Helix FMIC installed, initial impressions

supahdave · 01-31-2010, 03:48 PM

Received my Helix FMIC the other day and went to tackle the install this morning. Car is a E90 LCI.

Install went pretty straight forward from removing the stock intercooler and stock hoses.

This FMIC is the revised design which is supposed to minimize trimming and it surely did. Im 99% sure i could have gotten it in without any trimming, but doing so on your own is quite the task. The only trimming i had to do was a quarter sized piece on the passenger side. The fit was definately tight, but if i can get it in with one person, two people should be able to get it in pretty easily.

I didnt get to do many pulls on the way home with traffic, but the onramps and few openings i had suprised the hell out of me. The car just pulls thru the top of the gears. Very nice gain in the upper rpms.

I couldnt be happier with this, but would say the install would have been alot faster with another hand.

For those on the fence about it, DO IT. You dont realize how innefficient the stock one is until you do!

enrita · 01-31-2010, 04:06 PM

Congrats! the Helix is one of the top intercoolers around

1qkviper · 01-31-2010, 06:21 PM

cool! Have fun.

Wickede92 · 02-01-2010, 01:38 AM

debating with the helix and ams. what are the pros and cons to each?

E92murdered · 02-01-2010, 01:51 AM

good stuff Dave, sucks i had to go into work woulda helped out ! and guys go with Helix freeway pulls are amazing!

eric@helix · 02-01-2010, 09:05 AM

Glad you like it and thanks for going with Helix, Supahdave, just keep an eye out for the boys in blue when doing highway pulls

supahdave · 02-01-2010, 09:54 AM

Will do, thanks for the great product!

supahdave · 02-01-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wickede92

debating with the helix and ams. what are the pros and cons to each?

Hard to say. Heres what i noticed between them.

Some argue that the Helix might block some of the radiator, but i dont see an increase in engine temp.

The AMS has nicer mounting brackets, but not much of a big deal to me. I think helix should try and clean them up.

Its really a toss up and sure you will be more than happy with either.

Spydeputy · 02-01-2010, 04:26 PM

eric, what do ur FMIC go for $$$ ?

mwahlert · 02-01-2010, 05:12 PM

ams requires some trimming....helix isn't supposed to..

supahdave · 02-01-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

eric, what do ur FMIC go for $$$ ?

800 if you can get in on the group buy.

ToadHollow · 02-01-2010, 09:45 PM

Helix FTW

Wickede92 · 02-02-2010, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwahlert

ams requires some trimming....helix isn't supposed to..

hmmm....i hear its the other way around. how much does each goes for?

TurboBullett@Ambient Thermal Management · 02-02-2010, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wickede92

hmmm....i hear its the other way around. how much does each goes for?

on a large % of cars/installs the helix requires NO TRIMMING... if you rread this post you will see that the end OP could have installed the fmic without trimming if he had an extra set of hands with the install(which we have stated in the past). The helix was designed to be a very tight fit so the FMIC effectively seals off to the factory cowl

The helix GB price is $799+shipping and we will be starting up another GB in the next few weeks!

Draven · 02-02-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTurboBullett

on a large % of cars/installs the helix requires NO TRIMMING... if you rread this post you will see that the end OP could have installed the fmic without trimming if he had an extra set of hands with the install(which we have stated in the past). The helix was designed to be a very tight fit so the FMIC effectively seals off to the factory cowl

The helix GB price is $799+shipping and we will be starting up another GB in the next few weeks!

PM me when that happens, I'm not very good at paying attention to the GB area. :cheers:

Wickede92 · 02-02-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draven

PM me when that happens, I'm not very good at paying attention to the GB area. :cheers:

pm me too please.

01-31-2010, 03:48 PM	#1
supahdave Lieutenant 25 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 09 AW 335i Sedan Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (4)	Helix FMIC installed, initial impressions Received my Helix FMIC the other day and went to tackle the install this morning. Car is a E90 LCI. Install went pretty straight forward from removing the stock intercooler and stock hoses. This FMIC is the revised design which is supposed to minimize trimming and it surely did. Im 99% sure i could have gotten it in without any trimming, but doing so on your own is quite the task. The only trimming i had to do was a quarter sized piece on the passenger side. The fit was definately tight, but if i can get it in with one person, two people should be able to get it in pretty easily. I didnt get to do many pulls on the way home with traffic, but the onramps and few openings i had suprised the hell out of me. The car just pulls thru the top of the gears. Very nice gain in the upper rpms. I couldnt be happier with this, but would say the install would have been alot faster with another hand. For those on the fence about it, DO IT. You dont realize how innefficient the stock one is until you do! Last edited by supahdave; 02-01-2010 at 08:38 PM..
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01-31-2010, 04:06 PM	#2
enrita Major General 161 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: 335i - Big turbos Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Italian in Sweden iTrader: (0)	Congrats! the Helix is one of the top intercoolers around __________________ 07 335i AT - MOTIV 750 - MHD E85 BMS flash - BMS PI - JB4G5 - Okada Coils - NGK 5992 Plugs - Helix IC - Snow Stg. 3 - Stett CP - Custom midpipes with 100 HJS Cats - Bastuck Quad - PSS10 - QUAIFE LSD - BMS OCC - Forge DVs - AR OC - ALCON BBK - M3 Chassi - Dinan CP - Velocity M rear Toe arms - Advan RZ-DF - LUX H8 - Level 10 AT upgrade
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01-31-2010, 06:21 PM	#3
1qkviper New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 2009 335i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New Mexico iTrader: (0)	cool! Have fun.
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02-01-2010, 01:38 AM	#4
Wickede92 Captain 17 Rep 669 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3)	debating with the helix and ams. what are the pros and cons to each?
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02-01-2010, 01:51 AM	#5
E92murdered Lieutenant Colonel 101 Rep 1,668 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: san diego iTrader: (5)	good stuff Dave, sucks i had to go into work woulda helped out ! and guys go with Helix freeway pulls are amazing!
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02-01-2010, 09:05 AM	#6
eric@helix 210 Rep 1,161 Posts Drives: 01 M Coupe, 08 135i, '12 328i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	Glad you like it and thanks for going with Helix, Supahdave, just keep an eye out for the boys in blue when doing highway pulls
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02-01-2010, 09:54 AM	#7
supahdave Lieutenant 25 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 09 AW 335i Sedan Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (4)	Will do, thanks for the great product!
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02-01-2010, 04:26 PM	#9
Spydeputy Brigadier General 205 Rep 3,523 Posts Drives: 2015 F23 M235i/2008,E90,335xi Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The County, Maryland iTrader: (19) Garage List 2017 X5 M Sport Pac ... [0.00] 2015 M235i, F23 [0.00]	eric, what do ur FMIC go for $$$ ?
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02-01-2010, 05:12 PM	#10
mwahlert Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,659 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC iTrader: (8)	ams requires some trimming....helix isn't supposed to..
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02-01-2010, 09:45 PM	#12
ToadHollow Once upon a time ...... 276 Rep 5,048 Posts Drives: 2008 JB E92 - SOLD 5/2010 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Asti, Italy & Austin, Texas iTrader: (16) Garage List 2008 E92 335i [8.00]	Helix FTW __________________
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