[mikew2069]

I've been in contact with the guys at Wagner over the last few weeks as they've been waiting for their ICs to get here to the states. So far communication and willingness to help and answer questions has been great. They are offering two versions - Performance and Competition.

I went with the Competition for $160 more. It supposed to cool better due to the Tube Fin design which allows more air travel and plus it saves a few pounds.
http://www.wagner-tuning.com/Competi...-F30_p_86.html

Stepped Competition Intercooler Core
Size 520 x 210 x130, 11.752cm³ Volume (OEM 510x130x110mm, 7293cm³ Volume)
CAD / FEM optimized Aluminum Cast Endtanks
Plug & Play Installation using the stock plumming,
No cutting or bumper removal required
Approx. 85% bigger surface over OEM IC
Weight 6.6kg

They also offer the Performance which is a Bar Plate design and a little heavier but priced more aggressively.
http://www.wagner-tuning.com/Perform...-F30_p_82.html

Stepped High Performance Intercooler Core
Size 520 x 210 x130, 11.752cm³ Volume (OEM 510x130x110mm, 7293cm³ Volume)
CAD / FEM optimized Aluminum Cast Endtanks
Plug & Play Installation using the stock plumming,
No cutting or bumper removal required
Approx. 85% bigger surface over OEM IC
Weight 8.8kg

As soon as I get it, I'll post some pics of the product as well as some pics during installation. I also took some IAT logs when it was about 80 degrees here in Houston so I'll take more logs with the Wagner installed when it gets back to 80 degrees here and we can compare.

Can't wait!!


From Wagner:
To give you a bit more technical Background.

Our Performance intercooler features a Bar and Plate core and the competition Intercooler has a Tube Fin Core.

I attached a Graph, which shows the internal Pressure drop of the OEM Intercooler and both of our coolers.

Pressure Drop BMW F20 135i F30 335i Comparision WT to OEM Intercooler by mikew2069, on Flickr

We are testing these coolers at 2.5PSI Pressure Drop and see how much they flow at this Backpressure.

OEM 340 CFM
Performance 375 CFM
Competition 436 CFM

Testbench is a Superflow Probench SF-1020

IAT Results are different according the internal Pressure Restrictions.

The Performance Intercooler has around 5-10 deg. less IAT than the Competition Intercooler.

[mikew2069]

Ordering/Shipping/Packaging - 10

As I said in the first post, I’ve been talking with Henry over at Wagner now for a few weeks and they’ve been great. When they finally received the coolers to the states, I was on the fence about the Competition vs the Performance line but I decided to go with the Competition. I’ve always thought that Bar/Plate was better at cooling and generally more expensive but hey, they engineered this thing and say the Competition Tube/Fin does a better job at cooling and flow (and weighs less) so for the extra $160, I went for it.

I ordered it and they shipped it the same day. It made its way from Cali to Tx in three business days via Fedex. The packaging was overboard – kind of what you want when you receive a product. It was a box inside of a box full of foam blocks and bubble bags. Even though the box had stickers in German that my guess said, “Fragile, Glass,” I would guess you could drop the box from a two story building and it would be fine…. But I didn’t try.


IMG_0880 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0881 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0882 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0883 by mikew2069, on Flickr

Small box inside:

IMG_0884 by mikew2069, on Flickr

Product Quality – 10

For now, until I get a chance to compare logs, I have to give the quality of the product a 10. Just because of the look, feel, and welds of the IC. It also slid right in during installation.


IMG_0885 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0886 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0887 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0888 by mikew2069, on Flickr

My little touch….

IMG_0890 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0895 by mikew2069, on Flickr

Stock IC vs Wagner IC

IMG_0903 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0905 by mikew2069, on Flickr

Installation – 9.5

So my opinion on the installation is a little biased because I also installed the ER charge pipes at the same time. If you are installing the IC alone, you simply 1) Jack up the front end of your car, 2) take off the belly pan via 22 8mm screws, 3) Unclip each pipe from each side of the IC, 4) Unscrew 2 torx screws on each side of the cooler, 5) slide/wiggle/pull the stock IC out.

