[dlbrooks18]

So I'm trying to decide between Active Autowerkes vs. Code3 vs. RPI..

I've been reading reviews, and I'm leaning towards the AA because it's the biggest..

Thoughts?

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by dlbrooks18

So I'm trying to decide between Active Autowerkes vs. Code3 vs. RPI..

I've been reading reviews, and I'm leaning towards the AA because it's the biggest..

Thoughts?

biggest w/ the most cuttin required. get it while its $920 spring special pricing. thats a steal compared to the 1300+ its retailed at on their website

[Vince@ V K Motorwerks]

Hey what about our IC?

[turb0]

IMO i would go with helix fmic if your staying with stock turbos

[hun77777]

so far i lke vk ic because i like the direct bolt on, but before i make up my mind, i have to see what helix ic users have to say.

[Jimspeed]

bigger is not always best - depends on your setup...

[Septro]

Helix cuz I'm biased (hey at least I say it)

[dlbrooks18]

Originally Posted by turb0

IMO i would go with helix fmic if your staying with stock turbos

I want to do a turbo upgrade down the road when a good kit is available, so I don't want to have to keep upgrading my intercooler..

[Former_Boosted_IS]

Originally Posted by dlbrooks18

I want to do a turbo upgrade down the road when a good kit is available, so I don't want to have to keep upgrading my intercooler..

All of us will be biased if we have one. I think in your situation Active Autowerke would be the best choice of those your mentioned. Largest surface area by far of all those that you have mentioned. I did a long review on it, the install, and the AIT change. The cliff notes version is that it lowered my AITs by an average of 38-39 degrees over 4 runs!

Like the other post said, the price is rock solid right now. AA is a fantastic company to deal with and has a long history in the BMW world too.

[335iheLLraiseR]

Originally Posted by dlbrooks18

So I'm trying to decide between Active Autowerkes vs. Code3 vs. RPI..

I've been reading reviews, and I'm leaning towards the AA because it's the biggest..

Thoughts?

actually ASRs is the biggest.

[turb0]

Originally Posted by 335iheLLraiseR

actually ASRs is the biggest.

+1

and specifically made to work with upgraded turbooo

[Andrew@ET]

I Would go with either AA or Helix for the setup you will be running in the future

[gian335]

ive had the code 3 for a couple months now it is pretty good, not 2 much cutting 2 do.

[TurboBullett@Ambient Thermal Management]

Originally Posted by turb0

IMO i would go with helix fmic if your staying with stock turbos

Id like to put this to rest, The Helix intercooler can flow 450hp worth of air at .5 psi pressure drop BUT it can flow up to 650hp worth of air its good for the stock turbos all the way up to a GT35 or a pair of GT28's

Heres the data on the helix intercooler...

Core Design-
Prior to this stepped core design you had the option to either go Taller or thicker with the cores. In my design process I measured the captive areas in the front of the bumper in both depth and height and went about designing an intercooler that took up all of this area, yet still retained the all important seal to the back of the fan shroud so the radiator fan could still draw ambient air through the core. The end result is an intercooler with 56% more frontal area as well as core volume. now about the core I was not constrained to an off the shelf core in regards to ambient and internal fin count as we custom spec'd the core to this application the core in the helix FMIC is a single unit stacked up to our specifications in regards to ambient and charge row height and internal and external fin count. since our core has more volume I could increase the internal fin count to remove more temperature and still meet the targeted air flow and pressure drop for this application. as you see by the AIT data logs the intercooler works amazingly well



Endank design- all endtanks are not created equally, air likes to flow in a smooth curved radius as you can see the Helix FMIC has rounded endtanks that are cast. Another thing you will noticie is we opted not to utilize the factory O-ring connectors even though we could have easily implemented them in this design. Our reasoning was simple the factory connectors are THE flow restriction in the charge side as they shrink down to less than 2 inches in diameter at the inlet and outlet.








