showing on a 1-13 build
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_4465

[squidge]

Cool, same part number between the '07 Euro N54 and the '13 N55, so that's all we need to know.

I guess one problem with the fancy kits is they're all geared towards the 135i, which lack fog lights, so I don't know how that would work in an M-Sport 128i. I need to stick my head under the bumper and look at how deep the fog light housing is, or find a cooler that suits the smaller opening okay.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by squidge

Cool, same part number between the '07 Euro N54 and the '13 N55, so that's all we need to know.

I guess one problem with the fancy kits is they're all geared towards the 135i, which lack fog lights, so I don't know how that would work in an M-Sport 128i. I need to stick my head under the bumper and look at how deep the fog light housing is, or find a cooler that suits the smaller opening okay.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm looking at a custom install, mounting one where turbo cars mount their intercooler. Seems like a natural for the M-Sport bumper and there are probably already holes I can use to mount it.

[AlexR6]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

As I mentioned earlier, I'm looking at a custom install, mounting one where turbo cars mount their intercooler. Seems like a natural for the M-Sport bumper and there are probably already holes I can use to mount it.

Something like this!
http://www.vfengineering.com/e9x-m3-oil-cooler/

[squidge]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

As I mentioned earlier, I'm looking at a custom install, mounting one where turbo cars mount their intercooler. Seems like a natural for the M-Sport bumper and there are probably already holes I can use to mount it.

That's right -- keep us posted on your progress!

That M3 oil cooler looks like beautiful, beautiful overkill. Something like that would be awesome.

[Mach1er]

Originally Posted by squidge

I'm seeing two good aftermarket conversion kits which can be purchased with the correct housing, for around $1300:

http://evolutionracewerks.com/node/132

http://www.shop.stettperformance.com...9&categoryId=5

Definitely a bit expensive, but might be worth it for the fit and finish vs. a DIY eBay cooler. I'm fairly against putting eBay-level stuff on this car.

Does anyone have a definitive answer as to whether any sort of coding is required? I can't imagine why it would, but hey, BMW.

Yeah, the ER one looks like it would need the air inlet on a sport bumper without foglights. I don't think my non-sport bumper has any holes in front of the wheel well. Will check again to be sure.

The Stett one seems very similar to the OEM one. Without a better picture, it's difficult to tell. If you read the bottom sentence on their descriptor page it says you'd need a similar retrofit one for the oil filter housing as if you were installing the OEM. Not clear how that saves you $1000....

[KNS]

Originally Posted by squidge

Cool, same part number between the '07 Euro N54 and the '13 N55, so that's all we need to know.

I guess one problem with the fancy kits is they're all geared towards the 135i, which lack fog lights, so I don't know how that would work in an M-Sport 128i. I need to stick my head under the bumper and look at how deep the fog light housing is, or find a cooler that suits the smaller opening okay.

My 128 is a '13 also. Are you considering removing the passenger side fog light? Some ducting to the cooler would provide the airflow needed. My car isn't nearby so I can't go out and look around as to what might be in the way.

[squidge]

No, I'm not interested in removing the fog light permanently. I'd rather work around it and preserve the OEM look. I'm hopefully installing my E92 M3 FSB on July 5th, so I'll look into the fog light constraints some more while I'm at it.

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by AlexR6

I'm not so sure... I have it since my 125i has it stock and never got the engine overheated and no engine derating even after 40 min session on track.

And I have 265 hp and OEM cat which contributes to high engine temps!

However I eas consider to install an air to oil cooler but I don't have any idea about my current oil temp during track sessions!

Not sure how hard you're running your car, or what conditions you were running under, but I hit ~270f (90+ ambient) even with the 25 row oil cooler installed on my 128i. All depends on how hard you drive the car. The heat exchanger definitely wont cut it if you want to run 8/10+ every lap.

Some people with the 135i have no issues with oil temps with the stock cooler. Then yet even more people have to install dual competition oil coolers from evolution raceworks to keep temps down. That car is an entirely different beast though. I now own one so I can tell you from personal experience there is no comparison between the two cars. Especially when it comes to cooling requirements.

Also, if you didn't log temps how do you know your oil was good? 299f may not throw a code, but I sure wouldn't want to subject my oil or my engine to that heat.

Originally Posted by squidge

No, I'm not interested in removing the fog light permanently. I'd rather work around it and preserve the OEM look. I'm hopefully installing my E92 M3 FSB on July 5th, so I'll look into the fog light constraints some more while I'm at it.

Instead of removing the 128i fog light you can dremel out the honeycomb on the lower grill. You can duct air from there to the oil cooler in the wheel well:

Link to DIY and more pics of install:http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...5#post20176395

[AlexR6]

Originally Posted by bNks334

Not sure how hard you're running your car, or what conditions you were running under, but I hit ~270f (90+ ambient) even with the 25 row oil cooler installed on my 128i. All depends on how hard you drive the car. The heat exchanger definitely wont cut it if you want to run 8/10+ every lap.

Some people with the 135i have no issues with oil temps with the stock cooler. Then yet even more people have to install dual competition oil coolers from evolution raceworks to keep temps down. That car is an entirely different beast though. I now own one so I can tell you from personal experience there is no comparison between the two cars. Especially when it comes to cooling requirements.

Also, if you didn't log temps how do you know your oil was good? 299f may not throw a code, but I sure wouldn't want to subject my oil or my engine to that heat.

This is a short video of me driving at Monza track, independently from my driving skills, 90% of the time the gas pedal is 100% down.

Air temp was 30°C (86 F) and I had no engine torque reduction at all, even after 30 mins, so for me oil temp should be under max limit allowed.

But as you said, I cannot log my temps (thanks BMW) so I'm not sure how good the OEM oil to water heat exchanger works

[KNS]

bNks334,

I like your idea but I have the updated front bumper and grill. That's not going to work on mine.

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by KNS

bNks334,
I like your idea but I have the updated front bumper and grill. That's not going to work on mine.

That IS the updated front bumper and grill (2013 post facelift car). Maybe you mean you have the m-sport bumper? Not sure I grabbed a picture of the right grill, but it's close enough to get the concept of what to do... I circled the cutout you would make in red. This was the best way I could see to get air.

The other way would be to slice open and modify the aero piece to direct that airflow to the cooler and brakes... but that would probably take even more work that just dremel out the honeycomb and zip tying a duct right to the back of the front grill...



Or again, remove the fog light.

[KNS]

bNks334,

That is the bumper I have after all. I'd like to keep the fog light but I don't want to hack up the grill. You could easily buy some mesh grill (popular on 997s and many other cars) to replace the entire black plastic grill and it would look very tidy. You'd have to do a little ducting to direct air to the cooler.

I wonder if the later 135s have the aero slits in the fender liner? I'd like to use the 135 fender liner as it has the rear cut out vents for the oil cooler. I don't think the front slits alone would provide enough air flow for the cooler but better than nothing.

[wolfe]

I'm in the process of adding 135i lower grilles to my 128i m-sport, and the passenger side duct has an extra piece up top for the oil cooler.

Originally Posted by squidge

Cool, same part number between the '07 Euro N54 and the '13 N55, so that's all we need to know.

I guess one problem with the fancy kits is they're all geared towards the 135i, which lack fog lights, so I don't know how that would work in an M-Sport 128i. I need to stick my head under the bumper and look at how deep the fog light housing is, or find a cooler that suits the smaller opening okay.