[boom]

Some time ago I posted a sneak peak of the new cp-e FMIC/oil cooler for the n54. I’m happy to report now that I have the whole setup installed and am thrilled. Here are tons of pix that explain how it all works.

Here are the original images showing the cp-e FMIC and oil cooler off of the car.





The FMIC installs with silicone couplers to the the turbo hot pipes. cp-e provides an Al pipe and couplers (not pictured) to the BOV pipe. Everything is 4-ply silicone. For more information on the efficiency of the FMIC please read this document:
http://www.cp-e.com/imgs/n54FMIC.pdf

The engineering and analysis of the core with respect to the stocker is second to none. It really is worth the read even if you don’t have or want the FMIC. The information is golden.

The cp-e FMIC comes with an oil cooler which separates it from the other offerings out there. The retail price is a little over $1K. cp-e is local to me and I can tell you that everyone that visits their setup is completely blown away by their work. Anyway, this is how the oil cooler connects.
The sport package oil cooler setup has two lines coming from the filter housing to a fitting that leads to the sport package oil cooler near the front of the car. The fitting holds the lines to the cooler assembly by a single 13 mm bolt. In this pick the bolt has been removed, the fitting rotated and a line removed. That’s why there is a bunch of oil. The install is a bit messy but not bad.


This is a pic of the BMW line removed with the cp-e CNC Al fittings attached.


This pic shows that same BMW line inserted into a CNC Al fitting attached to the cp-e oil line. The kit comes with CNC Al pieces so that everything fits together seamlessly. The line to the oil cooler has an Al piece that the stock BMW line inserts into. The Al piece shown in the previous pic fits around the stock line and screws down onto the Al piece in the oil cooler line. Hopefully the next two images clear up this woeful description…



This is the other cp-e line with another CNC Al piece that inserts into the BMW oil cooler fitting with everything buttoned back up and the oil cleaned. The bolt centered is the 13 mm that was mentioned earlier.


Here’s a shot of the oil cooler atop the FMIC.


Here are couple of the finished product.




The writeup indicates the gains in efficiency are best above 4K rpms and that’s where I really feel this. The car just seems to wake up again and pull like crazy up top. I’ve hit the rev limiter now because it was pulling so hard and the rpms were climbing so fast. I never had that issue before. IIRC the gains were about 22 whp at 12 psi. I think I can feel that and more importantly as I run through the gears the car just keeps pulling. It’s really a fantastic product.

I drove home today (30 miles with lights and highway) boosting all the way to see the effects of the oil cooler and am happy to report that my temps were 10-15 deg below what they normally are. Everyone's driving habits will be different so I can just report that my temps are lower. The ambient temp was 86 deg F and I’m running 14 psi on the standback and my oil temp never got over 245. It mainly stayed below 240. Additionally, the temp seems to come down more noticeably when it gets hot.

I’ve been telling them to offer the oil cooler as a standalone unit for those that already have FMICs. They’re considering it.

As a package, it’s a bargain and the gains are real.

[TurboSid]

i would be interested in an oilcooler, especially if we can install one w/o the factory one in place.

[john boxter]

how much did it cost you

[boom]

I paid $1000 but that included install as I'm the first production unit out the door. I'm local to them so should there be any issues they can be easily addressed. I checked all day today for leaks and everything was dry as a bone. I had a medical appointment so I was in the car for 85+ miles today.

[lpphreakx06]

Glad to hear. I wonder if they can sell me a retro kit to use that my main O/C

[light]

looks nice man.. how was the fitment? does the IC/OC install require any cutting?

[boom]

You don't actually *have* to cut anything but I chose to. I removed the two vertical fins in the "mouth" of. The plastic shroud in front of the ic. Additionally I drilled holes in the side of the shroud for the oil lines. You can route them around the shroud mouth but I thought it would be better for the flow to have minimal bends. There is no required cutting at all though.

[M3E46M]

WOW That is an awsome deal IC and OC for 1000 with install? What was your ambient temp and the oil temp?

[huyner328]

Originally Posted by lpphreakx06

Glad to hear. I wonder if they can sell me a retro kit to use that my main O/C

I asked about this for cars without the OEM OC but, since cp-e hasn't really gotten a car in without one to see how they'd engineer a solution... there are no immediate plans to provide a solution unfortunately.

Definitely read the white papers that boom linked and you'll see some great documentation.

[boom]

Here are some shots of the finished product with the brightness turned way up so the IC can be seen.

[tofu-]

$1000 for everything is a stellar deal. great looking car too

[BobS]

Whats their number? I would like to call them to discuss installing or options on a IC/OC on my 07 that doesn't currently have the stock oil cooler.

[scottp999]

Originally Posted by BobS

Whats their number? I would like to call them to discuss installing or options on a IC/OC on my 07 that doesn't currently have the stock oil cooler.

Custom Performance Engineering 6802 Mid Cities Ave., Beltsville MD 20705
Phone: 301-576-6142 Email: info@cp-e.com

[apkraven]

i'm very interested too in such retrofit! that would be cool!

[Jake@MOTIV]

Its sick. I didn't have to cut ANY of my car. The top end gains are HUGE.

[335TWNTURBO]

I am seriously considering this option. What type of warranty concerns do I have running the OC/IC combo?

PLUS im local.....

HE HE

[huyner328]

You always have warranty issues when modding your car regardless of what it is. They're all equally hated by the dealerships!

[kirby135i]

maybe a stupid ques...but will the heat of the oil passing thru affect the FMIC anyway since its sitting on top?

[BobS]

Originally Posted by scottp999

Custom Performance Engineering 6802 Mid Cities Ave., Beltsville MD 20705
Phone: 301-576-6142 Email: info@cp-e.com

Thanks....i'll have to give them a call and see whats up..

[boom]

Originally Posted by kirby135i

maybe a stupid ques...but will the heat of the oil passing thru affect the FMIC anyway since its sitting on top?

That's not an issue. The oc is mounted off of the ic by about an inch. Look at the first couple of pix at the mounting setup. There is fast airflow here so there is no way heat from the oc will affect the ic.

[boom]

So after driving for several days I can happily report that oil temps are 10-15 deg lower than normal. Additionally, when the temp gets up it comes back down much faster than before. In the past when I would get near 250 it would just sit there. Now it comes down readily back below 240. My temps haven't gotten over 245 yet and the ambient temps were in the mid 80s right after I had it installed.

More impressive though are the gains on the top end. I'm still getting used to it. It just screams now. I'm sure the other ICs out there offer similar gains. I'm super impressed and happy with the cp-e.

[nonford]

I think those of us that dont have an OEM oil cooler will still need to purchse the new filter cannister with adapter and lines and just route to this setup. Looks very nice and since its up front, gets a good rush of air to the cooler as well. I just might be persuaded with this option.