Install:
Fits in stock location- YES
requires NO cutting,removal and/or permanent modification- Yes on 335i, No on 135i
Can it be installed without removing front Bumper- YES
Utilizes factory mounting points- Yes
Design:
More core volume than stock- Yes 56%
More Ambient face than stock- Yes 56%
More charge rows than stock(8)- Yes 13
Bar and Plate construction- Yes
Removes restrictive stock O ring connectors- Yes
Seals to factory radiator fan shroud so air is drawn through when car is not in motion- Yes
Performance:
Helix intercooler at 13.5psi 63 degree ambient temps:
372whp +22whp
turbo outlet temperature 228 degrees F(estimated using a 63 degree ambient and 65% compressor efficiency at 13.5 psi)
AIT temp- 75 degrees F - 54 degree drop over stock
pre and post intercooler temp drop- 153 degrees F
Intercooler efficiency- 93% - 33% improvement in efficiency over stock
Core pressure drop spec is .5psi at 450hp(600cfm) airflow
Price: $969
STOCK 2-4 gear

Helix 2-4 gear

Independant AIT test through 2nd-4th gears-Incredible AIT control!



Independent testing and comments on the Helix FMIC:

“I've been testing the Helix FMIC and it keeps IATs within a couple degrees of ambient. Pretty ridiculous. In a good way, of course. And it doesn't block too much of the radiator either. That would be my recommendation.”
Shiv

“I've tested 3 different aftermarket FMICs in my car and the Helix unit performed the best in terms of cooling efficiency and pressure loss. I don't see things getting much better than that to be honest.”
Shiv

“I will attest that this intercooler will help your cars. I have had it on since early winter/last fall and have seen little to no decrease in power with the warmer weather or after repeated hard runs that would have heatsoaked the tiny stock intercooler in no time.”
Sniz

[scalbert]

Originally Posted by Former_Boosted_IS

All of us will be biased if we have one. I think in your situation Active Autowerke would be the best choice of those your mentioned.

Now it makes sense.

[midlife]

Originally Posted by TTurboBullett

Id like to put this to rest, The Helix intercooler can flow 450hp worth of air at .5 psi pressure drop BUT it can flow up to 650hp worth of air its good for the stock turbos all the way up to a GT35 or a pair of GT28's

Independent testing and comments on the Helix FMIC:

“I've been testing the Helix FMIC and it keeps IATs within a couple degrees of ambient. Pretty ridiculous. In a good way, of course. And it doesn't block too much of the radiator either. That would be my recommendation.”
Shiv

“I've tested 3 different aftermarket FMICs in my car and the Helix unit performed the best in terms of cooling efficiency and pressure loss. I don't see things getting much better than that to be honest.”
Shiv

“I will attest that this intercooler will help your cars. I have had it on since early winter/last fall and have seen little to no decrease in power with the warmer weather or after repeated hard runs that would have heatsoaked the tiny stock intercooler in no time.”
Sniz

sounds great, and congrats... but who is this shiv guy ?

[dlbrooks18]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I've heard great things about Code3 and it's pretty much the same as the Dinan. Not too familiar with ASR's, but I need to look into them too, especially keeping their upgraded turbo's in mind.. my current performance mods are tune, lsd, and catless dp's. I'll read up more on Helix too.. decisions, decisions.. thanks Former Boosted IS for the great review, you may have made my decision

[BMW-driver]

LOL. My advise? All - good - aftermarket IC's perform better over stock during heavy use. Pick the one 'you fall in love with' or has the nicest bling-bling . A more rational advise - because the built quality and actual results seems to be equal - pick the easiest to install ofcourse. And on this subject, there are huge differences between manufacturers.

If you planning serious engine updates (like huuuuge larger turbo's yes.. ) I have found just one seriuos product until now that advertises from the beginning for that purpose:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ercooler+turbo

[dannyd86]

Anyone heard of this FMIC?

http://www.evolutionracewerks.com/product.php?prodid=58

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by midlife

sounds great, and congrats... but who is this shiv guy ?

I hear he is a closet JB3 supporter LOL

Just to add to this the Helix Intercooler has undergone a mini redesign for the group buy in regards to the end tanks. So the new one is even better

Mike

[DrTurbo-Ö]

Hi,

I'm also looking for a FMIC. But I think I will wait for numbers of the AMS one. Meanwhile there are lots of new FMIC next to RPI, AA, Code3 or Helix.
Moreover the Evolution Racewerks would be a good alternative...
-> Very hard to make a decision!

BR, M.