[BimmerNugget]

I saw some for sale on FCPEuro that doesn't look like it has the oil cooler attached to the oil filter housing assembly.


Reason I'm asking is because I'm looking to put an N54/N55 oil cooler onto my N51 328i for track day use. I've heard the oil temp on N51/N52 without oil coolers gets hot pretty quick.

[RocketSurgeon]

I had an early 12/2006 335i sedan that did not have the oil cooler. All sport package n54 cars got the cooler, and probably later cars without sport. The non-cooler oil filter housing fits both the n51/n52 and the n54, so it looks like the cooler version would bolt right up. ETKBMW.com is an amazing resource for determining parts compatibility btw.

[dsjr2006]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

I had an early 12/2006 335i sedan that did not have the oil cooler. All sport package n54 cars got the cooler, and probably later cars without sport. The non-cooler oil filter housing fits both the n51/n52 and the n54, so it looks like the cooler version would bolt right up. ETKBMW.com is an amazing resource for determining parts compatibility btw.

Not all Sport Package cars have an Oil Cooler.

I’m pretty sure “High speed synchro” is the option that gives you this and you had to have Sport package with 18” wheels and summer tires meaning 155mph limiter and oil cooler. Some cars were optioned with all-seasons so they had 130mph limiter and no oil cooler even with Sport package. This may be an XI only thing though.

[BimmerNugget]

Can I just buy the oil cooler part and bolt it onto my N51 oil filter housing?

[delmarco]

By oil cooler I assume you mean the thermostat thingy attached to the N55/N54 Oil Filter Housing (actually it is not attached but rather an entirely different Oil Filter Housing unit with different seals and different part numbers)?

It seems some N54/N55 cars have it and some don't.






The trending commonality with cars that have this thermostat oil cooler is that those cars tend to have some level of Sport Package trim (not sure why). However they are some non sport cars that have the extra cooler and some sports cars that do not have the cooler.

All N54 engines used in post-2011 year models Z4 and 335is WILL have the oil cooler.

The cars that generally don't tend to have the extra cooler are usually later years xDrive N55s as in the case of my dirty car shown here:

[feuer]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

I had an early 12/2006 335i sedan that did not have the oil cooler. All sport package n54 cars got the cooler, and probably later cars without sport. The non-cooler oil filter housing fits both the n51/n52 and the n54, so it looks like the cooler version would bolt right up. ETKBMW.com is an amazing resource for determining parts compatibility btw.

Has nothing to do with sport package.

Originally Posted by dsjr2006

Not all Sport Package cars have an Oil Cooler.
I’m pretty sure “High speed synchro” is the option that gives you this and you had to have Sport package with 18” wheels and summer tires meaning 155mph limiter and oil cooler. Some cars were optioned with all-seasons so they had 130mph limiter and no oil cooler even with Sport package. This may be an XI only thing though.

Exactly. There are 335i with 18" that din't come with it. Add climate where vehicle was originally sold.

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

Can I just buy the oil cooler part and bolt it onto my N51 oil filter housing?

No, you need to replace the oil filter housing to one that will accept oil thermostat housing.

[delmarco]

Originally Posted by feuer

Has nothing to do with sport package.

Exactly. There are 335i with 18" that din't come with it. Add climate where vehicle was originally sold.

No, you need to replace the oil filter housing to one that will accept oil thermostat housing.

So "climate where vehicle was sold" is the determining factor?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by delmarco

So "climate where vehicle was sold" is the determining factor?

It would be yes. You won't see many "cold package" with heated seats and steering wheel orders in FL and CA. Same with the oil cooler.

[Pladi]

thats not an oil cooler its an oil thermostat .. if an oil cooler was that small thats next level technology

[4 Doors]

As above have said, not all N54/N55 have oil coolers. That extra oil filter housing is for the thermostat and the extra lines. Now remember you can get the housing changed, but need all of the other hardware as well. Including the oil cooler itself. This is usually located in the passenger wheel well, where the lines connect to the housing. An OE oil cooler plus lines is expensive based on what I have seen. Stett makes an aftermarket housing, you could find a used stock one as well from a part out if you are looking.

My E90 2008 BMW 335xi (N54) has sport package, cold weather package (possible factor), but did not have stock 18" wheels, mine has 17" stock.

Hope this helps, this is the information I have gathered from looking through other threads.

[BimmerNugget]

Alright, I guess I'll just buy the entire oil filter housing unit from a N54 with the cooler on. They are expensive tho, over $300.

[IllSic_Design]

It is a hot weather climate item, so if your car was originally to be sold in a hot climate environment; CA, AZ, TX, etc then it SHOULD have an oil cooler.

[dsjr2006]

Originally Posted by delmarco

So "climate where vehicle was sold" is the determining factor?

Theres an option code for hot climate prep that all cars with oil coolers seem to have. My E90 has the cold weather package along with hot climate prep, but it also had high speed synchro which is 155 mph speed limiter because of the Z-rated summer tires.

Sport package cars seem more likely to have the higher speed rated tires because you'd be downgrading the wheels if you did sport package with all-seasons.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by delmarco

So "climate where vehicle was sold" is the determining factor?

Don't think so. I'm the original owner of my car, which has it.

