Drilling out cover holes on FMIC grill?

NORAGRETS · 10-03-2013, 12:59 AM

Anyone do this? The sides are
covered opposed to the open middle vents, would it help in air flow? They probably extend about 3inches on both sides maybe help out the FMIC a little bit? How'd you do it if so? Seems like the whole bumper needs to be removed in order to get the grill out...

NORAGRETS · 10-03-2013, 01:04 AM

Put a filter on it to see better but just inside the bumper right and left of FMIC

Harlequin · 10-03-2013, 01:58 AM

That is the smallest picture of an intercooler....

....in the world!

NORAGRETS · 10-03-2013, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlequin

That is the smallest picture of an intercooler....

....in the world!

Haha I'm on my iPhone looks huge to me! I'll do it on my comp

NORAGRETS · 10-03-2013, 02:08 AM

better? see boxed in areas...

Harlequin · 10-03-2013, 02:13 AM

Haha... Much better...

I thought that those bits just covered the the end tanks to make sure that all the air was directed at the face of the IC itself?

NORAGRETS · 10-03-2013, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Haha... Much better...

I thought that those bits just covered the the end tanks to make sure that all the air was directed at the face of the IC itself?

Not quite sure it's hard to see around them...but good point, they may serve a purpose...couplers for IC are close to there now that I think about it

RimasRS · 10-03-2013, 02:31 AM

No use...
But if you want to experiment take off bumper and replace grill with aftermarket.

Freon · 10-03-2013, 10:03 AM

You probably do not want to drill out the covered areas. They're not actually in front of the intercooler core--they really only cover the endtanks.

An important design consideration for your IC is keeping air from going around it instead of through it. An IC actually only needs a hole in the bumper 1/4-1/2 its frontal area. Remember, the IC itself is at least half closed off (charge air tubes), plus the fins impede flow as well. The hole you have from the factory is more than big enough, though it does also service the radiator above.

I feel if you were to cut those parts out you'll just have air pass around the radiator and intercooler rather than through them.

There are a few good books out there to reference on this point. Maximum Boost (ok, not a perfect book, but it covers the subject in an easy form), or Forced Induction Performance my A. Graham Bell, among others.

Harlequin · 10-03-2013, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freon

You probably do not want to drill out the covered areas. They're not actually in front of the intercooler core--they really only cover the endtanks.

An important design consideration for your IC is keeping air from going around it instead of through it. An IC actually only needs a hole in the bumper 1/4-1/2 its frontal area. Remember, the IC itself is at least half closed off (charge air tubes), plus the fins impede flow as well. The hole you have from the factory is more than big enough, though it does also service the radiator above.

I feel if you were to cut those parts out you'll just have air pass around the radiator and intercooler rather than through them.

Pretty sure that's what I said above...

NORAGRETS · 10-03-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freon

You probably do not want to drill out the covered areas. They're not actually in front of the intercooler core--they really only cover the endtanks.

An important design consideration for your IC is keeping air from going around it instead of through it. An IC actually only needs a hole in the bumper 1/4-1/2 its frontal area. Remember, the IC itself is at least half closed off (charge air tubes), plus the fins impede flow as well. The hole you have from the factory is more than big enough, though it does also service the radiator above.

I feel if you were to cut those parts out you'll just have air pass around the radiator and intercooler rather than through them.

There are a few good books out there to reference on this point. Maximum Boost (ok, not a perfect book, but it covers the subject in an easy form), or Forced Induction Performance my A. Graham Bell, among others.

Lol I just got schooled haha

10-03-2013, 12:59 AM	#1
NORAGRETS Colonel 442 Rep 2,048 Posts Drives: 2017 F80 M3 ZCP BSM 2012 E82 1 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M3 ZCP LCI [0.00]	Drilling out cover holes on FMIC grill? Anyone do this? The sides are covered opposed to the open middle vents, would it help in air flow? They probably extend about 3inches on both sides maybe help out the FMIC a little bit? How'd you do it if so? Seems like the whole bumper needs to be removed in order to get the grill out... __________________ 2017 F80 ZCP BSM - Klein Innovation. ActiveAutowerkes. AR Design. BootMod3 Paul Johnson. EvRw. Project Gamma. RW Carbon. UCP. UUC. Hawk. Dinan. NGK. Macht Schnell. TMS. VR. aFe. RIP - E82 135i - 7/7/2021
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10-03-2013, 01:04 AM	#2
NORAGRETS Colonel 442 Rep 2,048 Posts Drives: 2017 F80 M3 ZCP BSM 2012 E82 1 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M3 ZCP LCI [0.00]	Put a filter on it to see better but just inside the bumper right and left of FMIC Attached Images __________________ 2017 F80 ZCP BSM - Klein Innovation. ActiveAutowerkes. AR Design. BootMod3 Paul Johnson. EvRw. Project Gamma. RW Carbon. UCP. UUC. Hawk. Dinan. NGK. Macht Schnell. TMS. VR. aFe. RIP - E82 135i - 7/7/2021
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10-03-2013, 01:58 AM	#3
Harlequin Brigadier General 331 Rep 4,021 Posts Drives: F32 Coupé Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia BMW Club QLD Member iTrader: (5) Garage List 2015 428i M-Sport [8.40] 2012 1M Coupé [9.25] 2011 135i M-Sport [9.14]	That is the smallest picture of an intercooler.... ....in the world! __________________
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10-03-2013, 02:08 AM	#5
NORAGRETS Colonel 442 Rep 2,048 Posts Drives: 2017 F80 M3 ZCP BSM 2012 E82 1 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M3 ZCP LCI [0.00]	better? see boxed in areas... Attached Images __________________ 2017 F80 ZCP BSM - Klein Innovation. ActiveAutowerkes. AR Design. BootMod3 Paul Johnson. EvRw. Project Gamma. RW Carbon. UCP. UUC. Hawk. Dinan. NGK. Macht Schnell. TMS. VR. aFe. RIP - E82 135i - 7/7/2021
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10-03-2013, 02:13 AM	#6
Harlequin Brigadier General 331 Rep 4,021 Posts Drives: F32 Coupé Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia BMW Club QLD Member iTrader: (5) Garage List 2015 428i M-Sport [8.40] 2012 1M Coupé [9.25] 2011 135i M-Sport [9.14]	Haha... Much better... I thought that those bits just covered the the end tanks to make sure that all the air was directed at the face of the IC itself? __________________
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10-03-2013, 02:31 AM	#8
RimasRS Colonel 85 Rep 2,438 Posts Drives: BMW X3 SD Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	No use... But if you want to experiment take off bumper and replace grill with aftermarket.
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10-03-2013, 10:03 AM	#9
Freon Major 81 Rep 1,051 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis iTrader: (3)	You probably do not want to drill out the covered areas. They're not actually in front of the intercooler core--they really only cover the endtanks. An important design consideration for your IC is keeping air from going around it instead of through it. An IC actually only needs a hole in the bumper 1/4-1/2 its frontal area. Remember, the IC itself is at least half closed off (charge air tubes), plus the fins impede flow as well. The hole you have from the factory is more than big enough, though it does also service the radiator above. I feel if you were to cut those parts out you'll just have air pass around the radiator and intercooler rather than through them. There are a few good books out there to reference on this point. Maximum Boost (ok, not a perfect book, but it covers the subject in an easy form), or Forced Induction Performance my A. Graham Bell, among others. __________________ 2009 BMW 135i 6MT Sport, AFE intake, Cobb AP, Apex 18x8.5+9.5, 255/275 PSS
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