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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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      03-12-2020, 08:17 PM   #507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wattens View Post
Hi Mike,

Do you know if the CSF tends to fit easily without needing to cut anything? Also it will be bolting up to the VRSF charge pipes I bought from you in December.

Cheers
i have the vrsf charge pipe and csf intercooler. no issues with the vrsf charge pipe connecting to the csf intercooler. Just make sure you transfer the charge pipe intercooler gasket in the correct direction.

Only issue i had was mounting the vrsf charge pipe to the throttle body...its a very tight fit compared to stock...you have to use a lot of muscle to get it to mount.

installing the intercooler took me 15min...installing the vrsf charge pipe to the throttle body literally took me hrs since i didn't have a lot of leverage to muscle it in..lol.

if your having a shop do it, then dont worry about it lol.
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      03-12-2020, 11:31 PM   #508
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post
i have the vrsf charge pipe and csf intercooler. no issues with the vrsf charge pipe connecting to the csf intercooler. Just make sure you transfer the charge pipe intercooler gasket in the correct direction.

Only issue i had was mounting the vrsf charge pipe to the throttle body...its a very tight fit compared to stock...you have to use a lot of muscle to get it to mount.

installing the intercooler took me 15min...installing the vrsf charge pipe to the throttle body literally took me hrs since i didn't have a lot of leverage to muscle it in..lol.

if your having a shop do it, then dont worry about it lol.
Half the job's already done for me lol, This happened an hour ago.
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      03-12-2020, 11:45 PM   #509
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wattens View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post
i have the vrsf charge pipe and csf intercooler. no issues with the vrsf charge pipe connecting to the csf intercooler. Just make sure you transfer the charge pipe intercooler gasket in the correct direction.

Only issue i had was mounting the vrsf charge pipe to the throttle body...its a very tight fit compared to stock...you have to use a lot of muscle to get it to mount.

installing the intercooler took me 15min...installing the vrsf charge pipe to the throttle body literally took me hrs since i didn't have a lot of leverage to muscle it in..lol.

if your having a shop do it, then dont worry about it lol.
Half the job's already done for me lol, This happened an hour ago.
sux...hopefully you were close to home when it happened...that bmw plastic is made out of paper...my stock charge pipe already felt a little brittle even with only 10k miles

make sure to fish out the stock c clip or you will need to order another one
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      03-13-2020, 11:17 AM   #510
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post

make sure to fish out the stock c clip or you will need to order another one
+1
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      03-13-2020, 01:57 PM   #511
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post
for me, i dont really care if they copied someone else...i care mainly about performance and value. I bought my csf during the black friday price so the delta between vrsf and csf was very small.

Also i read a lot of good reviews on csf, people tend to buy them pretty fast on the for sales forum threads, so i know i can resale it pretty fast if i changed my mind or move onto a different car and csf is the only aftermarket intercooler fceuro offers life time warranty on.

In terms of total cost of ownership to performance, i thought csf was a better choice. i have a vrsf charge pipe and wasnt very happy with their fitment but it does work.
I'm with you.

The ATM supposedly performs better than the CSF, and if the cost difference is close enough, what does it matter. The VRSF is the largest core out there, and I recently spoke to a member who had one and didn't have any lag. I just want a solution that works - marketing hype aside.
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      03-14-2020, 09:41 PM   #512
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I'm with you.

The ATM supposedly performs better than the CSF, and if the cost difference is close enough, what does it matter. The VRSF is the largest core out there, and I recently spoke to a member who had one and didn't have any lag. I just want a solution that works - marketing hype aside.
no turbo lag on my csf intercooler as well on stage 2. I think most of the turbo lag people talk about is actually the throttle over hang for emissions people were talking about on the other thread.
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      03-16-2020, 08:29 AM   #513
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post
no turbo lag on my csf intercooler as well on stage 2. I think most of the turbo lag people talk about is actually the throttle over hang for emissions people were talking about on the other thread.
None with my CSF either.
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      03-16-2020, 11:04 AM   #514
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TemjinX2 View Post
no turbo lag on my csf intercooler as well on stage 2. I think most of the turbo lag people talk about is actually the throttle over hang for emissions people were talking about on the other thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cecaa850 View Post
None with my CSF either.
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      03-19-2020, 01:53 PM   #515
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car undriveable if this happens? (cracked CP)
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      03-19-2020, 03:51 PM   #516
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car undriveable if this happens? (cracked CP)
You can drive it but we strongly recommend not to. The car will not make any boost and you risk having debris and dirt get inside
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      03-25-2020, 07:39 PM   #517
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So the only tube and fin type is Wagner’s cooler?
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      03-25-2020, 09:05 PM   #518
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So the only tube and fin type is Wagner’s cooler?
Correct
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      03-26-2020, 10:17 AM   #519
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how is it with mishimoto, anyone has any experience?
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      03-26-2020, 10:40 AM   #520
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how is it with mishimoto, anyone has any experience?
Its an okay intercooler
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      03-31-2020, 04:17 AM   #521
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Does the 6.5" intercooler fit in the M2 without having to cut or remove the front brace (which the non M cars don't have)?

