Wagner Intercooler Review

tscdennab · 12-09-2010, 07:21 PM

Today I installed my Wagner intercooler on my 335i. A bigger intercooler is a requirement for GIAC Stage 2 flash which I had installed recently.

The Wagner intercooler is a bar-and-plate stepped core intercooler, similar to the Helix. It has louvered fins on the outside (good cooling) and straight fins on the inside (low pressure drop and good cooling because it is huge).

The installation required a bit of cutting, but the guys from the tuning shop were able to make very clean cuts. The intercooler fit perfectly after that. The hoses were a pain to fit though, but in the end they fit perfectly. The Wagner install instructions were useless for my car, they assumed an e92 without the M-Sport package and I have an e90 LCI with M-Sport package. There are some differences in the intercooler surrounding plastics.

As far as driving impressions, there is definitely a lot more power with the GIAC Stage 2 going from the stock intercooler (which I shouldn't use with Stage 2 but I did for a few tests) and the Wagner. The car is now BRUTAL

Whereas with the stock intercooler the boost climbed to 17+ psi due to high IATs, with the Wagner the boost never climbed above 16psi. With a 10 degrees Celsius ambient temperature, the IAT's never got over 31-32 Celsius at full throttle.

I noticed a bit of turbo lag compared to the stock intercooler (somewhat expected for an intercooler this big) but I don't have a definitive resolution on that. Looking from the before/after BT cable logs, the lag was identical to the stocker (under 1 second to build full requested boost on both graphs). The last graph is with the stock intercooler. First 2 graphs are with Wagner.

I wasn't able to do 2-3-4 gear runs due to bad weather, but I managed to do a few 3rd gear and 4 gear separate runs. I have attached some logs.

Well...that's about it. Another step in my journey to a 400whp car. Next week: Injen Intake

Forcefed3 · 12-09-2010, 07:57 PM

Looks good, I would like to see what kind of gains it produces.

m3rxn · 12-09-2010, 08:02 PM

very nice indeed!

are you running downpipes?

cn555ic · 12-09-2010, 08:17 PM

Wow your going to town with your car since your warranty expired!!! Awesome...

Clap135 · 12-09-2010, 08:29 PM

Your timing does not look to good on 1 of those logs. Id be a little careful with it untill you get all the mods required for stage 2.

themyst · 12-09-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clap135

Your timing does not look to good on 1 of those logs. Id be a little careful with it untill you get all the mods required for stage 2.

+1, you went from 9 degrees to 5.5 abruptly... that can't be good.

enrita · 12-09-2010, 09:44 PM

Yeah some good gas of 93/94 instead of 91 should cure that ;-)

Bimmer This · 12-10-2010, 01:03 AM

nice and stealthy

G.I.Joe · 12-10-2010, 02:59 AM

Great to see some logs.

Incidentially I just had my Wagner FMIC installed wednesday, and my mechanic also said that the hose was a PITA to fit, and also that it required some heavier bolts to mount than the OEM FMIC. I had an Afe DCI intake installed at the same time, and also due to really bad weather (i.e. slippery roads), I haven't been able to test it properly just yet. It seems though, that my car has gotten more quiet. I use a Steinbauer tune, so in a few weeks I'll be adjusting the level of that according to the new FMIC.

My mechanic (who has built some of Europes fastest cars) said that the Wagner FMIC was very good quality and that it would give med at least another free 20 whp. He also frowned at the OEM FMIC's plastic end pieces....

It's kinda stealth as well, as it's hardly noticeable from the outside, as you may be able to see from my crappe phone pics....

