[MDesign Performance]

Hello all, was wondering if it would be possible or if anyone has retrofitted the N54 PPK stage 2 aux radiator (and possibly fan) to a N55 e92. Is there a specific aux radiator kit for the N55 and N54 or is it all one in the same?

I am in the process of ordering the 335is ducting for the M Sport bumper and want to take full advantage of the new air flow. There might be aftermarket solutions though I was wondering if I purchased the parts below if it would be a direct bolt on/need slight modification.

Thank you!

17117602241
07147144953 X2
17217540030
07119903995
17127602294
64216963248
64219222129
51647154546

[sd306]

Originally Posted by MDesign Performance

Hello all, was wondering if it would be possible or if anyone has retrofitted the N54 PPK stage 2 aux radiator (and possibly fan) to a N55 e92?

I am in the process of ordering the 335is ducting for the M Sport bumper and want to take full advantage of the new air flow. There might be aftermarket solutions though I was wondering if I purchased the parts below if it would be a direct bolt on/need slight modification.

Thank you!

17117602241
07147144953 X2
17217540030
07119903995
17127602294
64216963248
51742157684
64219222129
51647154546

Just curious, do you have the stock oil cooler? (Must have sport or msport package.) if so wht are your oil temps after some spirited driving?

[MDesign Performance]

Originally Posted by sd306

Just curious, do you have the stock oil cooler? (Must have sport or msport package.) if so wht are your oil temps after some spirited driving?

Yes the car is a 2011 M Sport + sport package and includes the oil cooler, this is the main reason for going over to the 335IS larger M Sport bumper cooling ducts. After spirited driving temps are about 240-245 though I believe with actually tracking the car the temps will be higher, this is the reason for the aux radiator inquiry.

After some research and seeing that the water pump is the same in the N54/N55 I believe this might bolt on. I know the radiator will mount in the drivers wheel well though just need clarification on the radiator hoses being compatible.

[sd306]

Originally Posted by MDesign Performance

Yes the car is a 2011 M Sport + sport package and includes the oil cooler, this is the main reason for going over to the 335IS larger M Sport bumper cooling ducts. After spirited driving temps are about 240-245 though I believe with actually tracking the car the temps will be higher, this is the reason for the aux radiator inquiry.

After some research and seeing that the water pump is the same in the N54/N55 I believe this might bolt on. I know the radiator will mount in the drivers wheel well though just need clarification on the radiator hoses being compatible.

My temps are consistently 230 after some spirited driving with the ad-engineering oil cooler valve. If I were you i'd test this first then add the other if still needed.

[MDesign Performance]

Originally Posted by sd306

My temps are consistently 230 after some spirited driving with the ad-engineering oil cooler valve. If I were you i'd test this first then add the other if still needed.

I was going to go with a BMS oil cooler valve until I read the thermostat is wide open at a certain temperature and at that point it serves no purpose, that is where an auxiliary radiator would hopefully come in hand.

Once I can get confirmation that this system can be installed on the N55 I'll be replacing whatever coolant is lost during install with Water Wetter and I believe that and the auxiliary radiator combo should be more than enough cooling. If not I may then experiment with a oil cooler valve after the auxiliary radiator is added.

[sd306]

Originally Posted by MDesign Performance

I was going to go with a BMS oil cooler valve until I read the thermostat is wide open at a certain temperature and at that point it serves no purpose, that is where an auxiliary radiator would hopefully come in hand.

Once I can get confirmation that this system can be installed on the N55 I'll be replacing whatever coolant is lost during install with Water Wetter and I believe that and the auxiliary radiator combo should be more than enough cooling. If not I may then experiment with a oil cooler valve after the auxiliary radiator is added.

The BMS one keeps the temps around the same 230ish, but takes longer to warm up the car. The ad-engineering one opens flow to the oil cooler earlier than stock. So, the car warms up normally, but keeps the temps lower.

The difference is 20 degrees. So, if you use the aux cooler with the stock valve nothing will change as the stock valve will close again blocking access to the oil cooler when it cools down. The external one would only help if you force all oil through it.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

IMO, it would be easier, cheaper, and equally effective to get a CSF or Mishimoto radiator.

[MDesign Performance]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

IMO, it would be easier, cheaper, and equally effective to get a CSF or Mishimoto radiator.

