VRSF 5" Stepped IC Installed!

HooDat · 08-10-2015, 03:11 PM

Finally got the time to install my VRSF 5" Stepped IC with lower chargepipe(definitely recommend the upgrade so much easier to install). Did it while the car was on rhino ramps... Took around 3 hours to do, definitely not a one person job. Tried to install it myself and had to call a buddy over. Everything fit great and looks beautiful, EXCEPT the mounting hardware... they didn't fit too well so i used the stock ones.

The amount of crap that fell out of the stock intercooler when removing it is ridiculous. I found all sorts of crap from dirt to bugs to cigs to plastic pieces... no wonder I was heatsoaking so easily. The VRSF intercooler is a lot bigger and has more surface area exposed. I could tell the VRSF IC holds boost much better and throttle feels a lot more responsive. Probably because of all the oil and debris in the stock one. AIT's dropped at least 30 F when spirited driving. Gotta say I love the new IC!!

zero2sixtyZ · 08-10-2015, 03:18 PM

Same review. I went to Lowes and got better grade hardware.

335NJ · 08-10-2015, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero2sixtyZ

Same review. I went to Lowes and got better grade hardware.

Like what?

My 5" stepped should be here Friday, I'll take whatever advice you got!

HooDat · 08-10-2015, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335NJ

Like what?

My 5" stepped should be here Friday, I'll take whatever advice you got!

My .02, install the passenger side hose first, very tight. Make sure all your worm clamps are installed VERY TIGHT (don't want the hose to pop off under boost). then attach the driver side hose tightly to the lower charge pipe and install it to the chargepipe loosely. Connect the passenger side fmic, going to take A LOT OF pushing and pulling on the hose until a good amount of the coupler is over the fmic, then put the clamp on very tight. Do the same on the driver side, then mount the FMIC. at the end i loosened the lower charge pipe from the charge pipe and reconnected it very firmly/pushed it in as much as i could and retightened. then mounted. This was the easiest approach for me. You're going to need a buddy to hold the fmic as you push and pull.

335NJ · 08-10-2015, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HooDat

My .02, install the passenger side hose first, very tight. Make sure all your worm clamps are installed VERY TIGHT (don't want the hose to pop off under boost). then attach the driver side hose tightly to the lower charge pipe and install it to the chargepipe loosely. Connect the passenger side fmic, going to take A LOT OF pushing and pulling on the hose until a good amount of the coupler is over the fmic, then put the clamp on very tight. Do the same on the driver side, then mount the FMIC. at the end i loosened the lower charge pipe from the charge pipe and reconnected it very firmly/pushed it in as much as i could and retightened. then mounted. This was the easiest approach for me. You're going to need a buddy to hold the fmic as you push and pull.

Awesome, thanks for your input man. I don't think I'll have any issues during the install, but I've read numerous times about the VRSF silicone adaptors being a little short, any confirmation on that?

HooDat · 08-10-2015, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335NJ

Awesome, thanks for your input man. I don't think I'll have any issues during the install, but I've read numerous times about the VRSF silicone adaptors being a little short, any confirmation on that?

Nope they were perfect, it took me about 2 times to readjust but they fit just fine. My FMIC sits flush and the coupler was long enough to be securely attached to the fmic and other pipes... at least to my knowledge haha. Hopefully not jinxing myself.

Tiago@VRSF · 08-10-2015, 11:53 PM

We've increased the hose lengths on virtually everything we sell in light of our customers feedback

I'm glad you're enjoying your new intercooler HooDat

335NJ · 08-11-2015, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF

We've increased the hose lengths on virtually everything we sell in light of our customers feedback

I'm glad you're enjoying your new intercooler HooDat

Mines going in this weekend! Thanks for chiming in Tiago.

HooDat · 08-11-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF

We've increased the hose lengths on virtually everything we sell in light of our customers feedback

I'm glad you're enjoying your new intercooler HooDat

Thanks for the great product and price!! now... waiting for the exhaust

and possibly some inlets!!

NoSlow5oh · 08-11-2015, 10:54 AM

A tip for all installing silicone couplers - use butter on the pipe ends and inside the couplers to help slide them on and get them where they need to be.

LMB335IS · 08-11-2015, 11:16 AM

Not sure about butter but soapy water in a spray bottle works well, easy to apply and it leaves no residue.

DennyD06 · 08-11-2015, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSlow5oh

A tip for all installing silicone couplers - use butter on the pipe ends and inside the couplers to help slide them on and get them where they need to be.

Butter ? Lol.. What were you planning to eat it ?

ChwinSnailz · 08-11-2015, 01:49 PM

He was going to make eggs on the hot side of the IC

Tiago@VRSF · 08-11-2015, 03:52 PM

Add a bit of bacon grease and you'll have a full breakfast

zero2sixtyZ · 08-12-2015, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335NJ

Like what?

My 5" stepped should be here Friday, I'll take whatever advice you got!

I wasn't happy with the mounting bolts that came with my IC. Went to Lowes and got new SS bolts.

nferber · 08-12-2015, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero2sixtyZ

I wasn't happy with the mounting bolts that came with my IC. Went to Lowes and got new SS bolts.

I agree, the mounting bolts included in the kit are threaded on both ends and have no simple way to install them.

