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      08-20-2017, 11:54 PM   #1
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What Is The Best Intercooler?

Starting this thread because I'd like to hear peoples thoughts and experience on what intercooler they are running.

Trying to decide which one to go with, Active Autowerke, Wagner, Dinan....

Which one performs the best, fits the best, best bang for the buck, works well with various tunes etc.

Would love to hear the thoughts of the forum members!
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      08-21-2017, 12:17 AM   #2
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CTS TURBO works just as well and reasonably priced
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      08-21-2017, 12:52 AM   #3
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I have the Forge Intercooler and even on a hard drive in the Summer there is no heat soak, highest temps around 34 degC. Well made, good price. Its a bar and plate type so its a bit heavier but Forge believe in testing the achieved the best results with this type of intercooler. Im on the Dyno next week and this should test it out as the stock intercooler soaked at 70 deg C after2 pulls, im running piggy back too.
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      08-21-2017, 01:50 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kiysersosae View Post
I have the Forge Intercooler and even on a hard drive in the Summer there is no heat soak, highest temps around 34 degC. Well made, good price. Its a bar and plate type so its a bit heavier but Forge believe in testing the achieved the best results with this type of intercooler. Im on the Dyno next week and this should test it out as the stock intercooler soaked at 70 deg C after2 pulls, im running piggy back too.
I've been reading that the turbo lag is more pronounced with the Wagner IC and it struggles a bit with this.

How is the throttle response and turbo response with the Forge unit? Does have big enough flow to handle a stage 2 tune? That would be ultimately where I'd want to go with it, dp, pure inlet and HEX stage 2 to achieve 450+hp. Will this intercooler do the trick in your opinion?
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      08-21-2017, 02:17 PM   #5
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      08-21-2017, 03:01 PM   #6
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Wagner is good or ER, I'm selling my ER one hmu!
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      08-21-2017, 06:01 PM   #7
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Depends on your mods, temps and what you are looking to do.

Let me know the list of mods, how often do you plan on tracking and i can recommend the best one for you.

Here is a thread i posted a while back that explains what to look for in an intercooler

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1232610
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      08-21-2017, 06:02 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by inline6ax View Post
Wagner is good or ER, I'm selling my ER one hmu!
How long have you been running the ER? Why are you selling?
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      08-21-2017, 06:05 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djacts View Post
How long have you been running the ER? Why are you selling?
350 miles. Here's my post:

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1412415

Going a different route with the car.
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      08-21-2017, 07:59 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com
Depends on your mods, temps and what you are looking to do.

Let me know the list of mods, how often do you plan on tracking and i can recommend the best one for you.

Here is a thread i posted a while back that explains what to look for in an intercooler

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1232610
Thanks for the informative post!

I track my car 3-4 times per year, and plan to keep it mainly stock...maybe a sport cat down pipe at some point. Any recommendations?
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      08-21-2017, 10:16 PM   #11
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We just put on the Active Autowerkes Intercooler and have been very happy with the build quality, installation, and results.
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      08-21-2017, 10:50 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ex-MINI View Post
Thanks for the informative post!

I track my car 3-4 times per year, and plan to keep it mainly stock...maybe a sport cat down pipe at some point. Any recommendations?
I would do Wagner EVO 1 competition... Its a 5" high density intercooler more than enough for a non tuned car, it also weighs 40% less than bar and plate intercoolers and have a faster temp recovery due to the fact that is tube and fin
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      08-22-2017, 08:25 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djacts View Post
Starting this thread because I'd like to hear peoples thoughts and experience on what intercooler they are running.

Trying to decide which one to go with, Active Autowerke, Wagner, Dinan....

Which one performs the best, fits the best, best bang for the buck, works well with various tunes etc.

Would love to hear the thoughts of the forum members!
Look into the Dinan intercooler. Its unique shape provide s lot of surface area for cooling.
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      08-22-2017, 11:18 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bim2er View Post
Look into the Dinan intercooler. Its unique shape provide s lot of surface area for cooling.

If you want to slice and dice your car to get it in there.
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      08-27-2017, 03:19 AM   #15
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I would also go for the Wagner Intercooler.
Already had one in the 1M and it was perfect.
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      08-27-2017, 08:57 AM   #16
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Certainly not "the best" but there was a (very) long & disputed debate about the eBay IC:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1298400
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      08-27-2017, 08:31 PM   #17
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DINAN Dual Core.. 278% more surface area than stock..

I got over all that "I don't want to cut up my car" really fast once I knew even the M Performance exhaust was not bolt on and required you to take a hack saw to the exhaust tubing. I plan to keep this car so not thinking about resale value if modded etc.. being that said, instructions to install here, for people curious on how much cutting is involved:

http://files.dinancars.com/webresour...c02f50d31b.pdf

Minimal as far as I would consider for the fact that you are stuffing an intercooler double the size of the OEM.





I have not done full track yet, but this Autocross event at Daytona was in 95 degree weather and the car was running flawlessly..



Stock IAT was about 110-115 on an 85 degree day..

Running the DINAN Intercooler I have logged 105-110 on a 95 degree day..
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      01-16-2018, 10:47 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BAN_M2 View Post
DINAN Dual Core.. 278% more surface area than stock..

I got over all that "I don't want to cut up my car" really fast once I knew even the M Performance exhaust was not bolt on and required you to take a hack saw to the exhaust tubing. I plan to keep this car so not thinking about resale value if modded etc.. being that said, instructions to install here, for people curious on how much cutting is involved:

http://files.dinancars.com/webresour...c02f50d31b.pdf

Minimal as far as I would consider for the fact that you are stuffing an intercooler double the size of the OEM.


I have not done full track yet, but this Autocross event at Daytona was in 95 degree weather and the car was running flawlessly..

Stock IAT was about 110-115 on an 85 degree day..

Running the DINAN Intercooler I have logged 105-110 on a 95 degree day..
Thats one nice intercooler
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