I went ahead and priced out the radiator, hoses and necessary hardware at just under $400 which are all new parts, used hoses and a new radiator would be a little bit less. I did explore aftermarket options though for that price I would prefer to have an OEM fit with OEM parts versus an aftermarket solution.

At this point I'm assuming no one has installed this on an N55 e92, I think I may have to go ahead and purchase the kit to see if I can make the hoses connect up without any/much modification. I know the radiator will mount up along with all the other ducting (335IS ducting will be used).

Originally Posted by sd306

The BMS one keeps the temps around the same 230ish, but takes longer to warm up the car. The ad-engineering one opens flow to the oil cooler earlier than stock. So, the car warms up normally, but keeps the temps lower.

The difference is 20 degrees. So, if you use the aux cooler with the stock valve nothing will change as the stock valve will close again blocking access to the oil cooler when it cools down. The external one would only help if you force all oil through it.

After checking this out a bit more I'm going to throw one in the car as I think it will definitely compliment the auxiliary radiator. Originally I thought it was a by-pass and not a thermostat, that was one of the main reasons I did not go through with the BMS valve.

[Dylanize]

Can I ask why you want the N54 version? Why not get the N55 version thats made for your car and eliminate the guess work?

[MDesign Performance]

Originally Posted by Dylanize

Can I ask why you want the N54 version? Why not get the N55 version thats made for your car and eliminate the guess work?

In all photos I'm seeing the same parts for the kit and I see them being on the 1M, 335is and available for the n54 as the PPK2 though nothing of a n55 specific kit.

Clarification needed would be is there an n55 e92 specific kit with specific radiator hoses or are the radiatior hoses the same for both engines for the parts above? I know the radiator and mounting hardware is the same.

[jwzimm]

When I had my 335i I toyed around with converting the 335is radiator core into a second oil cooler plumbed in series with the OEM one on the passenger side. I almost had it too but the AN fittings I had welded to the aux radiator spun off on me and I gave up. It would work perfectly though and you would never have oil temp issues again.

edit: here is the thread I had going on it: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1049862

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by MDesign Performance

In all photos I'm seeing the same parts for the kit and I see them being on the 1M, 335is and available for the n54 as the PPK2 though nothing of a n55 specific kit.

Clarification needed would be is there an n55 e92 specific kit with specific radiator hoses or are the radiatior hoses the same for both engines for the parts above? I know the radiator and mounting hardware is the same.

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/ACCESSORIES

I put in 2012 E92, sort by price descending, then it gives me options for M sport or non M sport bumpers.

That should be it no?

[MDesign Performance]

Originally Posted by Dylanize

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/ACCESSORIES

I put in 2012 E92, sort by price descending, then it gives me options for M sport or non M sport bumpers.

That should be it no?

Found what I was looking for, there is only one kit for all the 2010-14 135i and 2009-13 335xi/i which means that it is for both of the N54 and N55 engines. Thank you!

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by MDesign Performance

Found what I was looking for, there is only one kit for all the 2010-14 135i and 2009-13 335xi/i which means that it is for both of the N54 and N55 engines. Thank you!

No problem!! Glad I could hopefully save you some time and effort.

Be sure to post a write up if you do it yourself!

[MDesign Performance]

Originally Posted by Dylanize

No problem!! Glad I could hopefully save you some time and effort.

Be sure to post a write up if you do it yourself!

Will do, I'll write up a guide for anyone looking to do this in the future as I believe it is an important OEM upgrade that is not too costly.

[sd306]

Im still puzzled how this will do anything when the oil valve closes after reaching the designed oil temp? (To keep it around 250ish.) Wouldn't it only help if it cannot maintain lower than 250 on the stock oil cooler? I'd try running the ad engineering valve or bms one first to see if you even need this..

[MDesign Performance]

I'm not exactly sure of what the OEM thermostat is rated (I'd assume 240-245* F) though the main reason for this upgrade is in regards to exceeding the cooling capacity of the OEM radiator. With more surface area, i.e. a larger radiator or auxiliary radiatior, you are able to cool down much quicker and have better heat transfer properties. This is the reason you see people who drive their cars hard/track their cars install larger radiators as they can maintain temperatures better.

Installing a lower temp thermostat would be an attempt to keep temperatures low using the OEM radiator in conjunction though after multiple laps on the track I believe the OEM radiatior would be unable to maintain 230* F consistently. This is where the the larger/auxiliary radiator would come in hand.

