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Competition Series Front Mount Intercooler (FMIC) Kit

$895.00
SKU: BM-FMIC001

Competition FMIC Full Kit Shown

(Full Kit includes FMIC, Diverter Valve Pipe, and Carbon Fiber Shrouding)

Introducing our new, long awaited Competition Series Front Mount Intercooler (FMIC) System!  Over a year of development and testing with our 135i Time Attack Race Car, our Competition FMIC is now ready.  With the scorching heat found on Southern California racetracks, we pushed our 135i Time Attack Race Car to the limits in 100+ degree weather on numerous occassions.  The results were 6 design revisions improving cooling efficiency and internal flow characteristics to introduce you to the ultimate intercooler solution for your 135i, 1M, and 335i!

335i Coupe with Competition FMIC

335i Coupe with Competition FMIC, bumper off.

Evolution Racewerks Time Attack 135i with Competition FMIC and Shouding

EAS 135i with Competition FMIC and optional Carbon Fiber Shrouding Kit

Ease of Installation: (1 Easy, 5 Hard) 2
Key Features:
  • Large 20"x5.5"x6" (26.5"x5.5"x6" with end tanks) High Density Bar & Plate Construction Intercooler Core
  • Cast end tanks for improved durability and internal flow characteristics.
  • Mirror polished finish on intercooler assembly and piping.
  • Optional Type III Hard Black Anodizing (for stealth) finish on intercooler, end tanks and all piping.  Hard anodizing helps   improve durability of intercooler fins against damage from road debris (rocks).
  • Complete all aluminum intercooler piping, replaces all OEM rubber hoses with hard piping for improved throttle response and faster boost spool up.
  • Impoved intercooler inlet and outlet pipes for better flow characteristics.
  • Intercooler piping features beaded ends, silicone "hump" hoses and T-bolt clamps to prevent intercooler piping from coming off from boost.
  • Optional Carbon Fiber Shrouding to direct airflow through the intercooler for improved efficiency.
  • Maintains ALL factory components.
  • Includes all hardware needed to install.
  • Developed under the harsh conditions of racing on our 135i Race Car.
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Factory Intercooler versus Competition Series FMIC

Massive 6" Thick Competition FMIC Installed.

The heart of the ER Competition FMIC is the massive 20"x5.5"x6" (26.5"x5.5"x3" with end tanks) high density bar and plate intercooler core. It features 660 cubic inches of very efficient high density bar  & plate core (35% larger) versus the factory 425 cubic inches of less efficient tube & fin core.  Through extensive testing of different types of intercooler cores (tube & fin, bar & plate) we found that the high density bar and plate core to be the most efficient. Independent testing (all data & dynos shown below have been independently conducted by our customers) has shown that our FMIC is so efficient in cooling that it has cooled intake air temperatures (IAT) to almost ambient (outside) temperatures. We also did extensive testing on the proper size to use to effectively cool the hot charged air as well as fight off heatsoaking (when the intercooler cannot transfer heat away faster than the heat building up from the hot intake air). Heatsoaking is not an issue at all as shown by consistency of the IAT staying in the same temperature range throughout the WHOLE RPM powerband. Also our FMIC recovers so fast after a full throttle pull that once you shift, it recovers completely. This is why pull after pull, our FMIC does not heatsoak. Beat on it all day long and the IATs will consistently be near ambient temperatures. Our Competition FMIC is just what it is, designed for competition. The other intercoolers may be adequate if you lived your life a ¼ mile at a time (with hours between runs to cool down), they will definitely heatsoak under harsher conditions like road racing where youre at full throttle for at least 20 minutes. With numerous laps around our local racetracks in 100+ degree weather, heatsoak is not a problem on our 135i Time Attack race car.  With it's size and ability to support over 600hp, it is most likely the "last intercooler you will ever buy".

Factory Intercooler versus Competition Series FMIC

One of the most overlooked aspect of intercooler design is the intercooler end tank and piping.  Having shorter and less bends on the intercooler piping will promote better internal flow.  This helps in reducing turbo lag, increase throttle response and faster boost spool ups.  An intercooler end tank must be designed to channel and distribute air  coming in from the inlet efficiently throughout the intercooler core.  Our end tanks design has been revised numerous times to promote smooth internal air flow. The cast end tanks allow us to have nice smooth radius on the inner edges of the end tank, causing less turbulence.  The inlet pipe angle has been changed to provide a smooth entry into the end tank and removes an extra bend that the factory hoses have.  Rubber hosing expands under boost pressure.  This expansion disrupts internal flow and causes turbulence, all of which slow down airflow velocity (which causes slower boost spool up and decreased throttle response).  By replacing ALL the factory rubber hoses with hard piping, noticeable increases in boost spool up and faster throttle response can be seen.  That is why our FMIC kit comes with a new upper intercooler piping whereas brand FMIC kits do not.

