Intercoolers in stock at BMW and MINI do not allow to achieve maximum performance. Intercoolers on these vehicles have a small frontal surface and basic design compared with some intercoolers after sales service. The main side effect of the design of the stock is the reduction of engine power output.
When you design BMW and MINI parts, simple ones can be good, but basic ones can always be beaten.
When the surface area of the intercooler is small, the incoming air is not effectively cooled. To reduce the temperature of the incoming air, the front intercooler (FMIC) - the type of intercooler that this article deals with - should have a large surface area, an expansive core, well-arranged fins and rounded end elements.
Before discussing how after-sales intercoolers can increase power in BMW and MINI, it is necessary to analyze how the intercooler works on turbocharging. (If you have already reported this, feel free to skip the next paragraph.)
The FMIC installed in front of the turbocharger receives the hot air from the turbocharger and cools it. FMIC is an air cooled intercooler, which means that cold air from the atmosphere is used to cool hot air from a turbocharger. When the hot air moves through the intercooler, the heat is absorbed by the fins of the intercooler and is cooled by the atmosphere. The ribs of the FMIC cleave heat molecules, allowing for faster cooling. The air, which then enters the engine from the opposite side of the intercooler, is filled with oxygen. More oxygen equals more gas in the engine cylinders, which means ... more power!
Depending on the design and structural integrity of the after-sales intercooler, it can reduce the intake air temperature in a BMW or MINI anywhere from 5 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to making decisions in the FMC market, he can do some research. Check out car forums, performance reviews and ask other car enthusiasts around the city.
Many BMW and MINI spare parts developers copy designs from original innovators and use subpackages for construction. If you spend a little time researching FMIC, you will very quickly notice who these imitators are. Expect to experience a drop of 5-10 degrees at high revs with the help of imitator models, if a fall occurs at all. On the other hand, with original, professionally designed after-sales intercoolers, a drop of 15-25 degrees is expected at high revs. (Tip: see below for a RPM or temperature chart)
Cool air is gorgeous and everything, but what does it mean for this cooler air? In principle, what every gas tank craves is more horsepower.
An ideal intercooler cools the air from the exhaust side of the engine and freely presses it on the input side of the engine. Due to the design of all intercoolers, there is a slight pressure drop from the exhaust side on the inlet side. Thanks to intercoolers and illegal after-sales, this pressure drop is significant enough to affect engine power; however, with advanced aftermarket FMIC, the pressure drop is insignificant. Intercoolers in stock produce about a 1.5 PSI pressure drop, and well-designed aftermarket FMICs produce only a 0.5 PSI pressure drop.
The combination of low pressure drop and an abundance of cold air leads to an increase in power.
What kind of HP profits can you expect in a BMW or MINI after it is equipped with high-quality FMIC? About 15-25 HP, depending on the condition of your car and existing configurations.
