[naynay]

i just like my car to be full stett . gunna order their 1.2k stage 2 oil cooler after i do ze RB TURBOZZZZ

[ady9]

"STETT Performance Front Mount Intercooler was the first and still the best FMIC on the market today for the N54 and N55 135i/335i."

big call ? anyone have experience with ETS 5' core ??

[Brule]

Have you got the intercooler yet?

I am waiting for the new helix intercooler

[kOncept]

Originally Posted by Brule

Have you got the intercooler yet?

I am waiting for the new helix intercooler

Have you ordered already? Thought they are on back order?

[naynay]

getting shipped today =]

[kOncept]

Because of this thread... I'm now in the market for a FMIC but the abundance of options is making my head spin.

Can I ask why you narrowed it down to the ETS, Helix and Stett? and excluded the AMS?

I've narrowed my options down to the Stett (purely based on aesthetics + size) and the AMS (I like the smooth cast end tank design).

My concern is whether or not the AMS will be sufficient if in future I added RB turbos...

Edit: Also considering the ER unit because Stu sells it... Too many options...

[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by kOncept

Because of this thread... I'm now in the market for a FMIC but the abundance of options is making my head spin.

Can I ask why you narrowed it down to the ETS, Helix and Stett? and excluded the AMS?

I've narrowed my options down to the Stett (purely based on aesthetics + size) and the AMS (I like the smooth cast end tank design).

My concern is whether or not the AMS will be sufficient if in future I added RB turbos...

Edit: Also considering the ER unit because Stu sells it... Too many options...

All those options are good options!

I bought an AMS as I thought it appeared to be manufactured to a higher standard then the ETS (with superior welds, cast end tanks) and it was $300 cheaper then a helix or an ER and has 3" in/outlets for high flow.

The AMS will definately flow enough for RB's!

[Brule]

Originally Posted by kOncept

Have you ordered already? Thought they are on back order?

they are not available yet.

Release date "soon" when i asked Eric from helix

[Zen]

I have the ER FMIC and I had bundled it up with a ER CP & a Forge DV. Reason why I went with the ER intercooler is that I know it will be fit directly with my CP and knowing that there will be no issues with fitment. Not saying that other FMIC will have potential fitment issues but its just the confidence you get by paying a a premium price.

I managed to bundle it up as a package and it worked out very competitive when compared with other vendors on this forum.

I don't think you would go wrong with any FMIC that had been reviewed by other members. IMO any FMIC that is on sale on this forum is probably better than the stock one.

[dontask]

I am running AA Race Intercooler (very similar to Stett FMIC in size) with RB turbos and it runs great (very little heat soak). My wife is running the ETS 5" (similar to the AMS) front mount with Vargas Stage 2 turbos and you definitely feel the heat soak on hot days. I now wish I had gotten her at least the 7" or an intercooler or something else with a stepped core.

My recommendation for anyone wanting to go bigger turbos is don't go with a 5" intercooler and opt for something bigger.

[kOncept]

Didn't mean to threadjack... apologies naynay

Thanks to everyone for their input I think my mind is made up on the Stett as it's bigger and QLD does get very hot in summer.

Can't wait to see this in your car naynay! What's the ETA? Did you confirm whether or not it comes with the stencil?

[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by dontask

I am running AA Race Intercooler (very similar to Stett FMIC in size) with RB turbos and it runs great (very little heat soak). My wife is running the ETS 5" (similar to the AMS) front mount with Vargas Stage 2 turbos and you definitely feel the heat soak on hot days. I now wish I had gotten her at least the 7" or an intercooler or something else with a stepped core.

My recommendation for anyone wanting to go bigger turbos is don't go with a 5" intercooler and opt for something bigger.

AMS is 6" FYI

[M-Four]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

AMS is 6" FYI

I went with the AMS as well. Minimal trimming required and good fitment to the ER CP.

[DR-JEKL]

One thing to mindful of with a huge FMIC is flowrate and what this effect this has on throttle response. A smaller core will ultimately spool up quicker, albeit be less efficient whereas a large core will be 'laggier' yet be much more effective in keeping IAT's down.

So a huge 7" FMIC with stock turbo's, in a street car is kinda overkill which is why I went for the AMS also as it's a happy medium in terms of size so it had the benefits of both the smaller and larger cores.

7" core = for uprated turbos in an application which will see extended periods of boost (track cars)
6" core = for oem turbos or uprated turbos which will have the odd occasional squirt at the drags/track etc
5" core = running a street car with oem turbos and a tune

Whilst I'm no expert this is what I had deduced when researching for a FMIC

[kOncept]

HPF 7" = 815 cu in
AA = 720 cu in
AMS = 720 cu in
ER = 660 cu in
Stett = 620 cu in

If the above information is correct, the Stett has the smallest core volume but the greatest surface area.

How much does the extra surface area improve cooling efficiency?

[naynay]

i dont know much about the technical side of it. to me at the end of the day an ic is an ic. i chose stett because i have their charge pipe and cai. I love their workmanship and attention to details. The stett ic is the best looking imo. but i would assume that greater surface area would result in better cooling. Think of a giant cpu heatsink

[kOncept]

Originally Posted by naynay

i dont know much about the technical side of it. to me at the end of the day an ic is an ic. i chose stett because i have their charge pipe and cai. I love their workmanship and attention to details. The stett ic is the best looking imo. but i would assume that greater surface area would result in better cooling. Think of a giant cpu heatsink

Yeah there are so many variables...

Garrett uses a 5.1" thick core for 1300hp applications, and their lowest height:thickness ratio is 2:1 with others being much greater. Maybe Stett followed similar principles in their design. Who knows...?

At the end of the day I think the Stett is the most attractive FMIC of the lot and I'm still waiting to see it on your car! Will you be doing any data logging before and after?

[Brule]

Good info for size comparison.

On this same thread i found logs of AMS 22F rise, helix 8F rise ETS 36F (ETS 5 inch im guessing) Big Tom 27Fand spearco 25F rise on a 2-3-4 wot 14psi not sure if it was same car. Dzenno 2012 ***********
http://www.***********.com/showthrea...parison-Thread

[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by kOncept

HPF 7" = 815 cu in
AA = 720 cu in
AMS = 720 cu in
ER = 660 cu in
Stett = 620 cu in

If the above information is correct, the Stett has the smallest core volume but the greatest surface area.

How much does the extra surface area improve cooling efficiency?

It's all a matter of perspective and it's debatable what's more important volume or surface area. TBH I don't think based on the design alone you could state which is superior, one would have to conduct a series of tests.

Each and everyone of the aforementioned IC's have their merits and are designed differently i.e helix with their stepped cores, stett with their large surface area cores etc whilst I have no idea of how big the Stett core is, if it is quite large does it interfere with airflow to other vital cooling components such as the radiator?

[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by kOncept

At the end of the day I think the Stett is the most attractive FMIC of the lot and I'm still waiting to see it on your car! Will you be doing any data logging before and after?

Yep it looks awesome

[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by Brule

Good info for size comparison.

On this same thread i found logs of AMS 22F rise, helix 8F rise and spearco 25F rise on a 2-3-4 wot.

Any idea if that was on the same car, in the same conditions?

[Brule]

Only ones quoted same car were ETS and Big tom intercooler on 14 psi
Not even sure if it was 5 inch but 7 inch would have little rise as logs i have seen