Aftermarket Intercoolers For Bmws And Minis Boast Power Boosts
Stock intercoolers on BMWs and MINIs do not allow for peak performance
. The stock intercoolers on these vehicles have a small frontal face and a basic design compared to certain aftermarket intercoolers. The main side-effect of the stock design is a decrease in engine power output.
When dealing with design of BMW and MINI performance parts, simple can be good, but basic can always be beaten.
When the surface area of an intercooler is small, incoming air isn't effectively cooled. In order to decrease the temperature of incoming air, a front-mounted intercooler (FMIC) - the kind of intercooler this article discusses - must have a large surface area, an expansive core, well-placed fins, and rounded endtanks.
Before discussing how select aftermarket intercoolers can boost power outputs in BMWs and MINIs, it's necessary to review how an intercooler works in a turbo-charged vehicle. (If you're already informed on the matter, feel free to skip the next paragraph.)
An FMIC mounted in front of a turbo-charged engine receives the hot air from the turbocharger and cools it. The FMIC is an air-to-air intercooler, which means that cool air from the atmosphere is used to cool hot air from the turbocharger. As the the hot air moves through the intercooler, heat is absorbed by the fins of the intercooler and cooled by the atmosphere. The fins of the FMIC break up heat molecules that allows for quicker cooling. The air that then enters into the engine from the opposite side of the intercooler is full of oxygen. More oxygen equals more gas in the engine's cyclinders, which means...more power!
Depending on the design and integrity of an aftermarket intercooler's construction, it can reduce intake air temperatures in a BMW or MINI from anywhere between 5 to 25 degrees farenheit. When it comes to deciding on an aftermarket FMIC, it's good to do some research. Check out car-specific forums, performance reviews and ask fellow car enthusiasts around town.
Many BMW and MINI aftermarket part devolopers copy designs from original innovators and use subpar materials for construction. If you take a little bit of time to research FMICs, you'll notice very quickly who these copycats are. Expect to experience about a 5-10 degree farenheit drop at high RPMs with copycat models, if any drop at all. On the other hand, with original, expertly-designed aftermarket intercoolers, expect a 15-25 degree farenheit drop at high RPMs.
Cool air is great and all, but what does this cooler air amount too? Basically, what every petrolhead craves - more horsepower.
An ideal intercooler cools air from the exhaust side of the engine and presses it through to the intake side of the engine, unrestricted. Because of the design of all intercoolers, there is a slight pressure drop from the exhaust side to the intake side. With stock intercoolers and illegitimate aftermarket ones, this pressure drop is significant enough to affect engine power output; however, with top-of-the-line aftermarket FMICs, pressure drop is negligible. Stock intercoolers produce around a 1.5 PSI pressure drop while well-designed aftermarket FMICs only produce a 0.5 PSI pressure drop.
The combination of low pressure drop and an abundance of cool air translates into increased horsepower.
What HP gains can you expect in your BMW or MINI after its equipped with a performance-grade FMIC? Around 15-25 HP, depending on the condition of your vehicle and existing modifications.
by: Robert Gibb
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