[mike@x-ph.com]

There has been numerous threads lately about intercoolers. From the usual which one is the best FMIC on the market to Ebay brands claiming to offer a high quality solution for a reasonable price.

I will be discussing the most important factors about intercoolers and why some FMIC will offer better cooling than others

Intercoolers and why replacement is recommended?

Turbochargers compress engine intake air which creates heat. The Intercooler then cools down the charged air. For remapped cars, temperatures up to 200°C after turbocharger can occur. Factory intercoolers are unable to sufficiently handle such high temperatures. This causes high intake temperatures and the oxygen content of the charged air drops significantly. As a direct consequence, the performance decreases, the thermal load on the cylinder head and valves increases. Worst case this can cause severe engine damage.

The colder the intake air, the higher the efficiency of the turbo-charged engine and less risk of engine damage. This can be achieved with an optimized intercooler system installed between the turbocharger and engine.

Construction of an intercooler?

Intercoolers can be categorized by two types of the core construction.

The BAR & PLATE core construction is relatively heavy so there is certain temperature inertia. Meaning under load the core takes longer to heat, but also longer to cool down once the load is removed. This is fine for on the road, but for use on the race track this core construction is not particularly suitable as it arrives at a constant cooling performance at varying loads in the full load range. Also weight reduction is an important consideration for track use.

The fine structure of the TUBE & FIN core makes them relatively light and exchange heat much faster. This type of core construction takes temperatures relatively quickly, but also very quickly transfers this away again. For a constant cooling performance in a dynamic throttle situation this is an indispensable feature. Tube fin intercoolers are suitable for street use as well as at the race track.

The OUTSIDE CORE is responsible for heat exchange with the running wind. The higher the density of the external core (fins), the better the cooling performance of an intercooler. But you also have to look which parts are behind the intercooler. Too much fin density means all parts behind the intercooler will be blocked. The worst case would be, you’ve solved the problem of high intake air temperatures, but the engine coolant temperature climbs. High performance manufacturers note all these factors and develop the most suitable structure of outside core design.

Low Density Core // // // High Density Core


Also notice the staggered offset fins for a larger contact area on the intercooler on the right

The INSIDE CORE is responsible for heat exchange with the hot charged air and also need to handle the additional air flow which is running through the intake system. Care needs to be taken when deciding the internal fin density. A high internal fin density gives great cooling performance but with a high pressure drop. The pressure drop of the cooling system should not be adversely affected by an aftermarket intercooler. Less pressure drop reduces the mechanical load on the turbocharger (stability & life time for the turbo). High performance intercooler manufacturers find the best balance between high cooling performance, reduced pressure drop and design their intercooler cores specifically for each vehicle.

The right ENTANK DESIGN is another key consideration when you are looking for the best intercooler for your car. It is easy to see the difference between a good and a bad aftermarket intercooler.

There are different approaches, some manufacturers use sheet metal end tanks and others use cast aluminium end tanks. At flow velocities of around 100 m/s it makes no sense to let the air flow straight in to a wall. This causes unwanted turbulence inside the end tank and higher pressure drop. Furthermore, uniform filling of the intercooler is critical for optimum performance. To aid this, some manufacturers add internal air guides.



Size & Fitment

The size of an intercooler is not always proof of better cooling. There is an old adage which says "Power is nothing without control". This can be applied to bigger intercoolers. If you construct a bigger intercooler without working with internal air guide systems and flow optimized end tanks, the air will not flow through the whole system and choosing a bigger intercooler makes no sense because the intercooler is not being used effectively.

Although the size of the intercooler is changing, the installation should not require mutilation of the vehicle. To avoid nasty surprises you should always look at the installation instructions (if available). Additionally you can seek reviews from neutral and professional sources. I know sometimes it is quite difficult to recognize those sources.

Here is my advice on how to pick the right intercooler for you

Don’t get an intercooler because someone on the forum says it’s cheap, it fits and they feel it is doing a great job. Ask for logs.

Check if the manufacturer invests time and money in development/engineering, to get the latest technology in your intercooler. The needs of the cars and tuning them changes all the time.

Don’t get an intercooler just because people say it is the best. Get an intercooler because professional tuners say it the best. The best intercooler on a fully bolt on car with upgraded turbo might not be the best intercooler for a stock car with stage 1 tune.

Start by thinking ahead in terms of modifications that you will eventually add on your car. If you plan on going fully bolt on in 1-2 years, get an intercooler that suits the fully bolt on application.

Bigger is not always better. If you do not plan on getting stage 2 turbo, don’t get an intercooler built for stage 2 applications. You want an intercooler that provides the best cooling with the minimum pressure drop.

If the right intercooler is over your budget, wait until you have enough funds or try saving on other mods so you can get the right intercooler.

Ebay Notes

Some justify getting an ebay intercooler for the following reasons:

• Daily driver, No track use ever
• conservative tune
• Looking for a cheap solution that works, even if it is not the best one available

As mentioned above, getting a bigger intercooler does not always mean you are getting better performance. You might get better IAT than stock, but your pressure drop will be higher and so the couple hundred dollars you spent on a cheap solution did not help.

If you are not going to pick a brand that takes into consideration everything mentioned above, you are better off keeping your stock intercooler.

As i said earlier, dont get the biggest most expensive FMIC if your car is a daily driver with stage 1 tune. Talk to vendors / tuners, tell them your HP goals and mods + your budget. They will recommend an FMIC that suits your needs.

[EV0LVE]

With all these knowledge, what would you recommend?

It's a serious question btw.

TIA.

[Bmw doubles]

Thanks Mike that brings a lot of clarity to choosing. So far my stock FMIC with aggressive stage 1 tunes has been performing well. This may not be the case for me going stage 2.

This video also helped bring some understanding to FMIC

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by EV0LVE

With all these knowledge, what would you recommend?

It's a serious question btw.

TIA.

I like the Wagner Intercooler

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Bmw doubles

Thanks Mike that brings a lot of clarity to choosing. So far my stock FMIC with aggressive stage 1 tunes has been performing well. This may not be the case for me going stage 2.

This video also helped bring some understanding to FMIC

I like that video, he explains it quite well

[fung0001]

Any intercooler for daily driver of 520/528?
Not even one i could find in the market fit my ride.

[DaHeadlightGuy]

trying to decide if the intercooler would beneficial with my setup. BMS intake, Catless DP, Muffler Delete, and JB4 map2 Map 7 on track days

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by DaHeadlightGuy

trying to decide if the intercooler would beneficial with my setup. BMS intake, Catless DP, Muffler Delete, and JB4 map2 Map 7 on track days

Definitely!!

[lsturbointeg]

i think it would be easier if you could tell us which intercoolers work with what models for example...what intercooler will work for my 535 without modifications?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

i think it would be easier if you could tell us which intercoolers work with what models for example...what intercooler will work for my 535 without modifications?

Wagner F10 intercooler

[DaHeadlightGuy]

What other intercooler options are there for the F10 N55 besides the wagner?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by DaHeadlightGuy

What other intercooler options are there for the F10 N55 besides the wagner?

Not aware of any reputable company that carries the F10 intercooler ... Pretty sure you can find plenty on Ebay and such websites

[DaHeadlightGuy]

Ohh No ebay lol. Just looking around for reputable companies just to see what kind of variety there is.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by DaHeadlightGuy

Ohh No ebay lol. Just looking around for reputable companies just to see what kind of variety there is.

LOL

Get the Wagner, it is a quality product