*Dinan Flash AND Oil Cooler REVIEW!!*

stressdoc · 01-10-2008, 11:56 AM

By-pass might be less of an issue in winter with some of the hi tech 0w/40 oils like Royal purple or Amsoil.

ybbiz34 · 01-10-2008, 12:02 PM

It is in the 30's where I live. So far, it has taken about the same amount of time for the car to warm up. I'll see if I notice any major differences.

F32Fleet · 01-10-2008, 12:17 PM

Congrats

therealm3 · 01-10-2008, 02:27 PM

Anyone know if you get the warranty coverage if you DIY the install of the cooler? I ask, because the post I saw was for 10 hours of labor which at going rates here that is like $1000-1200! If all the parts are included when you buy the kit, which I don't see any reason they wouldn't be, how hard can it be? Especially if you have a Sport package car with the factory cooler already there.

ybbiz34 · 01-10-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealm3

Anyone know if you get the warranty coverage if you DIY the install of the cooler? I ask, because the post I saw was for 10 hours of labor which at going rates here that is like $1000-1200! If all the parts are included when you buy the kit, which I don't see any reason they wouldn't be, how hard can it be? Especially if you have a Sport package car with the factory cooler already there.

That's a good question. The initial thought that comes to mind is no, a DIY install would not be covered, because if something went wrong, they could say it was not done by a BMW/Dinan trained technician and that is why something broke/went wrong. That is just speculation though. As far as the difficulty of the install, it is fairly difficult from what I understand. I know at the dealer they had 2 guys doing the install, and it took a full day and a bit of the next morning. But if you're damn good at working around a car then maybe it's not that bad?

radgator1 · 01-10-2008, 03:07 PM

Sounds good

Nice review.

therealm3 · 01-10-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

That's a good question. The initial thought that comes to mind is no, a DIY install would not be covered, because if something went wrong, they could say it was not done by a BMW/Dinan trained technician and that is why something broke/went wrong. That is just speculation though. As far as the difficulty of the install, it is fairly difficult from what I understand. I know at the dealer they had 2 guys doing the install, and it took a full day and a bit of the next morning. But if you're damn good at working around a car then maybe it's not that bad?

Well, I wouldn't say "Damn good"

but I think I do ok for a guy who does not do it for a career and only has an average tool set. It would be hard to find a bolt/screw on my M3 (motor included) that I have not turned myself at some point in 10+ years of ownership, so I just fail to see why the oil cooler is so tough. Maybe it’s just in an awkward spot where you have to remove a bunch of other stuff just to get to the correct bolts, etc.

I was thinking along the same lines though that warranty issues would be an uphill battle. I guess it just one of those things where if you want the warm fuzzies from having the warranty coverage, you gotta pay.

ybbiz34 · 01-10-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealm3

Well, I wouldn't say "Damn good"

but I think I do ok for a guy who does not do it for a career and only has an average tool set. It would be hard to find a bolt/screw on my M3 (motor included) that I have not turned myself at some point in 10+ years of ownership, so I just fail to see why the oil cooler is so tough. Maybe it’s just in an awkward spot where you have to remove a bunch of other stuff just to get to the correct bolts, etc.

I was thinking along the same lines though that warranty issues would be an uphill battle. I guess it just one of those things where if you want the warm fuzzies from having the warranty coverage, you gotta pay.

Are you considering just the oil cooler, or the flash as well?

Beer Goggles · 01-10-2008, 07:45 PM

I still would never pay $2,000 for a $500 OC....just me.

ybbiz34 · 01-10-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beer Goggles

I still would never pay $2,000 for a $500 OC....just me.

First of all, you do not know for a fact that it is a $500 oil cooler. It is a very large oil cooler. Also, it comes with other equipment essential for the installation. It is an entire kit, or package.

Second, when you pay $2,000+ or whatever it is to add the sport package to your car, a good chunk of money is going toward the OEM additional oil cooler. So if you have the sport package Beer Goggles, there's a good chance that you already have dished out the money.

But, that being said, to each their own!

DrDomer · 01-10-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

First of all, you do not know for a fact that it is a $500 oil cooler. It is a very large oil cooler. Also, it comes with other equipment essential for the installation. It is an entire kit, or package.

Second, when you pay $2,000+ or whatever it is to add the sport package to your car, a good chunk of money is going toward the OEM additional oil cooler. So if you have the sport package Beer Goggles, there's a good chance that you already have dished out the money.

But, that being said, to each their own!

You could be me.. pay for the sport package... and NOT get the oil cooler. The oil cooler should go for around $1400-1500, but since Dinan is first to market it is not surprising it's 2K. It's just the installation that kills us. Ugh.

BMWnation · 01-10-2008, 08:14 PM

where is the bypass valve located for the oil cooler that gets removed?

san~man · 01-10-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

Second, when you pay $2,000+ or whatever it is to add the sport package to your car, a good chunk of money is going toward the OEM additional oil cooler.

That's not necessarily true. The ZSP sport package includes the:

Rims/RFT's
Power seats
Sport steering wheel
Suspension upgrade
And for 08's, the cooler

The seats and the rims alone are a big portion, cost wise, of the upgrade. I would guess that the seats and the wheels/tires alone compose more than half (maybe even 3/4's) of the total price of the sport upgrade. In BMW's world, they are buying 1000's of those coolers at a nominal price.

Stinger · 01-10-2008, 08:56 PM

Thanks for the review and nice to see the experience of the flash on an automatic. So, want this upgrade... Think I'll wait until spring though, what's the point of extra power with snow on the road...

ybbiz34 · 01-10-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrDomer

You could be me.. pay for the sport package... and NOT get the oil cooler. The oil cooler should go for around $1400-1500, but since Dinan is first to market it is not surprising it's 2K. It's just the installation that kills us. Ugh.