I think if doing the IC on its own, it’s a 1-1.5 hour job in your garage (if you’re familiar with the IC clips). The biggest PITA was the clips that BMW uses on the IC and pipes. Whoever invented that design seriously needs to be shot. You basically have to reach behind the clips and pull these black retainer clips down and pry them off before you can remove the actual clips. After messing with them for half an hour, I finally just went crazy and ripped them off.

The other issue I had was with the ER charge pipe. The strangest thing was that Stock IC/ER Pipe works great. Wagner IC/Stock Pipe works great. Wagner IC/ER Pipe works not so great. The tolerances are SO tight that before you install this combo, you really need to have the IC and Pipe off the car and work them together over and over with some sort of lube so that when you do the actual install, they mount up together when everything is in place on the car.

Pics of the Clip location that almost gave me my first grey hair….

IMG_0900 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0899 by mikew2069, on Flickr

Bonus Pic of the ER Charge Pipe….

IMG_0906 by mikew2069, on Flickr

Before and After Install

IMG_0902 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0909 by mikew2069, on Flickr

Initial Impression

After installation, I drove to the grocery story last night just to make sure everything was installed and the car would drive properly. I didn’t get on it very hard but I could definitely tell that throttle response and acceleration has smoothed out. I’m definitely excited and initially impressed. When it warms up this afternoon, I’ll go out and take some logs.

[mikew2069]

Well guys, I kind of screwed the pooch on my logs. Yesterday at 71.6* F, I did three back to back runs from 50-100mph. Believe it or not, we had identical weather today and when I went back out to do the comparison logs, it was also exactly 71.6* F. That's the good news.

The bad news is that I did three back to back runs from 50-100mph and the momentI was finished, I realized that I was in comfort mode when I was in Sport+ yesterday. So I then immediately put it in Sport+ and did it again. I am posting the comparison logs from the Comfort run and the Sport+ run. Although there are obvious gains here, I think the true story will be told when its hotter outside. As soon as it gets to 80* here, I'll post more logs....

Stock Sport+ vs Wagner Comfort

Wagner Comfort Log 72deg by mikew2069, on Flickr

Stock Sport+ vs Wagner Sport+ (Immediately after the Comfort runs)

Wagner Sport+ Log 72deg by mikew2069, on Flickr

[mikew2069]

Awww schnap... Gonna be a good weekend

[tdizzle]

Nice. Look forward to install and performance.

[anelson524]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

Awww schnap... Gonna be a good weekend


IMG_0880 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0881 by mikew2069, on Flickr

I'm coming in town this weekend from Dallas, I may have to check this out!

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by anelson524

I'm coming in town this weekend from Dallas, I may have to check this out!

I HOPE to be able to install this sometime on Saturday. I have a bunch of crap to do around the house in the morning and then NFL playoff games. Worst case scenario, I should be able to install it on Sunday morning.

It kind of sucks that it won't be 80 degrees here for at least a few weeks. I need that to overlap the temp logs and get the true temp gains but I guess I can do it now when its 70 and then again the next time its 80....

[ShlemonboostedM]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

Awww schnap... Gonna be a good weekend


IMG_0880 by mikew2069, on Flickr

IMG_0881 by mikew2069, on Flickr

[Cateye]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

I HOPE to be able to install this sometime on Saturday. I have a bunch of crap to do around the house in the morning and then NFL playoff games. Worst case scenario, I should be able to install it on Sunday morning.

It kind of sucks that it won't be 80 degrees here for at least a few weeks. I need that to overlap the temp logs and get the true temp gains but I guess I can do it now when its 70 and then again the next time its 80....

OMG. . That's fast. I have yet to rec mine...! But it reach the shores yesterday..

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by Cateye

OMG. . That's fast. I have yet to rec mine...! But it reach the shores yesterday..