So in short, installing the aux radiator would help achieve a more consistent temperature and using the OEM thermostat that may be 240-245 (whatever the thermostat is rated for). I do plan on purchasing the lower thermostat as it would compliment the auxiliary radiator and together both parts should maintain a solid 230* F (if that is what it is rated at).

EDIT: After researching a bit more about the AD-E piece I'm seeing that it is not actually a thermostat and is a bypass similar to BMS. I've read in some threads that the spring is "heat sensitive" and that is what makes it act like a thermostat though I'm not sure if this is actually true. More of a reason to go with the aux radiator and the stock thermostat combination at this point.

[AtlasM]

This thread covers the parts needed that mostly jive with your list, and I did a little checking as well. I think you're on the right track on all these:

Left radiator - 17117602241
M8-Z2 hex nut with plate - 07147144953 x2
Holder for additional radiator - 17217540030
M6X20-U2-8.8 Hex bolt - 07119903995
Hose from radiator bottom to thermostat - 17127602294
Hose from engine inlet to heater radiator - 64219222129
Hose clamp - 64216963248

The one I think you don't have correct is 51647154546 which is listed as Front Bumper Carrier Bracket - Right. The thread I linked above says the bracket you want is 51647154545, which comes up as Front Bumper Carrier Bracket - Left. Since the aux radiator is listed as "left radiator," that left bracket makes sense to me.

Also for ducting, if you're a coupe you have the option of deleting the fog lights with the 335is lower grilles:

Lower Bumper Grille - Left - 51118050585
Lower Bumper Grille - Right - 51118050586

The ducting behind these grilles, if you have an M Sport coupe, is already the same as the 335is.

For the sedan there's a Performance air duct which is 51742157678 for the standard bumper or 51742157680 for M Sport.

Here's the thing though, adding this aux radiator, even though it's OEM, is a lot more complicated than just replacing your radiator with a higher-capacity one. To me, the only reason I can think of that the aux radiator is part of the PPK because that way BMW can bolt on a bit more cooling capacity rather than swapping out a radiator for a higher-capacity one and then being left with having to dispose of the original radiator.

Anyway, this begs the question, sure the aux radiator is OEM, but why go for all this added complexity when you could just pick up a higher-capacity radiator that will drop in place of your main radiator and give you the cooling capacity you need? The CSF radiator is only $439 from Top Gear Solutions.

[MDesign Performance]

The main reason for going with BMW original products is to attempt to retain as many OEM parts as possible for the clean install. I just went ahead and ordered the following:

Radiator (17117602241) + Left Ducting (51748050583 )= $180 shipped
Hoses (17127602294 & 64219222129) = $85 shipped
Total = $265 from eBay used

2 x M8-Z2 hex nut with plate (07147144953) = $4.68
M6X20-U2-8.8 Hex bolt (07119903995) = $0.56
Hose Clamp (64216963248) = $5.40
Holder (17217540030) = $6.04
Right ducting (51748050584) = $47.94
Left Carrier Bracket (51647154545) = $40.96
Total = $105.58 shipped from ECS new

Total cost = $370.58 and a couple bottles of WaterWetter

[MDesign Performance]

Originally Posted by AtlasM

The ducting behind these grilles, if you have an M Sport coupe, is already the same as the 335is.

Are you 100% sure about this? In the thread below the owner stated the 335is ducting as an upgrade for people with the M Sport as the ducting takes advantage of all the room whereas the M Sport ducting is restricted due to the fog lights.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=907444

[AtlasM]

Originally Posted by MDesign Performance

Are you 100% sure about this? In the thread below the owner stated the 335is ducting as an upgrade for people with the M Sport as the ducting takes advantage of all the room whereas the M Sport ducting is restricted due to the fog lights.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=907444

Hmm I may have spoke too soon about the ducting on the coupe being the same. That was based on my comparing the parts listings on RealOEM between 335i and 335is and I may not have correctly identified the difference.

But the duct part #s 51748050583 & 51748050584 in the thread you linked, those show as the 335is and PPK2-specific ducts. So they probably are unique.

The car in the linked thread has just the ducts with no grilles. If you have an LCI and want 335is lower grilles with no fog lights, those are:

Lower Bumper Grille - Left - 51118050585
Lower Bumper Grille - Right - 51118050586

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Overall not a bad price. Does anyone know how much cooling capacity the aux radiator increases?