[F30xn55]

I want to upgrade my intercooler to something with a slight bit of performance, I live in Canada and the temperatures are pretty mild. I want to go with Bootmod stage 2, I don't track the car or anything but do some hard pulls.

Thinking of going with the eBay G Plus intercooler (the non stepped version) shorturl.at/djsQY

Think this would be a good step up for cooling? Car is a EWG 335i xDrive

[n55david]

Originally Posted by F30xn55

I want to upgrade my intercooler to something with a slight bit of performance, I live in Canada and the temperatures are pretty mild. I want to go with Bootmod stage 2, I don't track the car or anything but do some hard pulls.

Thinking of going with the eBay G Plus intercooler (the non stepped version) shorturl.at/djsQY

Think this would be a good step up for cooling? Car is a EWG 335i xDrive

it would be a waste of time and money. get the stepped one at minimum. I'm not a fan of them but at least get their good one.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by Phantom10R

it would be a waste of time and money. get the stepped one at minimum. I'm not a fan of them but at least get their good one.

This - or a Burger unit for $299, or even those cheapy tall ones that X-hp sells.
A bad intercooler will make you feel like you almost didn't upgrade at all.

[sspade]

I had the GPlus unit on my prior F30 and believe that it is definitely an upgrade over stock. There is real world testing with data to prove this is true.

This time around, I spent a touch more and got one from ARM Motorsports. There was an easy to find coupon code that I was able to apply making it around $320 shipped.

https://www.armmotorsports.com/colle...tercooler-fmic

[mike@x-ph.com]

Its tough to say without data.

Why go with Ebay when MAD, BMS & ARM offer intercooler for a very low price

[sspade]

Here is a bit of data on the GPlus:

https://scoutofmind.com/f30-f32-n55-...cooler-review/

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Its tough to say without data.

Why go with Ebay when MAD, BMS & ARM offer intercooler for a very low price

This - the G plus isn't stepped, don't bother. I would do the ARM or BMS in that price range.

[sspade]

For the sake of honesty and factual information…

GPlus does offer a stepped FMIC for the F30. I had one of the earlier, non stepped models personally though.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by F30xn55

I want to upgrade my intercooler to something with a slight bit of performance, I live in Canada and the temperatures are pretty mild. I want to go with Bootmod stage 2, I don't track the car or anything but do some hard pulls.

Thinking of going with the eBay G Plus intercooler (the non stepped version) shorturl.at/djsQY

Think this would be a good step up for cooling? Car is a EWG 335i xDrive

Do it once and do it right. Personally i would just get the VRSF 6.5'' since the cost/benefit makes the most sense. I wouldn't go smaller than a "good" 5'' HD stepped IC. I won't comment on which IC falls into that "good" category with respect to the ones mentioned above since i have no data and personal experience on those.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by sspade

For the sake of honesty and factual information…

GPlus does offer a stepped FMIC for the F30. I had one of the earlier, non stepped models personally though.

To be fair, what you posted originally wasn't a stepped intercooler. The stepped portion matters more than the depth, because surface area is better for cooling. In Vancouver, it only gets about 80F or so max, so he doesn't need anything massive, so I would agree that something like that is "fine." But as pointed out above, the VRSF 6.5 is future proof and not too expensive - and would absolutely be superior to the other options mentioned here.

[Boostedphil698]

I'd say go with ER's stepped intercooler.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Boostedphil698

I'd say go with ER's stepped intercooler.

+1 for the ER intercooler but its not stepped core

[F30xn55]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Its tough to say without data.

Why go with Ebay when MAD, BMS & ARM offer intercooler for a very low price

How does MAD compare with the BMS intercooler? and the VRSF HD 5"?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by F30xn55

How does MAD compare with the BMS intercooler? and the VRSF HD 5"?

the new MAD 5" intercooler with the high-density core is very similar to BMS and VRSF. Their dimensions are almost the same as well.

I highly doubt a customer can notice a difference between all three once they are installed.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by F30xn55

How does MAD compare with the BMS intercooler? and the VRSF HD 5"?

Mike can confirm the current MAD 5'' . However it looks like their race IC is, as posted in this thread: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1872731

[F30xn55]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

To be fair, what you posted originally wasn't a stepped intercooler. The stepped portion matters more than the depth, because surface area is better for cooling. In Vancouver, it only gets about 80F or so max, so he doesn't need anything massive, so I would agree that something like that is "fine." But as pointed out above, the VRSF 6.5 is future proof and not too expensive - and would absolutely be superior to the other options mentioned here.

With our winters hovering around 32f, is there an issue using a larger intercooler at lower temps?

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by F30xn55

With our winters hovering around 32f, is there an issue using a larger intercooler at lower temps?

Nope. Having owned both a 5'' VRSF HD and recently installed a race, i would just go race, especially if you plan to run stage 2/2+ and drive hard.

[F30xn55]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

the new MAD 5" intercooler with the high-density core is very similar to BMS and VRSF. Their dimensions are almost the same as well.

I highly doubt a customer can notice a difference between all three once they are installed.

Thanks, Mike!

I did see a post where MAD was working on a new HD 5" intercooler, is that the one that's on sale on your site at the moment? and is it available in silver??

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by F30xn55

Thanks, Mike!

I did see a post where MAD was working on a new HD 5" intercooler, is that the one that's on sale on your site at the moment? and is it available in silver??

that's the one on sale, as the previous version is no longer available.

Not sure about the finish, it looks like they only have black available but I'll check if they are going to offer silver in the future

[SoCalM235iR]

In the last two months I've installed 3, 5" stepped IC's in F32's: One G Plus that looked identical to the one in ssade's post and 2 Burgers.

The G Plus had a single tank vane on the hot side, looked well made, and fit perfectly with the VSFR CP. Zero install issues.

The Burger's core and pipe fittings looked identical to the G Plus and also fit easily without issue. The end tanks had very similar mounting tabs. The G Plus owner reports a drop in IAT's at WOT of 30+degrees F and the Burger in my car and the other show similar temp drops.

If someone told me both were made in the same factory I would believe it. Which IC's are confirmed as not made in China?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by SoCalE90

If someone told me both were made in the same factory I would believe it. Which IC's are confirmed as not made in China?

Evolution Racewerks is made in the US, Wagner in Germany or US depending on the batch

[frchdragon]

Originally Posted by SoCalE90

If someone told me both were made in the same factory I would believe it. Which IC's are confirmed as not made in China?

I wouldn't be surprised that all the cheap IC are made by the same factory and rebranded, like many things in China.

But they work fine and are decent products.