Yes they shipped it out the same day I paid. Cali to Texas is definitely quicker than Cali to Singapore

I stenciled the ///M logo on it last night. I know a lot of people think putting ///M on the car is kind of weak since its not an M3 and I went back and forth on it several times because of that. But at the end of the day, my car came with the ///M logo plastered all over the interior, so what the hell. Looks pretty cool! Now I just don't know if I should hit it with a layer of clear to protect from rock chips....

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

then NFL playoff games.

C'mon. Your hometown team won 2 games this season. Focus on the install of that nice fmic so we can see some pics.

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by auf Deutsche

C'mon. Your hometown team won 2 games this season. Focus on the install of that nice fmic so we can see some pics.

Lol, low blow... For the love of the game and hopes to make a little money for future mods

My media room door opens up to my garage so I'll try and multi-task. It's probably going to turn a 2 hour job into a 5 hour job!

[mikew2069]

Got some pics up

[2blu]

Looks great !

[ShlemonboostedM]

NICEEE !!! can't wait to get mine .. how long it took you total time to install CP and IC..?

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by ShlemonboostedM

NICEEE !!! can't wait to get mine .. how long it took you total time to install CP and IC..?

Well I was going back and forth installing and watching the game so 5 hours total but maybe 3 hours on the car? Hard to say.

[mikew2069]

Got some logs up....

[F87_LCI]

So...the verdict? Worth the $??
Hey and don't let people bust your balls about the stencil...it's your car bud.

[auf Deutsch]

The stencil looks good, not too gaudy with the black plastic grille semi camouflage-ing it.

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

Well guys, I kind of screwed the pooch on my logs. Yesterday at 71.6* F, I did three back to back runs from 50-100mph. Believe it or not, we had identical weather today and when I went back out to do the comparison logs, it was also exactly 71.6* F. That's the good news.

The bad news is that I did three back to back runs from 50-100mph and the momentI was finished, I realized that I was in comfort mode when I was in Sport+ yesterday. So I then immediately put it in Sport+ and did it again. I am posting the comparison logs from the Comfort run and the Sport+ run. Although there are obvious gains here, I think the true story will be told when its hotter outside. As soon as it gets to 80* here, I'll post more logs....

Stock Sport+ vs Wagner Comfort

Wagner Comfort Log 72deg by mikew2069, on Flickr

Stock Sport+ vs Wagner Sport+ (Immediately after the Comfort runs)

Wagner Sport+ Log 72deg by mikew2069, on Flickr

Interesting that there are instances where the stock unit is cooler. Especially the max in the first log.

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by LagunaSecaBlue

So...the verdict? Worth the $??
Hey and don't let people bust your balls about the stencil...it's your car bud.

I think an upgraded IC is a must when you're modding a car with a turbo. The only question for me is should I have gone with the Performance line. The Performance model is Bar/Plate which I always thought was favorable. It won't be until someone posts logs with the Performance model until I know if I'm satisfied or not. I'm sure if I purchased the Performance model, I'd be beating myself up thinking I should've spent the extra money on the Competition!

Plus I think we'll see more IAT gains when it gets a little warmer.

Originally Posted by auf Deutsche

The stencil looks good, not too gaudy with the black plastic grille semi camouflage-ing it.

Thanks! It actually came out great. I need to post a picture of the front of my car from a little bit of a distance.

Originally Posted by tdizzle

Interesting that there are instances where the stock unit is cooler. Especially the max in the first log.

Yea, I thought the same thing but every pull you make is going to be slightly different. All in all, there are obvious improvements in IATs. I'll never pull three times back to back to back like that. I AM however impressed that the IC recovered so fast when I switched from Comfort to Sport+ and did the 3 pulls again.

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by tdizzle

Interesting that there are instances where the stock unit is cooler. Especially the max in the first log.

I went back and looking into the data and it looks like on that third pull, I only got up to 95.5mph on the stock run and up to 100.5mph on the Wagner run.

Every pull/run will be a little different when we factor in good ol human error...

Log Data by mikew2069, on Flickr