Our Competition FMIC sits in the factory location underneath the radiator.  Why you ask?  The radiator fan and radiator shrouding extends from the radiator above, all the way down to the factory intercooler. By sitting our FMIC in the same location, we can take advantage of the radiator fan sitting behind the intercooler to pulling air through the intercooler core.  This makes for even greater efficiency, just like how the BMW engineers designed it to do.  With the optional Carbon Fiber  FMIC Shrouding Kit, even greater efficiency can be had.  The carbon fiber shrouding channels airflow from the center grill to the intercooler core. Air wants to travel through the path of least resistance, which in this case is around the intercooler core instead of through it.  The carbon fiber shrouding prevents this and forces air to travel through the core. This is one of the many reasons why our FMIC performs as well as it does.  Even with just a small fan on the dyno, intake air temperatures are still very low.  Also, by maintaining the factory configuration, we do not block airflow to the radiator at all.  The cooling system on the N54 & N55 engine is already at it's maximum capacity and we have seen overheating issues with both oil and coolant while racing.  By having an intercooler blocking half the airflow the the radiator will definitely not help it's cooling efficiency.

EAS 135i with Optional Carbon Fiber Shrouding Kit

EAS 135i

Close Up of Optional Carbon Fiber Shrouding Kit

Evolution Racewerks Time Attack 135i with Optional Carbon Fiber Shrouding Kit

Unlike turbo kits and other parts where the main power adder is constant, intercooler gains (or recovery) is based largely on how badly the current intercooler setup working and will vary from setup to setup. Dyno graphs do not properly show the performance of intercoolers, intake air temperatures do as that is the job of the intercooler.  A car running factory boost pressures and our FMIC will see lower gains than another car running more boost (software upgrade) with the same FMIC.  Even running upgraded downpipes and exhaust will affect overall gain (or recovery).  However, it will still be a question people will ask and the simple answer is on average, you will see a 15 to 25 hp to the wheels gain based on your modifications. On high boost cars, we have seen 25+ hp gains.  For those that are hell bent on seeing dyno sheets, here they are:

Evolution Racewerks Time Attack 135i.  439whp and 469lbs wtq.  ER Comp FMIC, ER Downpipes, ER Exhaust, Injen Intake, GIAC stage 2 software on Sunoco 104 gas.

Record Breaking 438whp and 450 lbs of torque. ER Comp FMIC, Catless Downpipe, Exhaust, Intake and JB3 on 100 Octane.

384 whp and 425lbs of Torque. ER Comp FMIC, Catless Downpipes, Exhaust, Intake and JB3 on 93 Pump Gas. 365whp and 411lbs of Torque with 91 Pump Gas.

All our intercooler applications come standard with a mirror polish intercooler and piping. We also offer and stock our intercooler applications with Type III Hard Black Anodizing for the guys that want the stealthy look. With the Type III Hard Anodized FMIC, it is very hard to tell there is a FMIC on the car. Most of our customers with the Type III Hard Anodized FMIC comment that unless you know there is a FMIC on the car, nobody notices it. Another added benefit of the Type III Hard Anodizing is that it makes the intercooler fins harder and stronger, which makes it less prone to getting bent/damaged from road debris like rocks etc... We opted for the Type III Hard Anodizing over the Type II color anodizing which is only asthetics for this purpose only (even though it cost us considerably more to anodize Type III than Type II). We started using the Type III Hard Anodized Black finish on our rally car customer's FMIC's years ago.  Rally cars go through tremendous amounts of abuse and it was quite common to take hits on the intercooler from debris on the course.  In fact after 1 event, we would often see a large portion of the intercooler fins bent (killing efficiency) and fixing them was after each event was quite tedious.  After the Type III Hard Anodizing, we notice a big difference as there was considerably less damage.  Even after hits and even accidents, the FMIC could take more abuse than before.  Testing has shown no noticeable ill-effect from the Type III Hard Anodizing on performance (regular spray paint etc... has shown ill-effects on performance).  Eventually, we started utilizing the same Type III Hard Anodize Black on our street cars and now on our FMIC applications.

Polished Finish

Type III Hard Anodize Black Finish

We also offer our intercoolers in any color of the rainbow you want (special order) and is available in only Type II Anodizing (asthetics).  Brush (or plain) finish is also available.