Is there a difference between the 6.5" Stepped Competition HD FMIC offered at the moment and the 6.5" Race Intercooler mentioned in this post?
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...9#post25378499
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      03-31-2020, 07:57 AM   #522
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wattens View Post
Does the 6.5" intercooler fit in the M2 without having to cut or remove the front brace (which the non M cars don't have)?

Is there a difference between the 6.5" Stepped Competition HD FMIC offered at the moment and the 6.5" Race Intercooler mentioned in this post?
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...9#post25378499
There's not 6 1/2" between the brace and condenser.
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      03-31-2020, 07:58 AM   #523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF View Post
I can't apologize enough if you've had a less than desirable experience. I'll shoot over a PM so we don't have to stuff up this thread
I sent you the information you asked for 3 weeks ago and never heard back.
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      03-31-2020, 05:06 PM   #524
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Originally Posted by cecaa850 View Post
There's not 6 1/2" between the brace and condenser.
Really?

Since I posted this yesterday, I've had other people say there are two different 6.5" VRSF intercoolers. The Competition HD (which is meant to fit without altering the brace and can be installed without removing the front bar) and the Race Intercooler (where some trimming or removal of the front brace is required and the front bar needs to be removed to install it).

I'm getting so much mixed info again...
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      03-31-2020, 06:42 PM   #525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF View Post
I'm noticing a trend for the necessity of a plug and play solution. I'll see if we can't get a M2 in here next week so we can properly scan the cavity and design a M2 specific intercooler for the folks interested in a mod-free solution.
So are you saying the 6.5" Competition intercooler won't fit my M2 without cutting the front brace even though it's listed on your website as fitting? I'm a bit disappointed if that's the case.
By the time I import this intercooler to Australia, it's a $700USD investment on a part you guys are selling for RRP $470USD with your distributors selling it less than that, which makes a cheap intercooler not so cheap. If it's listed on your website as application fitting, then it should fit without the need to cut or remove a metal brace. I'm not talking about a bit of plastic, i'm meaning things the OEM have put in place for rigidity.

Otherwise why can't you just mention it on your product description what parts need to be removed, trimmed, altered so you aren't wasting everybody's time in researching, ordering, making time to fit it only to find out it doesn't actually fit without cutting metal structural components of the car?
Not everybody wants to be cutting structural pieces for an intercooler, others may not mind, at least make it clear for the consumer...

Does this fit or not?
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      04-01-2020, 07:45 AM   #526
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wattens View Post
Does the 6.5" intercooler fit in the M2 without having to cut or remove the front brace (which the non M cars don't have)?

Is there a difference between the 6.5" Stepped Competition HD FMIC offered at the moment and the 6.5" Race Intercooler mentioned in this post?
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...9#post25378499
I’m looking for an answer on this as well.
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      04-01-2020, 08:04 AM   #527
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF View Post
The 6.5" Competition HD will not fit the M2 without modifying the brace. We're working on high capacity kit that will bolt up without modification specifically for the M2 as we speak
Im looking for the difference between the comp and race versions. I’m looking to buy.
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      04-01-2020, 10:01 AM   #528
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AmuroRay View Post
I’m looking for an answer on this as well.
I don't remember exactly how or when I measured the gap and my car isn't with me right now but I don't recall it being that difficult to measure the distance between the brace and the condenser. I may have even done it through the front opening. VRSF first told me that it could be installed without removing the front bumper which wasn't true. They basically indicated that I didn't know what I was doing. Then they said that it would fit with no problem and no interference issues which was not correct either. They said that it fit just fine on their vehicle with no modifications even though the picture they had on their web site showed the brace removed. Now they say they're building one that doesn't require modification to the vehicle. Caveat emptor.
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