Sport package and no oil cooler?! Dang man that's no good, you should make BMWNA give you the oil cooler retrofit and you'll get one for free. Have you looked into that at all?

Bubbles · 01-10-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

Sport package and no oil cooler?! Dang man that's no good, you should make BMWNA give you the oil cooler retrofit and you'll get one for free. Have you looked into that at all?

Nah, you should just let him borrow your Dinan OC every other weekend.

leftcoastman · 01-10-2008, 09:20 PM

Well from the pics, it appears that the Dinan setup gets rid of your brake duct on that side.

Given how brake fade can be an issue on track, that makes the Dinan setup a no-go, at least for me.

ybbiz34 · 01-10-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by san~man

That's not necessarily true. The ZSP sport package includes the:

Rims/RFT's
Power seats
Sport steering wheel
Suspension upgrade
And for 08's, the cooler

The seats and the rims alone are a big portion, cost wise, of the upgrade. I would guess that the seats and the wheels/tires alone compose more than half (maybe even 3/4's) of the total price of the sport upgrade. In BMW's world, they are buying 1000's of those coolers at a nominal price.

The sport steering weel, and sport seats, although nice, aren't probably that much more expensive to provide than the non-sport seats and wheel.

I'm convinced that the oil cooler and the suspension upgrade make up most of the sport package cost. Maybe the wheels?

ybbiz34 · 01-10-2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadyg

Nah, you should just let him borrow your Dinan OC every other weekend.

I like to think of myself as a nice guy...but not a chance!

DrDomer · 01-10-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadyg

Nah, you should just let him borrow your Dinan OC every other weekend.

I would dig it... Seriously, I should go bitch to BMW NA.

Bubbles · 01-11-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

I like to think of myself as a nice guy...but not a chance!

Well it was worth a shot.

ybbiz34 · 01-11-2008, 08:33 PM

I should have those oil cooler pics up by the end of the weekend. Also, just an update on the oil cooler...had a long highway drive today, at the end of which I did a lot of "spirited" stop-and-go driving. Dinan oil cooler held the oil temp. at 230 degrees, topped out at maybe 232 degrees? It made me happy.

Also, it seems that the car warms up faster than it used to before the flash, and when the oil gets to about the 230 degree range, the cooler must kick in because the temp stops climbing and stays put.

01-10-2008, 11:56 AM	#23
stressdoc Moderator 618 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	By-pass might be less of an issue in winter with some of the hi tech 0w/40 oils like Royal purple or Amsoil. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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01-10-2008, 12:02 PM	#24
ybbiz34 Brigadier General 670 Rep 4,959 Posts Drives: 2023 330i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	It is in the 30's where I live. So far, it has taken about the same amount of time for the car to warm up. I'll see if I notice any major differences.
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01-10-2008, 12:17 PM	#25
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3570 Rep 10,351 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Congrats
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01-10-2008, 02:27 PM	#26
therealm3 Lieutenant Colonel 630 Rep 1,649 Posts Drives: F30 340 MSport Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: CA, USA iTrader: (7)	Anyone know if you get the warranty coverage if you DIY the install of the cooler? I ask, because the post I saw was for 10 hours of labor which at going rates here that is like $1000-1200! If all the parts are included when you buy the kit, which I don't see any reason they wouldn't be, how hard can it be? Especially if you have a Sport package car with the factory cooler already there.
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01-10-2008, 03:07 PM	#28
radgator1 Lieutenant Colonel 50 Rep 1,600 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SoCal iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 e90 335i [0.00] 2007 e90 335i [0.00]	Sounds good Nice review.
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01-10-2008, 07:45 PM	#31
Beer Goggles First Lieutenant 6 Rep 310 Posts Drives: 2007 335i E92, 6MT, Sport Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Riverside, CA iTrader: (0)	I still would never pay $2,000 for a $500 OC....just me.
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01-10-2008, 08:14 PM	#34
BMWnation BMWnation 425 Rep 514 Posts Drives: 335i, 535, M4 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bergen NJ iTrader: (1)	where is the bypass valve located for the oil cooler that gets removed?
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01-10-2008, 08:56 PM	#36
Stinger Major 112 Rep 1,040 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i E93 [7.00] 1993 318is [0.00] 1996 Z3 1.9 [0.00]	Thanks for the review and nice to see the experience of the flash on an automatic. So, want this upgrade... Think I'll wait until spring though, what's the point of extra power with snow on the road... __________________ http://e93fanatic.blogspot.com
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01-10-2008, 09:20 PM	#39
leftcoastman Lieutenant Colonel 52 Rep 1,714 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Near some canyons iTrader: (1)	Well from the pics, it appears that the Dinan setup gets rid of your brake duct on that side. Given how brake fade can be an issue on track, that makes the Dinan setup a no-go, at least for me.
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01-11-2008, 08:33 PM	#44
ybbiz34 Brigadier General 670 Rep 4,959 Posts Drives: 2023 330i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	I should have those oil cooler pics up by the end of the weekend. Also, just an update on the oil cooler...had a long highway drive today, at the end of which I did a lot of "spirited" stop-and-go driving. Dinan oil cooler held the oil temp. at 230 degrees, topped out at maybe 232 degrees? It made me happy. Also, it seems that the car warms up faster than it used to before the flash, and when the oil gets to about the 230 degree range, the cooler must kick in because the temp stops climbing and stays put.
	Appreciate 0 Quote