Intercooler comparison?

ppatel223 · 03-21-2009, 04:44 PM

I am in the market for new intercooler, can't decide which one to get. Spearco seems to be popular, and Dinan is just too damn overpriced. Helix almost looks twice the size of Spearco, hopefully that means it cools more and better? Can someone guide who's got intercooler on their car? Current tune is have procede v3 and DCI.

ppatel223 · 03-21-2009, 04:46 PM

would there by any warranty issue having after market intercooler on a car without any other mods.

stimpy · 03-21-2009, 04:51 PM

Ordered a Helix myself. Don't think you could go wrong with a Helix or a VK.

If you brought your car in with blown turbos, bad hpfp, etc .. they certainly might try to blame your IC and not cover the part under warranty. If they did, the burden would be on you to take them to court.

So in short, any aftermarket part should be taken off for warranty work.

ThorsHammer · 03-21-2009, 04:56 PM

I have the Active Autowerkes one. LOVE IT.

BALLAJL15 · 03-21-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThorsHammer

I have the Active Autowerkes one. LOVE IT.

+1
I just dont see too many ppl with this one... I love it and it works great for me... got a good deal for only $1100 about a year ago

jesdan14 · 03-21-2009, 05:33 PM

I ordered a helix on as well, And the vk is a good direct bolt on. Both very good units. WHat made me go with helix group buy price of 799.99

jpsimon · 03-21-2009, 05:35 PM

I ordered the VK to use for now, I'll post up my dyno results / AIT comparisons once it shows up (hopefully this coming week)

Septro · 03-21-2009, 07:37 PM

I've got on the Helix bandwagon and will post up the dyno numbers once it comes in (x-fingers for next month)

ppatel223 · 03-21-2009, 08:34 PM

are they doing group buy for helix? their cooler seems to be BIGGER than rest

cn555ic · 03-21-2009, 08:54 PM

VK seems to be the only one thats a "DIRECT" bolt on using the OEM couplings...I am waiting to see people give some reviews before I pull the trigger!

Septro · 03-21-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

VK seems to be the only one thats a "DIRECT" bolt on using the OEM couplings...I am waiting to see people give some reviews before I pull the trigger!

Yea I'm hoping the VK ones meet the expectations once the reviews start to come in. I'm more comfortable with Helix since they've been proven.

ppatel223 · 03-21-2009, 09:29 PM

thanks guys, i think i am gonna get Helix, since the group buy is $799, half the price of dinan shit

ToadHollow · 03-21-2009, 10:09 PM

Ahhhhhh ....... another lost soul seeing the Helix light .......

Stimpy is like LAST on the GB list ...... that's gotta suck!

stimpy · 03-22-2009, 04:18 PM

lol fu... was one of the first ones to pay and Ralph said they will be going off that list

I think they said they would be shipping all at once anyhow.

uberschnell · 03-22-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppatel223

would there by any warranty issue having after market intercooler on a car without any other mods.

I brought my car in to have them look at a problem I was having with the motor, they told me that they could not trouble shoot it under warranty with the aftermarket fmic in, but that I could pay the diagnostic cost up front and then if determined the problem was with another part they would refund me the money.

or..

I could swap the oem cooler in and they would take it no problem. Which brings me to the fmic.

I have the RPI with the oem couplers. I can roll my car up on ramps and swap the RPI in or out in 20 minutes. It may not be the best on the market (I like the Helix design) but it's twice the size of the OEM one and has cut down on heat-soak dramatically.

Also, keep the oem cooler on hand in case you need it.

ToadHollow · 03-22-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magna3

I brought my car in to have them look at a problem I was having with the motor, they told me that they could not trouble shoot it under warranty with the aftermarket fmic in, but that I could pay the diagnostic cost up front and then if determined the problem was with another part they would refund me the money.

or..

I could swap the oem cooler in and they would take it no problem. Which brings me to the fmic.

I have the RPI with the oem couplers. I can roll my car up on ramps and swap the RPI in or out in 20 minutes. It may not be the best on the market (I like the Helix design) but it's twice the size of the OEM one and has cut down on heat-soak dramatically.

Also, keep the oem cooler on hand in case you need it.

Did you offer up that you have/had an aftermarket IC installed or did they know ahead of time? Seems that they wouldn't have known something like that unless they were digging around the front end of the car or ........ duh, doesn't RPI have the logo on the front.

If that's the case then ...... wow, I really need to start drinking more

Hey Stimpy!
I heard western shipments are going to be last cause well ..... just cause!! ......... suck it up buddy!

Former_Boosted_IS · 03-23-2009, 05:35 AM

I would find it very difficult for BMW to reject any warranty work because of an intercooler. If you read my testing last week, the stock IC is just simply horrible and all you are doing is replacing it with a more efficient unit. It would be like BMW voiding your warranty because you put a more efficient radiator or oil cooler in the car. All you are doing here is making the car more efficient and run cooler.

uberschnell · 03-23-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Former_Boosted_IS

I would find it very difficult for BMW to reject any warranty work because of an intercooler

In my case they did not reject the warranty work, they just made getting it cumbersome.