As I understood it, all manual zsp cars had it, and auto zsps were random. Really not sure about non zsp. People who didn't have them tried to get them retrofitted, but BMW would not accomodate them.

There was such an obsession with oil temp back then (2007-08), that BMW even put in a different gauge, so that the needle would be in the middle, at the higher temp! German engineers are the best. Mine is normally 3/4 towards hot.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

As above have said, not all N54/N55 have oil coolers. That extra oil filter housing is for the thermostat and the extra lines. Now remember you can get the housing changed, but need all of the other hardware as well. Including the oil cooler itself. This is usually located in the passenger wheel well, where the lines connect to the housing. An OE oil cooler plus lines is expensive based on what I have seen. Stett makes an aftermarket housing, you could find a used stock one as well from a part out if you are looking.

My E90 2008 BMW 335xi (N54) has sport package, cold weather package (possible factor), but did not have stock 18" wheels, mine has 17" stock.

Hope this helps, this is the information I have gathered from looking through other threads.

I don't recall that ZSP cars could be ordered with 17" rims. I remember ZSP giving the vehicle 225/255 staggered tires. Again, my recollection was transmission was the determining factor, and that all sticks got an external oil cooler when they had zsp. Autos sometimes got it, and auto owners (they bought the car brand new) who did not have it, tried to get BMW to retrofit and they would not. I could be wrong as it's been 10 years.

[dsjr2006]

Originally Posted by John 070

I don't recall that ZSP cars could be ordered with 17" rims. I remember ZSP giving the vehicle 225/255 staggered tires. Again, my recollection was transmission was the determining factor, and that all sticks got an external oil cooler when they had zsp. Autos sometimes got it, and auto owners (they bought the car brand new) who did not have it, tried to get BMW to retrofit and they would not. I could be wrong as it's been 10 years.

XI cars have Sport Package available, but they do not get Sport suspension and they could be optioned with 17" wheels.

I think most manual cars would've had 18" wheels on Summer tires which is why they have an oil cooler. I've seen manual XI's that came with 17" all-seasons and it didn't not have an oil cooler with Sport package.

[delmarco]

I just realized this is actually stated in the N55 Engine write up....

[John 070]

Originally Posted by dsjr2006

XI cars have Sport Package available, but they do not get Sport suspension and they could be optioned with 17" wheels.

I think most manual cars would've had 18" wheels on Summer tires which is why they have an oil cooler. I've seen manual XI's that came with 17" all-seasons and it didn't not have an oil cooler with Sport package.

Interesting, was there any such thing as a XI, with staggered 18" summer tires? So the XI sport package was seats and no suspension?

I just remember a BMW instructor stating never get an AWD BMW (referring to the 3), it defeats the purpose lol (One has to remember they're making a recommendation yet not spending any money i.e. no skin in the game)

[dsjr2006]

Originally Posted by John 070

Interesting, was there any such thing as a XI, with staggered 18" summer tires? So the XI sport package was seats and no suspension?

I just remember a BMW instructor stating never get an AWD BMW (referring to the 3), it defeats the purpose lol (One has to remember they're making a recommendation yet not spending any money i.e. no skin in the game)

You could get the staggered 18" wheel setup, but I don't think this was popular because you got Summer tires with them if I remember correctly. The XI sport package is basically interior only, steering wheel and seats. I think they may have come with different 17" wheels if you didn't upgrade to 18s, but I'm not sure on that one.

[Phyrexia]

Originally Posted by Pladi

thats not an oil cooler its an oil thermostat .. if an oil cooler was that small thats next level technology

You are wrong, or else our definitions of 'thermostat' vary wildly.

It is literally an oil cooler - it is a part with no moving parts designed to transfer heat from the oil to the coolant.

It is not a radiator, which might be what you're thinking about.

[dsjr2006]

Originally Posted by Phyrexia

You are wrong, or else our definitions of 'thermostat' vary wildly.

It is literally an oil cooler - it is a part with no moving parts designed to transfer heat from the oil to the coolant.

It is not a radiator, which might be what you're thinking about.

In BMW/typical automotive speak, the oil cooler is the radiator which oil passes through as controlled by the thermostat. It’s true that some cooling happens with the filter housing, but if that’s your only criteria for an oil cooler than surely the pan qualifies as an oil cooler since it also has no moving parts and transfers heat to the air.

[delmarco]

Originally Posted by Phyrexia

You are wrong, or else our definitions of 'thermostat' vary wildly.

It is literally an oil cooler - it is a part with no moving parts designed to transfer heat from the oil to the coolant.

It is not a radiator, which might be what you're thinking about.

You are wrong...

The N55's Oil Cooler is NOT a singular part! It is a system of four parts that includes the [Oil] Thermostat, the Oil Filter Housing, the Oil/Air Radiator-Heat Exchange, and a set of Oil Cooler lines.

See Diagram below:

The confusion is that any one of these four parts are sometimes and incorrectly referred to as "the oil cooler". Which makes the Oil Cooler seem like a singular part.

In addition because the Oil Filter Housing is bolted to the [Oil] Thermostat it always appears as if it is one part when looking at it and when ordering the internals gaskets.

Thirdly it is usually also sold as one united part when ordering a replacement Oil Filter Housing from a parted car or reseller.

This all lends to innocuous confusion of the Oil Cooler!




See page 79 in the N55 manual: