[srbarnes4ever]

A few details from a weekend road trip.

I have an 07 335is sedan A/T purchased ~2 mos ago with 66k miles on it. I had grand dreams of updating with JB4 + DCI + FMIC near term but as I was reading all the chatter wrt to oil temps and heat buildup, I became concerned. My 335 was built in September of 06 so was one of the early production units -- usually a bad thing but from a carfax and BMW history perspective, its been in very good shape. What I did confirm is it does not have the factory external oil cooler. I regularly see temps in the 245 range driving around town so was mildly concerned about a 350 mile (each way) trip from Lexington to Atlanta but had to sink or swim so off I went.

Left Friday with air temps in the 92* range. Oil temps avg 250-255 with one peak at 260 after a little higher speed stretch just north of Knoxville. This was with my wife and 2 little ones in the car so A/C was on Auto at 72* as well. We dropped the kids off to grandparents and returned to Lex yesterday....temps never got higher than 250.

Sooooo, one question is, do I need to get an oil cooler installed before the power bump plans -- its ~$1K just for parts plus retrofit kit and that isn't including labor. I'm wondering if a heavier duty radiator would buy me the margin needed to exchange any excess heat more efficiently that route.

Another question is even with the power increase, how much extra heat is there when you're in part throttle usage around town or even on the interstate where 2500 rpms gets you cruising in the high 70/low 80 mph range.

I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone power mad without the external oil cooler....I could do so much with that $1k -- in fact I think I saw a kit on turnermotorsports or Burgertuning that had JB4+DCI+FMIC for 1200 or so bux.

Anyway, sorry for the slight ramble, appreciate your opinions and expertise in advance!

[georgelb]

There isn't really going to be additional heat at part throttle around town, or highway cruising, unless part throttle is 80-90%

I'd definitely get an oil cooler though, and it isn't that difficult of an install, if you're handy at all. An aftermarket one with a larger core will of course exchange more heat given the right airflow. =)

[shadow191]

I live in Atlanta and car is equipped w/ AR Design oil cooler. Also JB4, DCI, and IC. On the highway, I don't go much above 230 while cruising. 240 if I've got passengers and there is a slight hill. Basically if I hear the turbos spooling at all, it will go to 240. I've only seen 250 once on a high speed run. Around town, it usually is 230-240 in traffic in summer.

If just cruising part throttle, 230. Then if I get on it, it will hit 240 and come back down.

FWIW, oil cooler is going to be cheaper than big radiator. And you can get oil cooler for less than $1K. It would take some piecing together, but you can get the cores+lines+parts for less.

[Zach1328]

I live near Houston, TX and have a late model '07 with the stock oil cooler. During this time of year my oil temps range from 225-235 during normal driving and 240-250 when I start pushing it hard.

I would definitely recommend an oil cooler - its an essential item especially when modding these n54's. Even here in Texas I've never seen my oil temps above 250, so 260 seems scary to me. I don't think it goes into limp mode until ~280 degrees though, so 260 is still well in the safe range - just higher than I would like to see.

[srbarnes4ever]

Thanks all...I guess JB4 will wait til I can fund an oil cooler install....to think, that grand would cover JB4, DCI and a lil left over! I also want to do some stealth upgrades to the wife's N55 engined X5.....

[Underground6t9]

I have cobb stage 1 tune, and I don't have oil cooler. Temps never go go above 250 even on the hottest days. When cruising around town it usually sits around 240. I'm in the process of going stage 2 and I don't feel the justification of an aftermarket oil cooler priced at 1k.

[firemanjust1]

I have had my car for almost 3 years and not one time ever have i said to myself "geez I wish I had a oil cooler " . For me unless you are going to track the car or drive REAL hard back to back to back on the street not worth it imo . I would by the jb4 put on max cool mode during very hot days and spend the money on meth kit or intercooler instead you will feel those mods not the oil cooler.

[Zach1328]

Yeah I would install the JB4 and DCI first. The max cool mode is pretty good if you don't mind the possibility it will shorten the life of the already short-lived water pump.

Just monitor your oil temps for the next couple weeks after installing the JB4. If they never go above 250 I wouldn't worry about an oil cooler. Worst case if its getting 250+ you can turn the tune off (Map 0) and just wait to use it again until you get an oil cooler.

[Gizm0]

Originally Posted by srbarnes4ever

A few details from a weekend road trip.

I have an 07 335is sedan A/T purchased ~2 mos ago with 66k miles on it. I had grand dreams of updating with JB4 + DCI + FMIC near term but as I was reading all the chatter wrt to oil temps and heat buildup, I became concerned. My 335 was built in September of 06 so was one of the early production units -- usually a bad thing but from a carfax and BMW history perspective, its been in very good shape. What I did confirm is it does not have the factory external oil cooler. I regularly see temps in the 245 range driving around town so was mildly concerned about a 350 mile (each way) trip from Lexington to Atlanta but had to sink or swim so off I went.

Left Friday with air temps in the 92* range. Oil temps avg 250-255 with one peak at 260 after a little higher speed stretch just north of Knoxville. This was with my wife and 2 little ones in the car so A/C was on Auto at 72* as well. We dropped the kids off to grandparents and returned to Lex yesterday....temps never got higher than 250.

Sooooo, one question is, do I need to get an oil cooler installed before the power bump plans -- its ~$1K just for parts plus retrofit kit and that isn't including labor. I'm wondering if a heavier duty radiator would buy me the margin needed to exchange any excess heat more efficiently that route.

Another question is even with the power increase, how much extra heat is there when you're in part throttle usage around town or even on the interstate where 2500 rpms gets you cruising in the high 70/low 80 mph range.

I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone power mad without the external oil cooler....I could do so much with that $1k -- in fact I think I saw a kit on turnermotorsports or Burgertuning that had JB4+DCI+FMIC for 1200 or so bux.

Anyway, sorry for the slight ramble, appreciate your opinions and expertise in advance!

I'd definitely get an oil cooler, but I would start with a coolant flush. My oil temps went down an average 15 degrees after I got my first coolant flush done at 75k miles.

[srbarnes4ever]

Originally Posted by Gizm0

I'd definitely get an oil cooler, but I would start with a coolant flush. My oil temps went down an average 15 degrees after I got my first coolant flush done at 75k miles.

Appreciate all the feedback today folks....sounds like coolant flush and then upgrade time for me!!

[XM_Rocks]

Originally Posted by Gizm0

I'd definitely get an oil cooler, but I would start with a coolant flush. My oil temps went down an average 15 degrees after I got my first coolant flush done at 75k miles.

^ This.

I just did a coolant flush last month and have noticed a difference.