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      11-24-2016, 12:59 PM   #1
Norcalmav23
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Best intercooler?

Looks like there are tons of FMIC options out there. What are your guys thoughts on these? Which do you think is the best and why?

Evolution Racewerks
http://aaa.n54tuning.com/evolution-r...tion-fmic.html
Active Autowerke
http://store.activeautowerke.com/col...55-intercooler
Wagner Tuning (4 options)
https://www.x-ph.com/wagner-tuning-b...s-intercooler/
VRSF Stepped Core
https://www.x-ph.com/vrsf-bmw-f-chas...e-intercooler/
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      11-24-2016, 01:04 PM   #2
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I've heard Wagner is top of the line but I don't know for sure. I'd like an answer on this also, looking to order one soon also.
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      11-24-2016, 01:17 PM   #3
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I got this and very happy with it. It cut my IAT by half and 200$ was a steal. Plug and play no trimming or anything 30 minute install lol

Was skeptical but this thing is built well and works for me. I don't have tune yet.. but the IAT are way down.

Kpeng's $200 eBay Intercooler Experience http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1298400
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      11-24-2016, 02:52 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shemeld_135
I got this and very happy with it. It cut my IAT by half and 200$ was a steal. Plug and play no trimming or anything 30 minute install lol

Was skeptical but this thing is built well and works for me. I don't have tune yet.. but the IAT are way down.

Kpeng's $200 eBay Intercooler Experience http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1298400
I can't see from the pics, but are the end tanks plastic?
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      11-24-2016, 02:59 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Norcalmav23 View Post
Looks like there are tons of FMIC options out there. What are your guys thoughts on these? Which do you think is the best and why?

Evolution Racewerks
http://aaa.n54tuning.com/evolution-r...tion-fmic.html
Active Autowerke
http://store.activeautowerke.com/col...55-intercooler
Wagner Tuning (4 options)
https://www.x-ph.com/wagner-tuning-b...s-intercooler/
VRSF Stepped Core
https://www.x-ph.com/vrsf-bmw-f-chas...e-intercooler/
You will be able to add Dinan to that list here shortly. Our Dual Core intercooler should be out before the end of the year. Our big difference is it will be an M2 specific intercooler--- its "beefy".
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      11-24-2016, 03:36 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinan_Engineering View Post
You will be able to add Dinan to that list here shortly. Our Dual Core intercooler should be out before the end of the year. Our big difference is it will be an M2 specific intercooler--- its "beefy".
Does this mean that Stage 4 for the M2, which includes this IC, has been moved from "late this month or early December" to the "before the end of the year" as well?
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      11-24-2016, 04:05 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twix View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by shemeld_135
I got this and very happy with it. It cut my IAT by half and 200$ was a steal. Plug and play no trimming or anything 30 minute install lol

Was skeptical but this thing is built well and works for me. I don't have tune yet.. but the IAT are way down.

Kpeng's $200 eBay Intercooler Experience http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1298400
I can't see from the pics, but are the end tanks plastic?
No they are just rubber caps for shipping and to protect them until install
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      11-24-2016, 04:31 PM   #8
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Not the same intercooler discussion bs again. They all do the same thing they same way.
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      11-24-2016, 08:05 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceM View Post
Does this mean that Stage 4 for the M2, which includes this IC, has been moved from "late this month or early December" to the "before the end of the year" as well?
Q4 which is vague but gets more narrowed down as the days pass. We're looking at December.
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      11-25-2016, 10:46 PM   #10
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The best intercooler in terms of intake temp reduction is our race core. There aren't any options out there that come close to the intake temp reduction.

http://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-race-in...i-n20-n55.html

The logs below were taken in 75 degree temps during a 2-4 gear pull. The initial pull starts at 89 degrees and jumps down to 86 degrees by the end of the run.



Here's a 4-6 pull from 40-160 MPH. The intercooler starts @ 69 degrees and ends up at 87 degrees at the top of 6th. That's a 18 degree rise over the 3 longest gears running 20psi.



If you're looking for a smaller intercooler our HD street core is a great alternative. If you're on a budget we offer a street core that does a great job as well although it's only $130 more to jump over to the better performing HD core.
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      11-28-2016, 06:52 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Norcalmav23 View Post
Looks like there are tons of FMIC options out there. What are your guys thoughts on these? Which do you think is the best and why?

Evolution Racewerks
http://aaa.n54tuning.com/evolution-r...tion-fmic.html
Active Autowerke
http://store.activeautowerke.com/col...55-intercooler
Wagner Tuning (4 options)
https://www.x-ph.com/wagner-tuning-b...s-intercooler/
VRSF Stepped Core
https://www.x-ph.com/vrsf-bmw-f-chas...e-intercooler/
Thank you for posting links to our website
We carry all the FMIC you mentioned

In my opinion, there is no best intercooler. It depends on your mods, power goals, location and lots of other factors.

Your best bet is to select a vendor that offers more than 1 brand, tell him your mods, power goals, etc.. and he will recommend the FMIC he thinks fits your needs best
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      11-29-2016, 05:40 AM   #12
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Any benefit to mount one of these intercoolers in a OEM car without any mod? Any issue? More turbo lag?
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      11-29-2016, 06:39 PM   #13
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I can't say what is the best, but I just installed the AA stepped IC and it was super easy. 30 min job on a lift. Perfect fitment. Noticeable performance increase above 6000rpms especially in 3rd gear or higher during long pulls. Also have catted DP and JB+ set at 3psi increase. Loving the M2!!
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      11-29-2016, 06:40 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trafficalert View Post
I can't say what is the best, but I just installed the AA stepped IC and it was super easy. 30 min job on a lift. Perfect fitment. Noticeable performance increase above 6000rpms especially in 3rd gear or higher during long pulls. Also have catted DP and JB+ set at 3psi increase. Loving the M2!!
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      11-29-2016, 06:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Volki_M2 View Post
Any benefit to mount one of these intercoolers in a OEM car without any mod? Any issue? More turbo lag?
As long as you do not go with a huge intercooler on stock turbo, you will not notice any lag
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      11-04-2017, 04:38 PM   #16
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Are there really any cheap ones anymore?
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      07-17-2018, 10:44 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
Thank you for posting links to our website
We carry all the FMIC you mentioned

In my opinion, there is no best intercooler. It depends on your mods, power goals, location and lots of other factors.

Your best bet is to select a vendor that offers more than 1 brand, tell him your mods, power goals, etc.. and he will recommend the FMIC he thinks fits your needs best
hey mate, saw that you sell the AA intercooler and charge pipe as a combo
will this is sufficient for a stage 2 tune with a highflow cat?

or do you have an intercooler thats lighter than stock but achieves similar results
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      07-18-2018, 10:01 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Who? View Post
hey mate, saw that you sell the AA intercooler and charge pipe as a combo
will this is sufficient for a stage 2 tune with a highflow cat?

or do you have an intercooler thats lighter than stock but achieves similar results
for a stage 2 application, we recommend a 6" intercooler.
If you live in a cold area and/or you do not track your car at all, you can get a away with a 5" intercooler like the Active Autowerke

the Wagner EVO I Competition is the lightest FMIC on the market
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      07-18-2018, 03:36 PM   #19
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All the aftermarket IC's weigh are than the OEM one...it is 1/3 plastic.
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      07-18-2018, 04:47 PM   #20
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Being light isn't exactly a strong suit in a heat exchanger.
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      07-18-2018, 07:26 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF View Post
Being light isn't exactly a strong suit in a heat exchanger.
Please explain?
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      07-18-2018, 07:33 PM   #22
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Quote:
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Please explain?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_mass
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