Tiago@VRSF · 08-12-2015, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero2sixtyZ

I wasn't happy with the mounting bolts that came with my IC. Went to Lowes and got new SS bolts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nferber

I agree, the mounting bolts included in the kit are threaded on both ends and have no simple way to install them.

Concerns noted, I'll have this corrected ASAP.

335NJ · 08-12-2015, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF

Concerns noted, I'll have this corrected ASAP.

Good customer service Tiago! Most companies anymore would just defend their product to the walls, and disregard comments like that.

ferocity02 · 08-12-2015, 01:31 PM

Tiago, while you're in the mood to upgrade hardware, I'd also suggest upgrading the bolts you send with the DP's. Mine rusted up in just a few months, and that was in CA over spring/summer with little to no rain. Due to the heat these bolts and nuts go south real quick. I upgraded them to stainless and they are holding up now.

335NJ · 08-12-2015, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferocity02

Tiago, while you're in the mood to upgrade hardware, I'd also suggest upgrading the bolts you send with the DP's. Mine rusted up in just a few months, and that was in CA over spring/summer with little to no rain. Due to the heat these bolts and nuts go south real quick. I upgraded them to stainless and they are holding up now.

That's what he's planning to resolve

ferocity02 · 08-12-2015, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335NJ

That's what he's planning to resolve

You guys were talking about the FMIC hardware, I'm talking about the DP hardware.

335NJ · 08-12-2015, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferocity02

You guys were talking about the FMIC hardware, I'm talking about the DP hardware.

Just noticed that, I read it wrong.

08-10-2015, 03:11 PM	#1
HooDat First Lieutenant 34 Rep 355 Posts Drives: e92 335xi 2008 \| c63s amg 2019 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Va iTrader: (1)	VRSF 5" Stepped IC Installed! Finally got the time to install my VRSF 5" Stepped IC with lower chargepipe(definitely recommend the upgrade so much easier to install). Did it while the car was on rhino ramps... Took around 3 hours to do, definitely not a one person job. Tried to install it myself and had to call a buddy over. Everything fit great and looks beautiful, EXCEPT the mounting hardware... they didn't fit too well so i used the stock ones. The amount of crap that fell out of the stock intercooler when removing it is ridiculous. I found all sorts of crap from dirt to bugs to cigs to plastic pieces... no wonder I was heatsoaking so easily. The VRSF intercooler is a lot bigger and has more surface area exposed. I could tell the VRSF IC holds boost much better and throttle feels a lot more responsive. Probably because of all the oil and debris in the stock one. AIT's dropped at least 30 F when spirited driving. Gotta say I love the new IC!! __________________ 2008 \| e92 \| 335xi \| 6MT \| VRSF FMIC\| VRSF DPs \| VRSF CP \| S&B DCI \| FORGE DV \| MHD Tune \| BMW PE 2019 \| w205 \| C63s AMG
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08-10-2015, 03:18 PM	#2
zero2sixtyZ Colonel 1047 Rep 2,726 Posts Drives: e92 + f15 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cambridge, MA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2015 X5 xdrive50i [10.00] 2007 335i Coupe [9.62]	Same review. I went to Lowes and got better grade hardware.
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08-10-2015, 11:53 PM	#7
Tiago@VRSF 2108 Rep 43,350 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doral, FL iTrader: (99) Garage List 2014 F30 328xi [0.00] 2015 F82 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 Ducati 1199 Pa ... [0.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	We've increased the hose lengths on virtually everything we sell in light of our customers feedback I'm glad you're enjoying your new intercooler HooDat
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08-11-2015, 10:54 AM	#10
NoSlow5oh First Lieutenant 56 Rep 318 Posts Drives: 08 e90 335i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Madison, AL iTrader: (2)	A tip for all installing silicone couplers - use butter on the pipe ends and inside the couplers to help slide them on and get them where they need to be.
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08-11-2015, 11:16 AM	#11
LMB335IS Sua Sponte 1311 Rep 2,857 Posts Drives: 2013 LMB 335is Join Date: May 2008 Location: FOB FL iTrader: (21) Garage List 2013 BMW 335is [8.84]	Not sure about butter but soapy water in a spray bottle works well, easy to apply and it leaves no residue. __________________ 335is/DCT-M3 GTS software-M3 drivetrain-M3 GWS-KOMBI-DSC-SZL/MHD/BQ Tuning IG@ClustersandCoding
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08-11-2015, 01:49 PM	#13
ChwinSnailz Private 13 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 03 e46 m3, 08 335xi, 07 335i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: In my car iTrader: (0)	He was going to make eggs on the hot side of the IC
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08-11-2015, 03:52 PM	#14
Tiago@VRSF 2108 Rep 43,350 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doral, FL iTrader: (99) Garage List 2014 F30 328xi [0.00] 2015 F82 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 Ducati 1199 Pa ... [0.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	Add a bit of bacon grease and you'll have a full breakfast
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08-12-2015, 01:31 PM	#19
ferocity02 Colonel 553 Rep 2,085 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: May 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (8)	Tiago, while you're in the mood to upgrade hardware, I'd also suggest upgrading the bolts you send with the DP's. Mine rusted up in just a few months, and that was in CA over spring/summer with little to no rain. Due to the heat these bolts and nuts go south real quick. I upgraded them to stainless and they are holding up now. __________________ 2013 135is DCT Carbon Black Metallic
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