[KaiserCO]

Pretty simple question really, is it safe to use a sstt if you don't have the oil cooler? I don't really plan on tracking the car but I tend to be a pretty spirited driver.

Anyone with sstt without the oil cooler? Is it annoyingly hard to keep the temps safely low or not?

I'm ordering an xi and am debating wether it is worth the extra 1000 for sport package and 18" wheels to get the oil cooler.

[jpsimon]

I'm an idiot!

[KaiserCO]

Originally Posted by jpsimon

You have an oil cooler, you just don't have two oil coolers. You'll be perfectly fine..

I know i have an oil cooler, but without the wheel well oil cooler included with the sport package, it seems like every magazine complains about overheating

I know I'm fine without that extra cooler in stock form but wasn't sure if the extra power of the sstt would add enough heat to make it annoyingly hard to keep the temps down.

[Numb3rs]

Originally Posted by jpsimon

You have an oil cooler, you just don't have two oil coolers. You'll be perfectly fine..

That is a false statement!

Either the N54 comes equipped with an engine oil cooler, or it does not. There is no "second" oil cooler. This has been discussed ad nauseum and simple BMW documentation clearly eradicates such nonsense.

[jpsimon]

Oh well fuck me sideways. I digress!

[KaiserCO]

I know i know, theres only one real oil cooler and then some random transmission oil cooler

but anyway, the original question... what happens with the sstt and no oil cooler?

[5soko]

alot of people are running with no oil cooler and tunes. you should be 100% fine.

[cbad335]

You will likely see a slight increase in oil temps w/ SSTT. I would run car w/o first to see what baseline temps you are getting. Besides, you will need to do break-in miles, so no need for tune at first. And you'll want to see how the car feels stock before appreciating the added boost of a tune. Another thing, won't sport package give you the better seats? Those alone are worth the added price of ZSP, IMO. Plus, if you plan to keep the car long-term, a factory oil cooler may help w/ engine/turbo life. People will speculate, but these cars are so new that it's still very much a wait and see thing. If it were me, I'd rather play wait and see on the safe side if I were purchasing the car.

[Amir87]

I only noticed a 5-10 degree increase while driving hard, never has gone over 250. I have a oil cooler.

[KaiserCO]

Originally Posted by cbad335

You will likely see a slight increase in oil temps w/ SSTT. Another thing, won't sport package give you the better seats? Those alone are worth the added price of ZSP, IMO.

Yeah I think i probably will end up getting the $400 sport package, but apparently you have to get the $600 18" wheels option to get the oil cooler. and it's hard for me to justify that $600 add on because...

1. I don't even like 18" oem coupe wheels(I would rather go with the sedan if i'm going to be stuck with the 18''s, at least i kind of like those)
2. I plan on getting csl reps anyway so whatever oems i get will sit in the garage.

I guess it may be worth it for the oil cooler though, either for reliability(If I buy it off the lease) or maybe even potentially helpful for resale if i end up buying it off and eventually selling it.

[Flat Out 32]

What is the upper limit for safe driving temps? 250 degs? I dunno but the answer to this question may help you decide. Anyone?

But the better way to go is with the gadgets, you'll need (want) them later on. So go for the ZSP!!

[Bimmer335i07]

I've had the SSTT, JB2RH and now the Helix Attache and I do abuse my car once in a while and I don't have the oil cooler. And the highest the temps ever reach in my car was 260 degrees and that's after running the car on the highway at WOT for a couple of minutes.

If you're not going to track you car, I would not worry about missing out on the oil cooler.

[Timbuktu]

Originally Posted by KaiserCO

Yeah I think i probably will end up getting the $400 sport package, but apparently you have to get the $600 18" wheels option to get the oil cooler. and it's hard for me to justify that $600 add on because...

1. I don't even like 18" oem coupe wheels(I would rather go with the sedan if i'm going to be stuck with the 18''s, at least i kind of like those)
2. I plan on getting csl reps anyway so whatever oems i get will sit in the garage.

I guess it may be worth it for the oil cooler though, either for reliability(If I buy it off the lease) or maybe even potentially helpful for resale if i end up buying it off and eventually selling it.

Man! You're exactly in the same situation as I am. The only difference is that I'm planning on getting a sedan.

Now what I've noticed in this forum is that people hasn't complained about high oil temperatures while running SSTT without the oil cooler. (at least with late '07/'08 models) But if you want to keep your options open and maybe get Dinan instead, then you'll need the cooler to have the warranty. Which means you also need sport package with 18" wheels. I'd go for the sports package anyway because of the seats though. Not sure about 18".

On the other hand, now, after reading A LOT of complains about XI suspension being hard on pot-holes, I'm thinking if I should ditch the XI and go with RWD. You get the cooler with regular sports package there.

The link to the complaints:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=226791

[jpsimon]

I've had no problems at all with my XI and potholes...

[Timbuktu]

Originally Posted by jpsimon

I've had no problems at all with my XI and potholes...

I don't know man, if read the link I gave before, it feels like everybody there is having this "teeth knocked out" experience when hitting potholes as big as 1/2"

Maybe there isn't too many of them in the area you live in, but if you live in New England, then you start listening intently to the posts like that. Of course, if you're living in New England, then you really need xi too.....

[leftcoastman]

One day you're going to want to take the car to a BMW driving school and enjoy the track experience.

Limping after the first two laps, you're going to be pissed.

[E30M3Driver]

To me the oil cooler is a must. In the summer in Colorado my car with oil cooler runs a pretty steady 250. Pulls up I-70 in the mountains easily push it to 260-265. SSTT will only add to the load, however, with an oil cooler, it is not enough to change the temp by a noticeable amount.

While those temps aren't enough to cause everyday drivability problems, they are significantly high enough to reasonably justify wanting them to be as low as possible and that is done through an oil cooler.

On the track (I know you said you don't envision that, but maybe you will change your mind) I see 270-285 depending on how hard it is pushed. No oil cooler will be even hotter.

[Long Drive]

Better $$ or at least easier re-sale; if you get the cooler later it's $1600 installed. Order the package, then no worries about almost any tuning you do.

Have fun!

[Mattscott]

Originally Posted by Bimmer335i07

I've had the SSTT, JB2RH and now the Helix Attache and I do abuse my car once in a while and I don't have the oil cooler. And the highest the temps ever reach in my car was 260 degrees and that's after running the car on the highway at WOT for a couple of minutes.

If you're not going to track you car, I would not worry about missing out on the oil cooler.

I had SSTT and no oil cooler and while tracking my car got to 300 degrees.
I will let you know how it performs when I take it back to the track next month, ( I now have an oil cooler )

[jpsimon]

I drive up to VT every weekend, there are some SHITTY roads up there let me tell you. I really see nothing at all to complain about. Teeth knocked out? Definitely not happening

Originally Posted by Timbuktu

I don't know man, if read the link I gave before, it feels like everybody there is having this "teeth knocked out" experience when hitting potholes as big as 1/2"

Maybe there isn't too many of them in the area you live in, but if you live in New England, then you start listening intently to the posts like that. Of course, if you're living in New England, then you really need xi too.....