DIY - 128i Oil Cooler Retrofit (on a budget)

[bNks334]

Tracking your 128i? Experiencing extreme oil temps? Want to retrofit an oil cooler on a budget? Keep reading!

Basically, oil temps quickly became an issue once I hit upper intermediate skill level with my 128i on track. After seeing temps of up to 290f+ one time I didn't book another HPDE until I got an oil cooler retrofitted. The DME begins to reduce power in stages once you hit 300f+ and coolant temps will struggle to stay at the "open map" target of 180f-190f.

The result? Temps never went above 270f with the oil cooler installed. That was with the stock oil thermostat (230-260 operating temp?) and NO air ducting to it. Once I remove my fog light, in order to increase airflow, temps were a rock solid at HPDE events at 260f with 90f+ ambient temps.

Items used:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_4465

* Oil filter housing (11427548032, 11427533067 and many other part numbers)
* Oil thermostat housing (11427573212)

* Oil cooler adapter fitting for BMW (~$20):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281846704667...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

* Oil cooler kit ($110):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272055049874
25 row (19 row might fit better, or at least try to get one that is not as wide as the one I bought)
Inlet / Outlet Size: 10 AN
Core Size: 11.50" x 7.20" x 2.00"
Overall Size: 13.00"x 8.20" x 2.00"

* Air duct, engine oil cooler, right (51747194460)

* New Engine Oil Filter Housing Gasket (11427537293, 11427611391, and many other part numbers) (~$7):

Other/Misc: oil, oil filter, drill, drill bits, sheet metal screws, metal brackets, adjustable wrench (10-an fittings), 8mm socket (wheel well liner), snips, razor blade, zip ties, brake clean, and maybe a few other tools.





All-in, I spent about $350 to retrofit an oil cooler. A generic 25 row oil cooler kit on EBAY cost $125 (no different than a brand name one). The Oil thermostat housing and Oil filter housing can be taken off a TON of BMW's (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?q=11427533067). The one I bought came off a 335i. There are no moving parts other than the thermostat itself (easy to replace and cheap), so don't worry about buying used parts. You can always clean and polish the housing to look like new again!

The ER oil cooler setup is amazing, but I am pretty sure it wont work with the stock 128i bumper. You'd have a clean install on the oil cooler, but you'd still have the stock bumper with no airflow... You'd need to upgrade to the BMW performance bumper to make use of them. That's a big commitment between dropping 1k+ on the oil cooler setup and a new bumper.

Installation:

To install the Oil filter housing follow this DIY: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=476419

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:


Shot of things I had to trim to make the large oil cooler fit:


Here is the cooler bolted to the bracket I made. I used round rubber bushings from the plumbing isle with the bolts between the oil cooler and the bracket to dampen vibrations (can't see them in the pic because I added the bushings after I re-mounted the oil cooler):


All buttoned up. I have since remounted the cooler further back (trimmed the headlight housing and aero piece). I also made a better bracket than the one shown above. Does it look pretty? No. Does it work? YES. Once the fender liner is back on you can’t even notice the black oil cooler in the wheel well... it looks clean.



Engine bay shot:

[squidge]

Really appreciate the info here and your efforts in documenting it.

I don't want to do anything hacky to this particular car, so things that come from Home Depot and eBay are probably not in my future, but there's excellent food for thought here. And now you've got me wanting the BMWP bumper.

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by squidge

Really appreciate the info here and your efforts in documenting it.

I don't want to do anything hacky to this particular car, so things that come from Home Depot and eBay are probably not in my future, but there's excellent food for thought here. And now you've got me wanting the BMWP bumper.

The BMWP bumper looks amazing on the 1-series! I only started hacking up my 128i because I realized that a base model automatic 128i wasn't the best platform to put money into lol

My install looks messy from those pictures, but it's rock solid and really only required drilling three holes. I can see how some people would much rather just buy the ER kit and bring it to a shop to be installed with a new bumper for a nice clean professional look. From what I understand though, you'll have to "hack" up a few places to install that kit too. The 135i wheel well liner hides everything either way!

[squidge]

I'm not a shop kind of person, but I am a quality of fit and finish kind of person. Fair point on either method requiring some kind of drilling/hacking.

It just occurred to me I have to leave it alone for another year or void my warranty anyway...

[Taskmaster]

Hey man, I've been reading through some of your threads - where did you find the oil filter housing/thermostat and do you think it's possible to mount that in the front bumper area?

[bNks334]

I didn't really look into mounting it in the front. I didn't see any reason to block the radiator since the wheel well works fine.

The oil filter housing and the oil thermostat housing are the same part across multiple platforms. They have a few different part numbers, but I listed 2 common numbers above. They can be found on ebay for $75 each or <$150 together. Pop the oil filter housing number into realoem and that will lead you to the oil thermostat housing numbers.

[GripAndRip]

Originally Posted by bNks334

I didn't really look into mounting it in the front. I didn't see any reason to block the radiator since the wheel well works fine.

