[jwebb335xi]

I've narrowed my search for an FMIC to CP-E, ER and ETS. Initially, I was opposed to changing clamps and cutting. Now, I'm willing to change clamps and pipes to increase flow and reduce pressure loss. Moreover, i'm willing to trim a little.

Can anyone give real world results for the (3) FMICs above in terms of (1) trimming necessary at install, (2) pressure loss compared to stock, (3) temperature reduction and, finally, (4) price.

My car is a 2008 335 xi with auto trans, Cobb V3 Stage 1, ER Charge Pipe with dual Forge DVs. I will tack maybe 3 times this year, live in the Chicago area and am mostly concerned with pressure loss over temp reduction. I figure any FMIC will reduce temps compared to stock.

Thanks guys!!

[Chromey]

I have ER and its been a beauty so far, regarding info on pressure drops etc i dont know but charge temps are way down from stock, Im FBO Cobb Stage 2+ sport. Shop installed and the cutting was easy they said. I ordered with the charge pipe so all fit perfect. lower pipe is metal too I believe.

[Brule]

You have good intercooler choices and i dont think you would find and competitive edge between them.

[musc]

You can't go wrong with any of those 3. I doubt you would see a big difference in performance between them. I have the ETS 5". Do some research on the core design which helps it shine against some cheaper, larger FMICs. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=567631

1. No trimming on an E92 335is. Didn't take front bumper off. Installed in about 90 minutes.
2. Less than 0.1 psi pressure difference vs stock. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...4&postcount=15
3. Cruising IATs about 5-10F over ambient. Good suppression of IAT over multi gear pulls. Also much quicker to cool down after pulls vs stock.
4. Price varies but usually $7xx range. Does come with lower CP.

[Turbo_power4ever]

Have you not considered vrsf?

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by Chromey

I have ER and its been a beauty so far, regarding info on pressure drops etc i dont know but charge temps are way down from stock, Im FBO Cobb Stage 2+ sport. Shop installed and the cutting was easy they said. I ordered with the charge pipe so all fit perfect. lower pipe is metal too I believe.

Thanks for the comments!!

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by Turbo_power4ever

Have you not considered vrsf?

I want to consider them because of price, but for as many great reviews I see, i see a few terrible ones about fitment, paint color, etc. Hence, I'm unsure.

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by musc

You can't go wrong with any of those 3. I doubt you would see a big difference in performance between them. I have the ETS 5". Do some research on the core design which helps it shine against some cheaper, larger FMICs. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=567631

1. No trimming on an E92 335is. Didn't take front bumper off. Installed in about 90 minutes.
2. Less than 0.1 psi pressure difference vs stock. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...4&postcount=15
3. Cruising IATs about 5-10F over ambient. Good suppression of IAT over multi gear pulls. Also much quicker to cool down after pulls vs stock.
4. Price varies but usually $7xx range. Does come with lower CP.

Fantastic details and links. Thanks so much! Easy install, minima pressure change and improved temps. It's all good!

[brewnami]

I have the ER and I really like it. About 1" needs to be trimmed from the radiator shroud, but that's easy. Really nice fitment and build quality from ER is always top notch. However, if I were given the choice to either spend $1,100 on an ER or $400 on a VRSF, I'd save my $700 and buy something else for my car. I bought my ER new from a forum member for a ridiculously low price, otherwise I would have went VRSF.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by jwebb335xi

I've narrowed my search for an FMIC to CP-E, ER and ETS. Initially, I was opposed to changing clamps and cutting. Now, I'm willing to change clamps and pipes to increase flow and reduce pressure loss. Moreover, i'm willing to trim a little.

Can anyone give real world results for the (3) FMICs above in terms of (1) trimming necessary at install, (2) pressure loss compared to stock, (3) temperature reduction and, finally, (4) price.