12-09-2010, 07:21 PM	#1
tscdennab Banned 156 Rep 1,809 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW [6.24]	Wagner Intercooler Review Today I installed my Wagner intercooler on my 335i. A bigger intercooler is a requirement for GIAC Stage 2 flash which I had installed recently. The Wagner intercooler is a bar-and-plate stepped core intercooler, similar to the Helix. It has louvered fins on the outside (good cooling) and straight fins on the inside (low pressure drop and good cooling because it is huge). The installation required a bit of cutting, but the guys from the tuning shop were able to make very clean cuts. The intercooler fit perfectly after that. The hoses were a pain to fit though, but in the end they fit perfectly. The Wagner install instructions were useless for my car, they assumed an e92 without the M-Sport package and I have an e90 LCI with M-Sport package. There are some differences in the intercooler surrounding plastics. As far as driving impressions, there is definitely a lot more power with the GIAC Stage 2 going from the stock intercooler (which I shouldn't use with Stage 2 but I did for a few tests) and the Wagner. The car is now BRUTAL Whereas with the stock intercooler the boost climbed to 17+ psi due to high IATs, with the Wagner the boost never climbed above 16psi. With a 10 degrees Celsius ambient temperature, the IAT's never got over 31-32 Celsius at full throttle. I noticed a bit of turbo lag compared to the stock intercooler (somewhat expected for an intercooler this big) but I don't have a definitive resolution on that. Looking from the before/after BT cable logs, the lag was identical to the stocker (under 1 second to build full requested boost on both graphs). The last graph is with the stock intercooler. First 2 graphs are with Wagner. I wasn't able to do 2-3-4 gear runs due to bad weather, but I managed to do a few 3rd gear and 4 gear separate runs. I have attached some logs. Well...that's about it. Another step in my journey to a 400whp car. Next week: Injen Intake Attached Images Last edited by tscdennab; 12-09-2010 at 07:40 PM..
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12-09-2010, 07:57 PM	#2
Forcefed3 Banned 131 Rep 4,732 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: South iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [1.00]	Looks good, I would like to see what kind of gains it produces.
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12-09-2010, 08:02 PM	#3
m3rxn Colonel 1313 Rep 2,241 Posts Drives: boosted Inline 6's Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern Cali iTrader: (0)	very nice indeed! are you running downpipes? __________________ 15 F82 M4,YMB-6MT 17 G30 540i,AW-8spd ZF 24 G82 M4C x-drive, DY-Dakar Yellow ind-8spd ZF
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12-09-2010, 08:17 PM	#4
cn555ic 460 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	Wow your going to town with your car since your warranty expired!!! Awesome...
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12-09-2010, 08:29 PM	#5
Clap135 Brigadier General 105 Rep 3,460 Posts Drives: 2009 N54 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sticky's Mom House iTrader: (1)	Your timing does not look to good on 1 of those logs. Id be a little careful with it untill you get all the mods required for stage 2.
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12-09-2010, 09:44 PM	#7
enrita Major General 161 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: 335i - Big turbos Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Italian in Sweden iTrader: (0)	Yeah some good gas of 93/94 instead of 91 should cure that ;-) __________________ 07 335i AT - MOTIV 750 - MHD E85 BMS flash - BMS PI - JB4G5 - Okada Coils - NGK 5992 Plugs - Helix IC - Snow Stg. 3 - Stett CP - Custom midpipes with 100 HJS Cats - Bastuck Quad - PSS10 - QUAIFE LSD - BMS OCC - Forge DVs - AR OC - ALCON BBK - M3 Chassi - Dinan CP - Velocity M rear Toe arms - Advan RZ-DF - LUX H8 - Level 10 AT upgrade
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12-10-2010, 01:03 AM	#8
Bimmer This Major General 100 Rep 6,473 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westminster iTrader: (3)	nice and stealthy
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12-10-2010, 02:59 AM	#9
G.I.Joe Major 30 Rep 1,041 Posts Drives: E92 335i 2008 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark iTrader: (0)	Great to see some logs. Incidentially I just had my Wagner FMIC installed wednesday, and my mechanic also said that the hose was a PITA to fit, and also that it required some heavier bolts to mount than the OEM FMIC. I had an Afe DCI intake installed at the same time, and also due to really bad weather (i.e. slippery roads), I haven't been able to test it properly just yet. It seems though, that my car has gotten more quiet. I use a Steinbauer tune, so in a few weeks I'll be adjusting the level of that according to the new FMIC. My mechanic (who has built some of Europes fastest cars) said that the Wagner FMIC was very good quality and that it would give med at least another free 20 whp. He also frowned at the OEM FMIC's plastic end pieces.... It's kinda stealth as well, as it's hardly noticeable from the outside, as you may be able to see from my crappe phone pics.... Attached Images
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