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M2 Technical Topics > N55 Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust / Bolt-ons / Tuning > THE ULTIMATE Intercooler Thread - What to Look For Before Buying an FMIC

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      12-31-2019, 03:08 PM   #419
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF View Post
Just wanted to update everyone before the new year, if anyone is looking for the best performing intercooler available in terms of heat dissipation, please note that the VRSF 6.5" Race HD currently holds the N55 world record in the 1/4 mile.

Logs below, thanks to Juan over at BigBoost for trusting us with his 10 second monster. @bigboostturbo





Impressive
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      12-31-2019, 03:31 PM   #420
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Looks like Pure has a 10 sec car with a Wagner inter-cooler too.

F20 135xi N55

Mods:
- PureTurbos Stage2 turbo
- Fuel-It fuelling upgrades
- Wagner Tuning downpipe and intercooler
- Burger Motorsports jb4 tune

1/4 Mile Result: 10.984 @ 204.412 kph


EDIT, that was actually back in 2017.
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      12-31-2019, 04:34 PM   #421
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Impressive feat without a doubt but it's not a record holding run
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      12-31-2019, 06:05 PM   #422
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Hey guys, great discussion!
Is there any advantage to running an aftermarket intercooler on a stock 2016 M2 (just thinking of adding an Active Autowerks catted DP).
I have noticed after a hard full-throttle pull, it wont pull as hard anymore (heat soak?). I live in Miami where it is regularly in the 85-95 degrees and humid. I've been googling and someone said its cheaper and a better first-step to upgrade the "heat exchanger", not the entire intercooler. That threw me off, I thought the intercooler was a heat exchanger.
Anyhow, would love all your thoughts so I can learn more!
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      12-31-2019, 07:12 PM   #423
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue View Post
Hey guys, great discussion!
Is there any advantage to running an aftermarket intercooler on a stock 2016 M2 (just thinking of adding an Active Autowerks catted DP).
I have noticed after a hard full-throttle pull, it wont pull as hard anymore (heat soak?). I live in Miami where it is regularly in the 85-95 degrees and humid. I've been googling and someone said its cheaper and a better first-step to upgrade the "heat exchanger", not the entire intercooler. That threw me off, I thought the intercooler was a heat exchanger.
Anyhow, would love all your thoughts so I can learn more!
if the car feels sluggish, upgrade the intercooler.
get a 5" core for best result
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      01-01-2020, 01:22 PM   #424
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
if the car feels sluggish, upgrade the intercooler.
get a 5" core for best result
Given I have a totally stock car, which do you recommend for the street that is hopefully well made, not too expensive, and wont see a pressure drop? The only other mods Im considering are a better flowing exhaust and a catted DP.
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      01-01-2020, 05:18 PM   #425
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue View Post
Given I have a totally stock car, which do you recommend for the street that is hopefully well made, not too expensive, and wont see a pressure drop? The only other mods Im considering are a better flowing exhaust and a catted DP.
Wagner EVO I , VRSF 5" HD, Active Autowerke
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      01-08-2020, 01:15 PM   #426
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Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
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Good for us stock turbo guys? Does it require cutting?
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      01-09-2020, 02:03 AM   #427
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue View Post
Hey guys, great discussion!
Is there any advantage to running an aftermarket intercooler on a stock 2016 M2 (just thinking of adding an Active Autowerks catted DP).
I have noticed after a hard full-throttle pull, it wont pull as hard anymore (heat soak?). I live in Miami where it is regularly in the 85-95 degrees and humid. I've been googling and someone said its cheaper and a better first-step to upgrade the "heat exchanger", not the entire intercooler. That threw me off, I thought the intercooler was a heat exchanger.
Anyhow, would love all your thoughts so I can learn more!
heat exchangers are for air to water systems. the n55 is air to air so you would need to upgrade your intercooler.

