[slay2k]

All the threads I've seen are about the old 5", 7", 7" HD, and 7.5" Race intercoolers. But, aside from the Race FMIC, none of those are being sold on their website anymore. Instead, it's these:

• 5" Stepped Performance HD FMIC
• 7.5" Stepped Competition HD FMIC

Can't find any reviews, so I'd love to hear from people actually running these. Namely, I'd like to hear about any changes in throttle response / lag, IATs, build quality, fitment, how you decided between the two, etc.

[Newb_bimmerE92]

I am running the 7.5" competition and am seeing good cooling. Back in May I went to the tail of the dragon and spent the day beating on my car in 85 degree weather and didn't see my iats go over 100 during many high rpm runs. I would suggest if you do end up getting this one to take your bumper cover off for install; this one requires quite a bit of trimming to make it fit.

[RJC612]

i know someone with the 5" stepped and its only good for a bolt on to stock turbos if you are upgrading the twins or going single the 5" is not enough cooling power. I myself have the 7" HD but my car isnt up and running yet so i cant really speak to the performance. If you are building the car get the 7.5

[MLars]

Running the 5" stepped on stock turbos. I live in Florida and my IATs when from mid 140s to rarely over 100

[slay2k]

Originally Posted by Newb_bimmerE92

I am running the 7.5" competition and am seeing good cooling. Back in May I went to the tail of the dragon and spent the day beating on my car in 85 degree weather and didn't see my iats go over 100 during many high rpm runs. I would suggest if you do end up getting this one to take your bumper cover off for install; this one requires quite a bit of trimming to make it fit.

How's the lag / throttle response before & after?

Originally Posted by RJC612

i know someone with the 5" stepped and its only good for a bolt on to stock turbos if you are upgrading the twins or going single the 5" is not enough cooling power. I myself have the 7" HD but my car isnt up and running yet so i cant really speak to the performance. If you are building the car get the 7.5

I'm going FBO but keeping the stock twins. They only have like 20k miles on them anyway since previous owner had them warranty-replaced at 70k.

Originally Posted by MLars

Running the 5" stepped on stock turbos. I live in Florida and my IATs when from mid 140s to rarely over 100

Awesome. 5" stepped or 5" stepped HD ? I think there was an old non-HD 5" stepped one, correct? Also, what do you notice about throttle response/turbo-lag before and after install?

[nyt]

I'm running the 7.5" stepped HD. Fitment is fine, had to cut some silicone couplers shorter on install, otherwise was pretty good.

IATs on 4th gear pull started at 84, dropped to 80, then ended at 84 again.

It seems to get the job done pretty well.

[mike@x-ph.com]

All their new cores are highly reviewed, VRSF did a great job with the last upgrade

[MLars]

Originally Posted by slay2k

How's the lag / throttle response before & after?

I'm going FBO but keeping the stock twins. They only have like 20k miles on them anyway since previous owner had them warranty-replaced at 70k.

Awesome. 5" stepped or 5" stepped HD ? I think there was an old non-HD 5" stepped one, correct? Also, what do you notice about throttle response/turbo-lag before and after install?

Not sure if HD or regular, it's whichever one X-PH has for $399. Don't notice any difference in throttle response or lag

[Newb_bimmerE92]

Throttle response doesn't feel any different than it did with my prior intercooler that was much smaller. I had a generic 5" stepped prior. I would highly recommend the stepped 7".

[hellokitty]

7.5in HD race here. IATs are 10 degrees above ambient. A single gear pull doesn’t change my IATs from start to end. It’s amazing. Butt dyno DEFINITELY feels the difference.

[Silent9n54]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

7.5in HD race here. IATs are 10 degrees above ambient. A single gear pull doesn’t change my IATs from start to end. It’s amazing. Butt dyno DEFINITELY feels the difference.

u got a very special butt if you can feel the difference in power

[nyt]

Originally Posted by Silent11N54

u got a very special butt if you can feel the difference in power

Never underestimate the horsepower gains from confirmation bias

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by nyt

Never underestimate the horsepower gains from confirmation bias

No bias here. I could care less of what FMIC I run as long as it proves itself in data logs. I've validated the "butt dyno" based on comparison logging.