Quote:

Did you offer up that you have/had an aftermarket IC installed or did they know ahead of time?

It says RPI on the front

03-21-2009, 04:44 PM	#1
ppatel223 Banned 32 Rep 372 Posts Drives: F10 I3.0 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: AR iTrader: (0)	Intercooler comparison? I am in the market for new intercooler, can't decide which one to get. Spearco seems to be popular, and Dinan is just too damn overpriced. Helix almost looks twice the size of Spearco, hopefully that means it cools more and better? Can someone guide who's got intercooler on their car? Current tune is have procede v3 and DCI.
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03-21-2009, 04:46 PM	#2
ppatel223 Banned 32 Rep 372 Posts Drives: F10 I3.0 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: AR iTrader: (0)	would there by any warranty issue having after market intercooler on a car without any other mods.
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03-21-2009, 04:51 PM	#3
stimpy Colonel 183 Rep 2,210 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Phoenix AZ iTrader: (7)	Ordered a Helix myself. Don't think you could go wrong with a Helix or a VK. If you brought your car in with blown turbos, bad hpfp, etc .. they certainly might try to blame your IC and not cover the part under warranty. If they did, the burden would be on you to take them to court. So in short, any aftermarket part should be taken off for warranty work.
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03-21-2009, 04:56 PM	#4
ThorsHammer Major 88 Rep 1,389 Posts Drives: '09 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (10)	I have the Active Autowerkes one. LOVE IT. __________________ "SYONRA" is for sale! http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366678 BSM '09 e92 335i \| Performance: JB3, RR Catted DP's, INJEN DCI, Britalman Exhst, AA FMIC, FORGE DVs \| Suspension: ST-V1 Coils, Hotchkis Chassis Brace & F/R Sways \| Wheels: Bremmer Kraft BR03s, Brake Performance Rotors, Cool Carbon Pads, ECS Lines \| Exterior: OEM Aero Lip/Rear, ****** CF Trunk Lid, BLUX5 Angels, M-Force M3 Sides \| Interior: Passport 9500ci, Black Trim, M3 Wheel
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03-21-2009, 05:33 PM	#6
jesdan14 Captain 38 Rep 795 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe sapphire Black Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lakeworth Florida iTrader: (7) Garage List 2007 335I Coupe [0.00]	I ordered a helix on as well, And the vk is a good direct bolt on. Both very good units. WHat made me go with helix group buy price of 799.99
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03-21-2009, 05:35 PM	#7
jpsimon Team Zissou 3200 Rep 10,200 Posts Drives: 2022 AWD M3 Comp - SMB Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CT iTrader: (7)	I ordered the VK to use for now, I'll post up my dyno results / AIT comparisons once it shows up (hopefully this coming week)
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03-21-2009, 07:37 PM	#8
Septro Banned 78 Rep 1,649 Posts Drives: '08 e90 335xi Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: C-Bus, OH iTrader: (1)	I've got on the Helix bandwagon and will post up the dyno numbers once it comes in (x-fingers for next month)
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03-21-2009, 08:34 PM	#9
ppatel223 Banned 32 Rep 372 Posts Drives: F10 I3.0 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: AR iTrader: (0)	are they doing group buy for helix? their cooler seems to be BIGGER than rest
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03-21-2009, 08:54 PM	#10
cn555ic 485 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	VK seems to be the only one thats a "DIRECT" bolt on using the OEM couplings...I am waiting to see people give some reviews before I pull the trigger!
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03-21-2009, 09:29 PM	#12
ppatel223 Banned 32 Rep 372 Posts Drives: F10 I3.0 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: AR iTrader: (0)	thanks guys, i think i am gonna get Helix, since the group buy is $799, half the price of dinan shit
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03-21-2009, 10:09 PM	#13
ToadHollow Once upon a time ...... 283 Rep 5,048 Posts Drives: 2008 JB E92 - SOLD 5/2010 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Asti, Italy & Austin, Texas iTrader: (16) Garage List 2008 E92 335i [8.00]	Ahhhhhh ....... another lost soul seeing the Helix light ....... Stimpy is like LAST on the GB list ...... that's gotta suck! __________________
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03-22-2009, 04:18 PM	#14
stimpy Colonel 183 Rep 2,210 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Phoenix AZ iTrader: (7)	lol fu... was one of the first ones to pay and Ralph said they will be going off that list I think they said they would be shipping all at once anyhow.
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03-23-2009, 05:35 AM	#17
Former_Boosted_IS Major General 330 Rep 5,175 Posts Drives: 4 Wheels Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Planet Earth! iTrader: (15)	I would find it very difficult for BMW to reject any warranty work because of an intercooler. If you read my testing last week, the stock IC is just simply horrible and all you are doing is replacing it with a more efficient unit. It would be like BMW voiding your warranty because you put a more efficient radiator or oil cooler in the car. All you are doing here is making the car more efficient and run cooler.
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