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      12-07-2018, 09:06 AM   #1
arhoads335i
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Best intercooler

Hey guys picked up my M235i last weekend.
Been reading around and it seems as though the intercooler is a bad point on this car.
I have a background from the N54 world so I know my stuff have done 2 different turbo upgrades on those cars.

What I'm looking for is the biggest you can get without a huge pressure drop.
-May put a stage 2 turbo in next year so I want to be ready.
It looks like the big hitters are:
-VRSF Race
-Dinan
-Evolution raceworks comp
-Maybe Mishimoto (has 2psi pressure drop)

Is the dinan comparable to VRSF and ER?
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      12-07-2018, 11:55 AM   #2
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I have the Wagner comp II and it's been great. It's a bit on the pricier side compared to vsrf but it's great quality and fitment was OE spec.
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      12-07-2018, 12:22 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
I have the Wagner comp II and it's been great. It's a bit on the pricier side compared to vsrf but it's great quality and fitment was OE spec.
Any pressure drop that your aware of?
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      12-07-2018, 07:36 PM   #4
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Your intercooler will probably depend on whether or not you're getting a PS2.

I would suggest ER or Wagner either way but model will vary on turbo.
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      12-08-2018, 08:37 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadowfax028 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
I have the Wagner comp II and it's been great. It's a bit on the pricier side compared to vsrf but it's great quality and fitment was OE spec.
Any pressure drop that your aware of?
boost pressure? I had the IC installed with charge and catless downpipe so I cant speak to each part. Altogether it runs great.
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      12-08-2018, 04:07 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
boost pressure? I had the IC installed with charge and catless downpipe so I cant speak to each part. Altogether it runs great.
What are your impressions of the performance now. Have you turned it yet?
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      12-08-2018, 04:13 PM   #7
amw896
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadowfax028 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
boost pressure? I had the IC installed with charge and catless downpipe so I cant speak to each part. Altogether it runs great.
What are your impressions of the performance now. Have you turned it yet?
yep, the hardware was installed for bm3 stage 2. It's a whole new world buddy, if you have specific questions, let me know
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      12-10-2018, 11:23 AM   #8
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I have the CSF cooler. I get hardly any pressure drop with my stage 2 91 ots bm3 file that I'm currently running I'm, pulling 14 psi to just under 7k.

IAT never deviate much from ambient even after 3 WOT pulls
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      12-26-2018, 05:29 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arhoads335i View Post
Hey guys picked up my M235i last weekend.
Been reading around and it seems as though the intercooler is a bad point on this car.
I have a background from the N54 world so I know my stuff have done 2 different turbo upgrades on those cars.

What I'm looking for is the biggest you can get without a huge pressure drop.
-May put a stage 2 turbo in next year so I want to be ready.
It looks like the big hitters are:
-VRSF Race
-Dinan
-Evolution raceworks comp
-Maybe Mishimoto (has 2psi pressure drop)

Is the dinan comparable to VRSF and ER?
If you are going Pure Stage 2 or something similar I'd get the VRSF Race.
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      12-30-2018, 06:16 AM   #10
ceedawg
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions View Post
If you are going Pure Stage 2 or something similar I'd get the VRSF Race.
And then gamble on fitment! cool:
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      01-02-2019, 03:26 PM   #11
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ER has been making DP and IC for a long time.. I never had a problem with their stuff and dyno shows improvements when running with tune
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      01-02-2019, 04:00 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChristosD View Post
I have the CSF cooler. I get hardly any pressure drop with my stage 2 91 ots bm3 file that I'm currently running I'm, pulling 14 psi to just under 7k.

IAT never deviate much from ambient even after 3 WOT pulls
To back him up, I've heard a ton on CSF and am ordering mine next month
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      01-04-2019, 06:11 PM   #13
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There is no best intercooler, it depends on your mods and goals.

It sounds like VRSF race or Wagner EVO II Comp are the best options for you.
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      01-07-2019, 12:49 PM   #14
Bombermon3
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AFE Power a $1200 intercooler. It’s the lightest with welded end pieces. Not cheap cast ones.
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      01-07-2019, 12:49 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bombermon3 View Post
AFE Power a $1200 intercooler. It’s the lightest with welded end pieces. Not cheap cast ones.
Wagner EVO I Comp is the lightest
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      01-15-2019, 12:36 PM   #16
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I also went with the CSF (bar & plate) which is comparable to the performance of the Wagner Evo Comp II (tube & fin). It's a heavy fmic for sure. It does incredibly well with IATs though and I see my temps actually getting lower throughout the pull.
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      01-15-2019, 12:47 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sea_m235i View Post
I also went with the CSF (bar & plate) which is comparable to the performance of the Wagner Evo Comp II (tube & fin). It's a heavy fmic for sure. It does incredibly well with IATs though and I see my temps actually getting lower throughout the pull.
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      01-17-2019, 03:59 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ceedawg View Post
And then gamble on fitment! cool:
Could be worth it but really isn't that much of a gamble. 100's of happy customers that we've sold it to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cbbplanet View Post
ER has been making DP and IC for a long time.. I never had a problem with their stuff and dyno shows improvements when running with tune
ER makes great stuff.
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