your correct its probably heat soak given the ambient temps. the stock intercooler sux, its the same one as the 4 cylinder cars. i say just get a intercooler and go with the stage 2 tune and go stage 2+ once you get your catted dp
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      01-09-2020, 02:05 AM   #428
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just to add...i just installed my csf intercooler which is a 5.5inch and it barely fit my m2 without hitting the cross braces. I there's probably .5inch or less between the csf intercooler and cross braces. i dunno how anyone would be able to fit a 6.5inch intercooler on the m2 without taking out the bottom cross braces.
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      01-09-2020, 06:41 AM   #429
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post
just to add...i just installed my csf intercooler which is a 5.5inch and it barely fit my m2 without hitting the cross braces. I there's probably .5inch or less between the csf intercooler and cross braces. i dunno how anyone would be able to fit a 6.5inch intercooler on the m2 without taking out the bottom cross braces.
You can't. VRSF advertises that you can but that's not true. If you force the intercooler in with the braces in place it ends up being jammed up on the braces and condenser which will eventually rub holes in both. The tabs for the cooling fan won't reach the fan housing either.
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      01-09-2020, 01:00 PM   #430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue View Post
Hey guys, great discussion!
Is there any advantage to running an aftermarket intercooler on a stock 2016 M2 (just thinking of adding an Active Autowerks catted DP).
I have noticed after a hard full-throttle pull, it wont pull as hard anymore (heat soak?). I live in Miami where it is regularly in the 85-95 degrees and humid. I've been googling and someone said its cheaper and a better first-step to upgrade the "heat exchanger", not the entire intercooler. That threw me off, I thought the intercooler was a heat exchanger.
Anyhow, would love all your thoughts so I can learn more!
On my wagner evo comp 2 my temperatures decrease after the first hard pull!
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      01-10-2020, 10:13 AM   #431
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
On my wagner evo comp 2 my temperatures decrease after the first hard pull!
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      01-11-2020, 09:57 PM   #432
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any one know the bolt size of the bolts that come with the csf intercooler? i want to get larger washers for them
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      01-13-2020, 08:14 AM   #433
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post
any one know the bolt size of the bolts that come with the csf intercooler? i want to get larger washers for them
Nope. I just picked a couple bigger washers out of my washer collection and stuck them on there. All you need to do is take them to the hardware store and match some up.
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      01-13-2020, 08:34 PM   #434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cecaa850 View Post
Nope. I just picked a couple bigger washers out of my washer collection and stuck them on there. All you need to do is take them to the hardware store and match some up.
well the m2 is my only car so the csf intercooler installed at the time.

i found another guys post for 3/8" washers. I got the 3/8" x 1.25inch washers since the csf screws are bigger then the oem screws.

I stacked the csf washers with the 3/8" washers from home depot. It provided a good amount of surface to support the csf intercooler tabs.

My boost pipe fell off when the intercooler tabs went past the csf provided washers...i already thought they were undersized when i installed them but i thought i could get away with it but obviously not.
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      01-28-2020, 11:54 AM   #435
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VRSF Intercooler vs stock
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      01-28-2020, 01:47 PM   #436
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Good illustration as to why you need to remove the front brace to install. ^^^^^ It's much thicker than stock.
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      01-28-2020, 06:38 PM   #437
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cecaa850 View Post
Good illustration as to why you need to remove the front brace to install. ^^^^^ It's much thicker than stock.
The front brace doesn't need to be removed to install
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      01-29-2020, 06:49 AM   #438
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Which intercooler is that? Any of them much wider than stock will rub the brace and condenser. Sure you can cram them in there but you'll have 0 clearance and rub.
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      01-29-2020, 08:13 AM   #439
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cecaa850 View Post
Which intercooler is that? Any of them much wider than stock will rub the brace and condenser. Sure you can cram them in there but you'll have 0 clearance and rub.
You're spewing info out of nowhere.


I have the VRSF 5" and you don't need to remove the front brace. It doesn't rub anything either. There's a ton of void space that the OEM intercooler doesn't utilize.
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      01-29-2020, 08:31 AM   #440
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2 View Post
You're spewing info out of nowhere.


I have the VRSF 5" and you don't need to remove the front brace. It doesn't rub anything either. There's a ton of void space that the OEM intercooler doesn't utilize.
It's not out of nowhere, that's why I asked which intercooler it was. The 6 1/2" that I had from them had major interference issues with the brace in place.
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