My car is a 2008 335 xi with auto trans, Cobb V3 Stage 1, ER Charge Pipe with dual Forge DVs. I will tack maybe 3 times this year, live in the Chicago area and am mostly concerned with pressure loss over temp reduction. I figure any FMIC will reduce temps compared to stock.

Thanks guys!!

3 really good intercoolers.
I personally have the ETS 7" it performs really well in the Las Vegas desert. Never had a problem with it.
The ER is one of our most popular intercoolers, that FMIC is a thing of beauty , always wanted to give it a try.
In terms of performance the ETS and ER should be similar.
If i had to do it again i would get the ER because it looks better and performs the same as the ETS.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Ets 7" > Er 6" > ETS 5" ~ CP-E

If you are not in high heat often or heat soaking the car a lot then you don't really need a 7" therefore ER is as good happy medium in size.

You really can't go wrong with any of them otherwise, it's really just a matter of how much heat soak resistance you want as a large intercooler will have less tendency to heat soak. The pressure drop may rise a little on a bigger intercooler but it's fairly negligible on this platform and especially with these high quality choices.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Size is not the only consideration here. Core density and efficiency are very important. A 5" great core can outperform a 7" crappy core. So size matters to some extent but its not the only measure of an FMIC.

Mike

[Infamy]

ETS 5" that's what I have and works great

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

ETS is what i have and love it!! Stay 5 inch if stock turbo, go 7 inch if RB or single turbo.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

Size is not the only consideration here. Core density and efficiency are very important. A 5" great core can outperform a 7" crappy core. So size matters to some extent but its not the only measure of an FMIC.

Mike

No doubt, but all of these choices offer high quality cores so it's really only a debate about size.

[Stucks]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

Ets 7" > Er 6" > ETS 5" ~ CP-E

If you are not in high heat often or heat soaking the car a lot then you don't really need a 7" therefore ER is as good happy medium in size.

You really can't go wrong with any of them otherwise, it's really just a matter of how much heat soak resistance you want as a large intercooler will have less tendency to heat soak. The pressure drop may rise a little on a bigger intercooler but it's fairly negligible on this platform and especially with these high quality choices.

Great post, as usual from jeff lol.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

No doubt, but all of these choices offer high quality cores so it's really only a debate about size.

Allow me to clarify, all the choices in this thread were high quality offerings.

On paper, I believe the ER has the highest fin pack density.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Yup ER has the best and highest density core on the market. One of the reasons it's the fmic we recommend first.

Mike

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

Yup ER has the best and highest density core on the market. One of the reasons it's the fmic we recommend first.

Mike

Thanks for all the help guys. My order of priority is:

(1) ER,
(2) CPE, and
(3) ETS.

I also need 1 foot of 1" silicone tubing to redo part of my ER/forge install which I just don't like and won't mention where it was ordered....

And, I need 10 feet of 3.5 mm silicone vacuum tubing to replace some stuff I don't like. Not critical, but as long as i'm there, and it's cheap....

Anyone who can give me quotes would be appreciated.

That said, though ER looks the best on paper, it requires cutting and is very expensive...

Help me guys!!

It's below zero here in Chicago now and I'm swamped with work, but hope to do my install on 3/14 along with the new rotors that have sat in a box for the past month.

Thanks.

[Brule]

Ambient thermal dynamics intercooler (helix) has the best proven iat suppression.
1,2,3,4 gear run has rise of 7f in 100f ambient running 18psi rbs pump fuel.
Save 3-400 and get ambient thermal dynamic intercooler.

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by Brule

Ambient thermal dynamics intercooler (helix) has the best proven iat suppression.
1,2,3,4 gear run has rise of 7f in 100f ambient running 18psi rbs pump fuel.
Save 3-400 and get ambient thermal dynamic intercooler.

That sounds pretty good. Does install require trimming on a 335? And, do you know if pressure loos is more or less than stock?

[joneffingvo]

Getting my ER charge pipe and injen intake on monday, next is the ER FMIC which is crucial before 110+ weather hits here in AZ