VRSF 5" Stepped FMIC Install / Review

[Miko226]

Tools needed

Lift (Preferably) or Jack + Stands or Ramps
Flathead
Phillips
8mm Socket wrench (Bottom Shroud)
10mm Socket for New Coupler clamps
Sawzall or Strong Dremel to Cut stock coupler Bands off and a small piece of plastic blocking the intercooler from Fitting on passenger side.
(1in Square of plastic can be cut with wire cutter or box cutter)
+Another set of hands

The install was relatively easy once you cut stock upper coupler bands off i now see why some companies retain the factory couplers and clamps (PITA to take off) the stock band was not meant to come off period and must be cut however the VRSF couplers flow better in and out with no Baffles its visibly less restrictive as well as lower CP upgrade.

Car felt much stronger and felt like it was breathing easier/colder until i gave a WOT pull and blew the passenger side coupler off and instantly lost all boost, however not thinking very logically (Finished install at 1am) we put the cover on before the test drive after the test start and rev. We thought this was enough...

Upon getting under the car i found massive amounts of oil and ironically the car was going in tomorrow for turbo replacement due to the seals and waste gates rattle / leaking so i will let bmw deal with the coupler since they will have to remove the FMIC anyway for the Turbo replacement.

The install is fairly easy once you cut the stock upper clamp bands off and the intercooler fit fairly well considering the stepped core design. The plastic piece that must be cut is extremely small and requires very little cutting.

I will further review once the car is back to me with pictures and IAT Logs on some hard pulls in the SoFlorida heat / humidity.

[Rogo]

Subbed

[Miko226]

Here's an image of the stepped 5" fmic installed

[Rowdy]

Love it! Thanks for the heads up on the couplers

[Miko226]

Originally Posted by Rowdy

Love it! Thanks for the heads up on the couplers

No problem

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Rogo

Subbed

+1

[Rowdy]

Mine showed up today! All looks good. I'll be installing it early next week! Will post some pics when all is said and done.

[Rogo]

If you can get any pics of the install underside that would be great...just waiting on mine to ship from n54 tuning.

[Vorsprung_CJB]

My experience was pretty much the same. Once I figured out the small plastic bit to cut everything went in fine.

I removed the radiator fan/shroud since it is easy to take out. Made getting to all the hoses and upper clamps much easier as I could reach down.

Here is my install pic from the other thread.

[Miko226]

Here is where the tab you must cut in order to fit the stepped part of the core on the passenger side

[MuNkY6913]

That coupler on the passenger side doesn't need cut. It will save you a ton of time by not cutting it. You have to look at it closely. There is a part where the band comes together. It's a tee shape that fits into the other end like a puzzle piece so it's flush with the band. If you get a flathead screw driver under that section and just twist, it will pop right off. If I get a chance I'll take a pic of it. Just be careful not to press on the pipe to much cause it will bend pretty easily.

[Phlonx]

Wait if there is a need to cut plastic pieces why not just get the 7"?

[Miko226]

Originally Posted by Phlonx

Wait if there is a need to cut plastic pieces why not just get the 7"?

It's only 1 small 1 inch tab if you do the 7" you will have to cut the bumper support brace for the stock intercooler and more probably

[Dieselboy]

Chart shows the change in temp from ~2500 to ~6500 RPM in 3rd w/ JB4 Map 1 and Map 5, VRSF 5" stepped vs Stock. Car is FBO, ambient temps were approx 70 degrees low humidity for all runs.

[MuNkY6913]

Originally Posted by Dieselboy

Chart shows the change in temp from ~2500 to ~6500 RPM in 3rd w/ JB4 Map 1 and Map 5, VRSF 5" stepped vs Stock. Car is FBO, ambient temps were approx 70 degrees low humidity for all runs.

I don't like that chart. It's very misleading. Do you have a log of actual ait and rpm? I want to see what the temp started out as and where it ended up at and what rpm.

[Miko226]

Originally Posted by MuNkY6913

That coupler on the passenger side doesn't need cut. It will save you a ton of time by not cutting it. You have to look at it closely. There is a part where the band comes together. It's a tee shape that fits into the other end like a puzzle piece so it's flush with the band. If you get a flathead screw driver under that section and just twist, it will pop right off. If I get a chance I'll take a pic of it. Just be careful not to press on the pipe to much cause it will bend pretty easily.

That is what i was afraid of bending the connection not that it couldn't be done that way, you just have the chance to do more damage. A good dremel will easily take care of the band and not bend the pipe right where the connection meets the coupler

[Dieselboy]

Originally Posted by MuNkY6913

I don't like that chart. It's very misleading. Do you have a log of actual ait and rpm? I want to see what the temp started out as and where it ended up at and what rpm.

Same data from above vs RPM.

[Miko226]

Originally Posted by Dieselboy

Same data from above vs RPM.

This seems to be what it felt like was going on

[MuNkY6913]

Originally Posted by Miko226

That is what i was afraid of bending the connection not that it couldn't be done that way, you just have the chance to do more damage. A good dremel will easily take care of the band and not bend the pipe right where the connection meets the coupler

I bent mine just a tiny bit before I found that spot. I didn't have a proper dremel. I had a pivot tool so I had to elevate the band to get at it good. You can see where I started to cut it. When I repositioned the screw driver it hit that spot and just popped. No damage to the pipe from doing that. Most of the time you can tell if something feels like it's bending. I would have stopped if it felt like I was causing damage. It bent back to shape pretty easily.

[MuNkY6913]

Forgot the pictures.

[Miko226]

Originally Posted by MuNkY6913

Forgot the pictures.

oh wow yeah if i would of found that i would have done the same im sure it popped easily at that breaking point

[heist_tub]

just finished install earlier today, hoping my couplers are on good enough to avoid having to re-do it