The oil filter housing and the oil thermostat housing are the same part across multiple platforms. They have a few different part numbers, but I listed 2 common numbers above. They can be found on ebay for $75 each or <$150 together. Pop the oil filter housing number into realoem and that will lead you to the oil thermostat housing numbers.

If I'm buying used parts, especially off a debatably totaled 335i, couldn't I just buy the entire oem oil cooler setup for pretty cheap? Did you try just sourcing the entire thing off a totaled vehicle? I have seen several entire part outs over the last couple weeks on here. Seems the norm is name your price

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by GripAndRip

If I'm buying used parts, especially off a debatably totaled 335i, couldn't I just buy the entire oem oil cooler setup for pretty cheap? Did you try just sourcing the entire thing off a totaled vehicle? I have seen several entire part outs over the last couple weeks on here. Seems the norm is name your price

Most people wanted close to $500 for the whole setup. For whatever reason, people here on the forums think the stock 10row oil cooler and the housings are worth more than they are.

I paid $150 shipped for both housing off EBAY. It was way cheaper to use aftermarket. Also, I got a better oil cooler,

You will probably have better luck at a "pull your part" scarp yard than on the forums -price wise.

[GripAndRip]

Originally Posted by bNks334

Most people wanted close to $500 for the whole setup. For whatever reason, people here on the forums think the stock 10row oil cooler and the housings are worth more than they are.

I paid $150 shipped for both housing off EBAY. It was way cheaper to use aftermarket. Also, I got a better oil cooler,

You will probably have better luck at a "pull your part" scarp yard than on the forums -price wise.

Thanks for all the advice. I think I'll go your route. I'm gonna look through the totaled part outs and then try you method. Also might consider buying the oem wheel well that is meant for the oil cooler. I bet that's cheap in a part out sale

[Hops128i]

Great DIY! How are you able to monitor the oil temp?

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by GripAndRip

Thanks for all the advice. I think I'll go your route. I'm gonna look through the totaled part outs and then try you method. Also might consider buying the oem wheel well that is meant for the oil cooler. I bet that's cheap in a part out sale

You really just need the grill. The liner is exactly the same and even has lines where you need to cut to retrofit the grill! I made a mess of mine, but I wasn't concerned with looks as much as I was functionality.

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by Hops128i

Great DIY! How are you able to monitor the oil temp?

For a while I used carly (connect to my cellphone via a Bluetooth to obd adapter). You can also get an OBDII to USB cable for a laptop or cheap tablet.

Torque is a free app that will let you monitor oil, coolant, and a few other parameters.

[GripAndRip]

Originally Posted by bNks334

For a while I used carly (connect to my cellphone via a Bluetooth to obd adapter). You can also get an OBDII to USB cable for a laptop or cheap tablet.

Torque is a free app that will let you monitor oil, coolant, and a few other parameters.

I'm slightly confused about this question? Couldn't you just go by the oil temp gauge?

[Hops128i]

I'm slightly confused about this question? Couldn't you just go by the oil temp gauge?

The 128i doesn't have a oil temp gauge, along with other n52 cars

[GripAndRip]

Originally Posted by Hops128i

The 128i doesn't have a oil temp gauge, along with other n52 cars

What really? Lol how weird

[GripAndRip]

I'm in an N55 (E90 LCI). This is my last question I hope as your diy is perfect. Will an oil filter housing from an N54 work? On real oem, it shows the part number for my car (11427548032) but it also says note: ENDED. Is there a downside to using this housing over the others? I went and pulled the trigger. I found a filter housing and thermostat for 80 TOGETHER! So I hope I didn't jump the gun and buy a non compatible.

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by GripAndRip

I'm in an N55 (E90 LCI). This is my last question I hope as your diy is perfect. Will an oil filter housing from an N54 work? On real oem, it shows the part number for my car (11427548032) but it also says note: ENDED. Is there a downside to using this housing over the others? I went and pulled the trigger. I found a filter housing and thermostat for 80 TOGETHER! So I hope I didn't jump the gun and buy a non compatible.

There are all different part numbers, but it's the same physical housing. I got mine off an N54 E90 and had no issues. Not sure the technical differences between models or revision numbers though.

Maybe different oil thermostats? Different oil temp sensors? The hardware is plug and play though, so no worries there...

[delmarco]

Thanks for this. I will see if I can apply this to the engine in my N55 335i xDrive

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by delmarco

Thanks for this. I will see if I can apply this to the engine in my N55 335i xDrive

Delmarco, it's Iceman from E46fanatics. Good to see you around brother.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by GripAndRip

What really? Lol how weird

Mine does, I think all E92 coupes have them.

[GripAndRip]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

Mine does, I think all E92 coupes have them.

That's because you and I have 3 series. They are saying the 1 series vehicles don't come with it.

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by GripAndRip

That's because you and I have 3 series. They are saying the 1 series vehicles don't come with it.

The 128i auto got NOTHING. The 128i manual got a water to oil "heat exchanger."