My old 7" non hd showed a 15 degree IAT increase from a single pull as a reference point.

[tisdrew]

Running their 7.5" race core and comparing logs of my MMP 3's on 28psi w/ E85, the cooling capability of this core is about as good as water-meth injection. After buying this core, I was considering WMI to see if more power could be squeezed out of it and uh...cooling wasn't the bottleneck anymore -- clutch was. I had a 7" non-stepped ETS core before and it was absolutely heatsoaked when on MMP 3's @ 23psi.

[slay2k]

Originally Posted by Newb_bimmerE92

Throttle response doesn't feel any different than it did with my prior intercooler that was much smaller. I had a generic 5" stepped prior. I would highly recommend the stepped 7".

You mean the 7.5" HD Competition?

[Silent9n54]

Originally Posted by slay2k

You mean the 7.5" HD Competition?

there is a 7.5 Race as well , i have it and the IATs barely move on a full 1/4 mile pass

highly recommended

2007 E92 335i / VRSF 7.5 Race FMIC-Charge Pipe-DCI-Inlets/ TurboSmart Plumb Back DV / XHP / E50 Custom Tune by WedgePerformance / APEX ARC8 / MT ET Street / 11.4 @ 120 / Instagram @silent11n54

[Newb_bimmerE92]

Originally Posted by slay2k

You mean the 7.5" HD Competition?

Yes, I apologize, I was lazy with my typing.

[slay2k]

So it sounds like I can go with either the 5" HD or 7.5" HD Competition and be fine. The 5" will require no cutting and will have the same or less lag (i.e. none) relative to the 7.5".

Only reason to spring for the 7.5" is if I'm planning for 600whp+.

That sound about right?

[Silent9n54]

Originally Posted by slay2k

So it sounds like I can go with either the 5" HD or 7.5" HD Competition and be fine. The 5" will require no cutting and will have the same or less lag (i.e. none) relative to the 7.5".

Only reason to spring for the 7.5" is if I'm planning for 600whp+.

That sound about right?

forget about all these talks about lag, get the biggest fmic you can afford, PERIOD.

Chris @ vargasturbotech said it right in the other thread

"I have never, EVER, heard of a customer complain about a FMIC that was "too big". Never seen it happen. I suppose there will be that one guy, who wears brown corduroys, drinks wine out of a coffee cup with his pinky finger extended, who was the kid that always asked extra questions in class in lieu of getting out early, who will contest this, and talk about the night and day response difference. Bah.

Go big, never worry about it again. If you're super casual about cars and even joining a forum is a huge departure, anything you put on will be better than stock. If you want to push the skinny pedal and have things happen, go big. Again, never have I experienced anyone complaining that "yeah, my intake temps are great but there is this TRACE of lag that just bugs me. I'd rather lose some hp and go smaller." Those guys we point to big N/A motors and nitrous."

2007 E92 335i / VRSF 7.5 Race FMIC-Charge Pipe-DCI-Inlets/ TurboSmart Plumb Back DV / XHP / E50 Custom Tune by WedgePerformance / APEX ARC8 / MT ET Street / 11.4 @ 120 / Instagram @silent11n54

[slay2k]

Interesting, thanks for the feedback.

Why would going smaller "lose some hp" ? At my target levels of HP (400-500whp), are you saying a bigger FMIC will net me gains? If so, how?

[nicky dj]

Originally Posted by slay2k

Interesting, thanks for the feedback.

Why would going smaller "lose some hp" ? At my target levels of HP (400-500whp), are you saying a bigger FMIC will net me gains? If so, how?

No makes sense, I'm in the same boat as I have a 5". You don't really get "gains" from a FMIC if that's what you're thinking. A FMIC just keeps your IAT's (intake temps) down to near ambient temps so when your car is hot (heatsoaked) the car/DME doesn't "pull" back gains from you up top.

Consensus is the biggest intercooler available is going to keep your IAT's down closest to ambient temps no matter what setup. There is "talk" that a too big of a FMIC could affect throttle response but from all the responses that appears negligible so go the biggest possible.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

We've had various customers report that they had no negligible lag from 7.5" Race or Competition, even on stock turbo's. The latest VRSF FMIC's are definitely performing well.