[maperformance]

We recently completed round 4 of the upgrades to my personal E92 which included an intercooler upgrade to our 21" x 6.25" x 5.5" prototype core and the corresponding tuning. Once again I find myself impressed with this platform as we extracted another 26whp and 29wtq, however, I believe its only a matter of time before I will be making a rather large investment in a clutch lol. Downpipe results will be coming soon!

If you missed Part I of my dyno results, be sure to check them out here!

MAP Stage 1 Pro Tune vs MAP Stage 1 + FMIC Pro Tune: Again, very happy with the +26whp and +29wtq here. What type of gains have others been experiencing from an intercooler upgrade?

Cobb OTS Stg1+FMIC Aggressive vs MAP Stage 1 + FMIC Pro Tune: Cobb's OTS map performed quite well this time around, but as you can see there was still some power left on the table to be extracted with custom tuning.

Stock (Post Walnut Blasting) vs Stage 1 + FMIC Pro Tune: +100whp and +128wtq with essentially just an AccessPORT and intercooler upgrade. The $/whp ratio here is simply amazing!

[rooringhusky]

Love these threads they are well written and priceless information...So you guys have a FMIC in the works..Are the downpipes your planning to install/dyno made by you guys as well?

P.S. Congrats on becoming a vendor

[maperformance]

Is there a market for US fabricated downpipes? I've got a set of PLM downpipes that I was going to try and I know the VRSF units are popular, we wouldn't be able to touch those price points...

[tc535i]

what kind of tuning would you do for an intercooler? it's lower intake temps, which your tune would already account for, wouldn't they (more advanced timing at lower iat, pull timing at high temps?)

[tc535i]

Originally Posted by maperformance

Is there a market for US fabricated downpipes? I've got a set of PLM downpipes that I was going to try and I know the VRSF units are popular, we wouldn't be able to touch those price points...

to be honest, probably not

vsrf v.2 are high quality weld, finish, and fitment at a really low price. The only people I see with anything else, only have theirs because they bought before these were so common.

supply and demand, now that the market's flooded the prices have bombed, but the quality has improved to a current 9/10 imo

[AMERICUS]

Originally Posted by maperformance

Is there a market for US fabricated downpipes? I've got a set of PLM downpipes that I was going to try and I know the VRSF units are popular, we wouldn't be able to touch those price points...

Since the aftermarket has been flooded with the lower cost downpipes, it feels like the consensus around here is a pipe is a pipe so long as the fit and finish (material) is there. I myself have MS downpipes and they are great, but not sure they are worth the premium price as compared to other choices...

[2jzn54]

while there is i'd say its relatively tapped out at this point.. i don't think you'll get the volume of sales you'd like.. if you already have prepared the specs you might as well run a few small batches and see where the demand takes you.. but again i think your target market is dried up at this point.

[tc535i]

Originally Posted by Daily Three

while there is i'd say its relatively tapped out at this point.. i don't think you'll get the volume of sales you'd like.. if you already have prepared the specs you might as well run a few small batches and see where the demand takes you.. but again i think your target market is dried up at this point.

especially if he can't get them under $400, which would be damn near impossible without serious volume runs

[2jzn54]

lol wow quick responses.. yall pull the trigger.. real quick

[tc535i]

Originally Posted by Daily Three

lol wow quick responses.. yall pull the trigger.. real quick

just browsing thru

[AlpineSwift]

Originally Posted by maperformance

Is there a market for US fabricated downpipes? I've got a set of PLM downpipes that I was going to try and I know the VRSF units are popular, we wouldn't be able to touch those price points...

ar design, 100% US made. I've seen them being assembled first hand since the shop is 20 minutes from my house. The welds make machine welding look pathetic. You pay for the quality of the craftsmanship for sure and if you're on a budget they are probably not the best solution, but trust me they are so worth it when you see them.

[maperformance]

Exactly my thoughts after some research on the topic, thus downpipes are not currently in our pipeline I'm afraid. Is there a market for a 5.5" intercooler in the $450 range?

[2Times]

Great job and comparison. I'm liking these threads. I'd be interested in 1/4 mile times/**traps as part of the comparison also... that would be pretty awesome.

[maperformance]

I'll be hitting to track on June 21st if all goes well

[mpls_M3]

Awesome numbers! Im local (woodbury) and just picked up a N55 E92. Looks like i will be coming to you guys for a protune when i purchase an Accessport. Maybe you can document the gains on N55 vs N54!

[2jzn54]

Originally Posted by tc535i

just browsing thru

i wasn't even responding to your response to me.. just to his initial query.. thought i had first hit then there were 3 ahead of me.. torque jump much? lol

[maperformance]

Originally Posted by ihazvtak

Awesome numbers! Im local (woodbury) and just picked up a N55 E92. Looks like i will be coming to you guys for a protune when i purchase an Accessport. Maybe you can document the gains on N55 vs N54!

Sounds like a plan to me!

[danniexi]

Originally Posted by maperformance

Exactly my thoughts after some research on the topic, thus downpipes are not currently in our pipeline I'm afraid. Is there a market for a 5.5" intercooler in the $450 range?

There are many options with intercoolers at that price point as well..

I think the only way to tap into this market as of now is niche products. There are already vendors with LPFP upgrades, turbo upgrades, etc. It's only a matter of time before other manufacturers jump into those products as well.

IMO, this platform desperately needs cooling upgrades to help support the power upgrades. What I'd really like to see is an upgrade radiator (for auto transmissions) and a separate (or in tandem) transmission cooler (located on driver side bumper like the OEM BMW PPK Auxiliar Radiator).

[Johnny Boost]

Very useful info, thank you

[iuhutch]

Congrats on becoming a partner. I too (we chatted earlier on FB) am interested in the Intercooler and doing some 54 vs 55 comparisons!

Any chance you could post some additional pictures of the FMIC unit and IAT temp tests?

[rooringhusky]

Originally Posted by maperformance

Is there a market for US fabricated downpipes? I've got a set of PLM downpipes that I was going to try and I know the VRSF units are popular, we wouldn't be able to touch those price points...

Understandable. Not a big market at the price point they provide them for to be honest. VRSF might be a better pipe than PLM quality wise but if you already have them then thats a non-issue. Best of luck and will continue following your updates.

FMIC I think you could make a good splash with. All the other "cheaper" options are made overseas. If yours are US made and at the ~$450 range people would appreciate those.

[maperformance]

Originally Posted by danniexi

There are many options with intercoolers at that price point as well..

I think the only way to tap into this market as of now is niche products. There are already vendors with LPFP upgrades, turbo upgrades, etc. It's only a matter of time before other manufacturers jump into those products as well.

IMO, this platform desperately needs cooling upgrades to help support the power upgrades. What I'd really like to see is an upgrade radiator (for auto transmissions) and a separate (or in tandem) transmission cooler (located on driver side bumper like the OEM BMW PPK Auxiliar Radiator).

Only a matter of time indeed

Originally Posted by iuhutch

Congrats on becoming a partner. I too (we chatted earlier on FB) am interested in the Intercooler and doing some 54 vs 55 comparisons!

Any chance you could post some additional pictures of the FMIC unit and IAT temp tests?

I thought we had taken pictures before the installation, but unfortunately that was not the case. I'll be sure to snap some prior to install for this next one that I recently scheduled.