Quality is very important to us. We do extensive R&D as well as beta testing to ensure this (as some of you may already know, waiting for us to release the production units). We only release our products once we feel we have reached perfection. We do not rush to get our products out even if there is alot of potential customers. Also, we do quality checks before the intercoolers are packaged. EVERY FMIC is pressure tested to 50 PSI of pressure before they are shipped to ensure no leakage. We include only high quality parts and accessories in our FMIC kit. Your FMIC Kit will come with expensive silicone "hump" hoses.  Since the intercooler is mounted to the chassis of the car (that does not move) and the piping to the engine (which moves from when the engine rocks), these specialized silicone "hump" hoses allow the connection to flex therefore preventing hoses from ripping apart, increasing the durability and longevity of the intercooler kit.  All intercooloer piping ends have a beaded edge.  This beaded edge prevents the intercooler piping from slipping off the connection from boost pressure.  We also include high quality t-bolt clamps.  T-bolt clamps are specialized hose clamps to offer more clamping force than traditional worm clamps.  The beaded piping ends and t-bolt clamps make it virtually impossible to having your intercooler piping blow off from boost pressure. We include detail instructions and ALL parts needed for installation. All our FMIC’s are backed with our Limited Lifetime Warranty. 

We go through extensive R&D to test all the innovations and features we incorporate into our intercooler systems. With years of experience building race cars and high power street cars, you can be sure that you're getting the best.

Our Competition FMIC is offered in 3 different packages: Basic, Standard and Full Kits.

BASIC KIT

The Basic Kit consists of the intercooler assembly, upper intercooler piping, silicone hump hoses and t-bolt clamps.  Everything you need to install the FMIC on your car and is what is typically included in most FMIC kits out in the market.

STANDARD KIT

The Standard Kit consists of everything included in the Basic Kit but adds the Diverter Valve Charge Pipe.  The Diverter Valve Charge Pipe allows easy upgrades of the Diverter Valve or Blow Off Valves. Increase throttle response as well as decrease turbo lag are the benefits of the new Diverter Valve Charge Pipe.  For more information about the Diverter Valve Charge Pipe, click here.

FULL KIT

The Full Kit consists of everything included in both the Basic and Standard Kits but adds the Carbon Fiber FMIC Shrouding Kit.  The carbon fiber shrouding channels airflow from the center grill to the intercooler core. Air wants to travel through the path of least resistance, which in this case is around the intercooler core instead of through it.  The carbon fiber shrouding prevents this and forces air to travel through the core.

Below are optional equipment that can be added to any of the Competition FMIC package kits above.

CARBON FIBER FMIC SHROUDING KIT

A Carbon Fiber FMIC Shrouding Kit can be added to the Basic Kit.

Forge Diverter Valve Upgrade Kit

TIAL Q Blow Off Valve

DIVERTER VALVE & BLOW OFF VALVE OPTIONS

Diverter Valve & Blow off Valve Option can be added to either Standard or Full Kits.  BOV flange will be welded to the diverter valve pipe instead of the factory style diverter valve flanges. 

We are now carrying the Forge Diverter Valve Upgrade Kits.  For more information about the Forge Diverter Valve Upgrade Kit, click here.

You now have 3 different blow off valves to choose from: TIAL 50mm Q Blow Off Valve, Synapse Synchronic Blow Off Valve and HKS Super Sequential Blow Off Valve.

TIAL BOV Option: Black color is standard.  For other colors, please specify.  Available in black, red, blue, polished silver and purple.

Synapse Synchronic Blow Off Valve

The new HKS Super Sequential Blow Off Valve 4

METHANOL INJECTOR BUNGS

With the popularity of methanol injection systems, we have added the option of having methanol injector bungs welded to our diverter valve charge pipe.  This allows quick and easy installation of methanol injectors that are used in methanol injection systems.  You have the option of adding 1 or 2 methanol injector bungs. 

For the 2010 (late 2009 build date), BMW changed the intercooler piping from previous model years.  From 2006 to early 2009 build dates, the rubber "accordion" elbow after the lower intercooler pipe and before the factory diverter valve (charge) pipe was it's own seperate piece.  From late 2009 build dates, it became integrated into the factory diverter valve (charge) pipe.  Unlike other companies where their FMIC kits only come with the FMIC assembly, our Competition FMIC comes with intercooler piping.  THEREFORE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT BUILD DATE (check the sticker on the driver's side door jam) OR ELSE YOU MAY GET THE WRONG PIPING KIT.

CAUTION: This product is intended for OFF ROAD USE ONLY. Not legal for use on pollution controlled vechiles upon public road/highways.   THIS PRODUCT IS FOR SALE FOR ALL 49 STATES EXCLUDING CALIFORNIA. 

THIS ITEM IS NOT FOR SALE, INSTALLATION, OR USE ON LICENSED VEHILES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. 

 The item is for sale for international customers without restriction.

LIMITED TIME ONLY!  WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
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List Price: $1,095.00
Price: $895.00