[leftcoastman]

I had the opportunity to test out the VK Motorwerks oil cooler on a road course recently.

In the past, I was able to consistently get my oil temps to 285-300 degrees (never to 304 limp) within a few laps. The 285 would be achieved in 50-60degree ambients and 300 achieved in 95+ ambients. This is with the factory oil cooler. I've tried various oil brands, viscosities, etc and nothing made much of a difference. Needless to say, those temps concerned me.

After a few manufacturing delays, which were nothing compared to other vendors , I got my oil cooler from Vince. Armed with the DIY guide, I attempted to install it myself. I consider myself fairly technical, so I didn't think it would be too challenging. While I did finally get it done, after two consecutive evenings working on it, I would not recommend this DIY for a novice. Save yourself a lot of pain and get a shop to install it. If you're handy and have 7/10 skill level, give it a go.

On the drive to the track, I was getting consistent 230 degree oil temps. Nothing extraordinary, but then again, I never get high temps during street driving. But I also drive like a housewife on the street.

So how did perform on track? Keep in mind that this is a track I've been to 25+ times and know exactly how hot I can get the oil. FWIW - I am an instructor level driver.

Through the course of four hours of testing, the oil never exceeded 275 degrees. The amazing part is that the 275 was only achieved after a 40 minute hot lap session, a session length you would never see during normal track events. During any given 20 minute session, I could only get 265 oil temps! If I had been running the stock oil cooler, I would EASILY been at 285-290 after a 20 minute session. So we're talking a 20-25 degree reduction in oil temps from the VK cooler, given equal conditions.

If you're driving your car hard or god help you, you take your car to the track, I highly recommend this cooler. It may not produce much more power (maybe it increases power since the engine runs cooler and is less likely to dial back timing?), but it will certainly save your engine in the long run. Something about 300 degree oil temps on a stock oil cooler doesn't sit right with me.

[Ruff Rider]

Sounds very good. I may have to look into this. You know, Miller Motorsport track is calling my name.

[vbmw335]

Great Review. Good job Vince! cant wait to get mine installed soon.

[Panoz]

Thats good news...My temps are getting above 120 Celcius (250 degrees) just in a single WOT from 2nd to 5th gear. This is really annoying.

[hun77777]

i don't even know if they are going to put full kit on the market... i'm still waiting and it's been 3 months and counting...

[rubber_ducky]

Nice review. Can't argue with hard numbers. What was the ambient temp on the review day?

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by hun77777

i don't even know if they are going to put full kit on the market... i'm still waiting and it's been 3 months and counting...

You mean you don't have the OE oil cooler? No sport package?

[Vince@ V K Motorwerks]

Great review! Im glad to hear that your enjoying your OC and your car.

As for the full kit, we havent released it because we feel that the demand is not strong enough. Most people are able to plead their case with BMW and obtain a OEM OC. If your able to obtain it from BMW and have them do the install, it should save you a good amount of money.

[leftcoastman]

Ambients got up into the 80s. With stock cooler, I'd easily be at 285-290. With the VK, the damn needle wouldn't move past 265 on a regular 20 minute session.

[Park2670]

This is great news! Do you still have the mister setup? That would make your car actually run colder than most do on the street.

[hun77777]

I have no sport pkg so BMW won't do shiet...

[Vince@ V K Motorwerks]

Originally Posted by hun77777

I have no sport pkg so BMW won't do shiet...

hmmm...Ill see if there is a way to retrofit this kit for you since we want to use OEM mounts that are used with the OEM OC. Ill send you a PM sometime this week if I figure something out.

Vince

[JOe335i]

actually, a oil cooler does help our N54 engines provide more power.

i raced my friend 335i sport without a oil cooler to mine, he lost by at least a length and the beating became worse after each run!!!!!!! cooler oil temps def help.

just to add: my friend got this barbones e92 335xi yesterday, he has no oil cooler and of course the XI drag, no sport suspension and higher level of gravity, the car felt like a pig!! after a short burst on the highway it became evident, that there was a good amount of power lost, via extra heat from no oil cooler.

[Bubbles]

LCM, nice review, nothing wrong with driving like a housewife on the street. Those track days do make you conscious of those "other" drivers on the road.

[billspreston]

Is the full kit available for those of us who didn't get the sport package and therefore didn't get an oil cooler?

[momo335i]

Originally Posted by Vince@ V K Motorwerks

hmmm...Ill see if there is a way to retrofit this kit for you since we want to use OEM mounts that are used with the OEM OC. Ill send you a PM sometime this week if I figure something out.

Vince

Vince,

I sent you two e-mails but never heard back from you. I was asking the same question.

[hun77777]

is there anybody got their OC retrofitted by dealer without sport pkg? what's the magic word?

[Vince@ V K Motorwerks]

Originally Posted by momo335i

Vince,

I sent you two e-mails but never heard back from you. I was asking the same question.

Im sorry about that. I will pm you as well.

[rubber_ducky]

Vince, any updates on the IC?

[gimp2x]

you guys do understand that there is an optimal operating temp range for oil, right?

160 = bad, 180 = good, 220-265 = best

there is nothing wrong with 285deg oil in a track environment

[leftcoastman]

Originally Posted by gimp2x

you guys do understand that there is an optimal operating temp range for oil, right?

160 = bad, 180 = good, 220-265 = best

there is nothing wrong with 285deg oil in a track environment

Except that once ambients get higher, you are at 300, a mere 4 degrees from limp mode.

Additionally, even at 285 oil temps, the coolant temps are nearly 240, which means that the ECU starts cutting boost completely. Any of the heavy track users will attest to losing boost with high temps.

With my cooler oil temps, the coolant temps were lower also. Makes sense even though they cool different parts of the engine. There is a finite amount of engine heat to be carried away.

[BuLoOoSki]

that sounds great!!!
can't wait to have mine installed, I have it laying down in my storage room right now