[bi0hazard]

You're overthinking. These intercoolers do just fine here (for the street at least) and I'm dealing with 35-40degC temps from may until September. Every car enthusiast forum makes you think you need new things

If you search my posts you'll see that I was running Dinan sport tuner (JB+) in this heat for over 10k miles with stock IC on the street.

Anyway, these are just my amateur opinions. I have no idea how much longer your turbo/engine would last with better cooling.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by bi0hazard

You're overthinking. These intercoolers do just fine here (for the street at least) and I'm dealing with 35-40degC temps from may until September. Every car enthusiast forum makes you think you need new things

If you search my posts you'll see that I was running Dinan sport tuner (JB+) in this heat for over 10k miles with stock IC on the street.

Anyway, these are just my amateur opinions. I have no idea how much longer your turbo/engine would last with better cooling.

From the datalogs i have seen, IAT gets out of control every time its hot outside and you do a pull.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by bi0hazard

1) The car is designed for that power level, for street, with that IC. And so what if it cuts a little power ??


3) Once u start messing with IC, you MAY have warranty issues, you MAY have quality issues, etc. IS it worth it? It wouldn't be for me.

1) i think you are mixing between safe and max power. Stock intercooler is safe, thats because your ECU will lower ignition timing when IAT goes over limit.
Doing so will protect your engine but you will lose power

3) Has this ever happened? I have seen thousands of cars with upgraded FMIC never heard of a single warranty issue related to this mod

[bi0hazard]

Mike, those are just my opinions from my experiences, and I stated my reasons.

That's not me though, since I went FBO stage 2 (thanks partially to XPH). I'm just thinking about OP's scenario.

[digimattic]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

On a stock or lightly modded car go with a 5" intercooler

Wagner EVO I, VRSF 5" or Active Autowerke

Would you consider a stage 1 tune "lightly modded"? I've got a catted downpipe installed and may or may not put a tune on the vehicle. Would a 5" unit work in either scenario or would I need to go larger?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by digimattic

Would you consider a stage 1 tune "lightly modded"? I've got a catted downpipe installed and may or may not put a tune on the vehicle. Would a 5" unit work in either scenario or would I need to go larger?

If you are not sure whether you are going to tune the car or not, go with a 5" it will work with either option.

[digimattic]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

If you are not sure whether you are going to tune the car or not, go with a 5" it will work with either option.

Great! Thanks for the advice!

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by digimattic

Great! Thanks for the advice!

[greasypeanut]

Originally Posted by Fedorov

This is relevant input, its rarely very hot here for more than a month or two. And I'm not even sure that what I call "very hot" counts as very hot for the car.

Last summer was unusually warm where we reached up to 30 degrees celcius (about 85 deg fahrenheit) for almost a week. Otherwise we are happy to see even 25C/77F at all during summer. Rest of the year below 20C/68F for sure, at least where I roam.

And I rarely push the car to the max but I'm still battling inside because keeping the temps lower in the long run would probably benefit the health of the engine/turbos..

So many decisions to make, so little time...

If I rarely push the car then I wouldn't get an IC especially living in a cold country. Like others have mentioned, they designed and tested the car with the stock IC.

I would save that money and spend it on track days.... Which then having an upgraded IC would help. Lol. #moneypit

Good luck with your decision, I have the Wagner Evo 1 comp as I track my car, not because I live in sunny southern California and have to sit in traffic every day.

[PackPride85]

I don't agree with the notion that has been used here frequently about bmw "designing and testing with the stock IC" so it must be efficient enough. How do we know what BMW's criteria are? We know for a fact the stock M2 IC was designed for the non-M2 N55 motors...because it's the same one. To me that makes it more of a cost/"Good Enough" decision during development, and "good enough" could be they are OK with it pulling timing in hot weather situations because it most certainly does.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by PackPride85

I don't agree with the notion that has been used here frequently about bmw "designing and testing with the stock IC" so it must be efficient enough. How do we know what BMW's criteria are? We know for a fact the stock M2 IC was designed for the non-M2 N55 motors...because it's the same one. To me that makes it more of a cost/"Good Enough" decision during development, and "good enough" could be they are OK with it pulling timing in hot weather situations because it most certainly does.

Judging from datalogs, the stock intercooler struggles even on non-tuned cars

[greasypeanut]

Originally Posted by PackPride85

I don't agree with the notion that has been used here frequently about bmw "designing and testing with the stock IC" so it must be efficient enough. How do we know what BMW's criteria are? We know for a fact the stock M2 IC was designed for the non-M2 N55 motors...because it's the same one. To me that makes it more of a cost/"Good Enough" decision during development, and "good enough" could be they are OK with it pulling timing in hot weather situations because it most certainly does.

I agree with you about cost, good enough argument. And believe me, it was disappointing for me to have to purchase a new intercooler and new pads to reliably track it or more recently look into an upgraded lpfp to prevent fuel starvation/limp mode on track. The M in m2 stands for motorsports right? But I'm sure the vast majority of m2 owners don't have to worry about timing being pulled even in hot weather. The car can survive the 5 second blast down the on ramp in hot temperature and I don't think the car will be pulling timing while cruising down the freeway at 3krpm even with the ac on.

The car and intercooler is good enough in BMWs and most people's eyes. Just like how a zf8 is good enough for most people and for bmw. (rip mt and dct in the 3 series)

[Anthony1s]

I know that the 991.2 GT3RS pulls timing in warm weather 80+ degrees. So I don't think it's abnormal for other OEM cars to do it too. It might even be on purpose so car mfgs can boast about their higher power numbers, but in reality you don't see those numbers under hot and heavy use.

[PackPride85]

Compared to other cars the m2 does pretty well in terms of heat management on the track. Gt350, vette, civic type r are just some examples of cars known for actually going into limp mode during track sessions stock.