2017 - "Best" FMIC Thread | What's everyone running? + Data

What FMIC do you run?

  • VRSF 7.5" Race

    Votes: 28 42.4%
  • ADE 1000hp

    Votes: 9 13.6%
  • VRSF 7"

    Votes: 6 9.1%
  • ADE 650hp

    Votes: 5 7.6%
  • VRSF 7" HD

    Votes: 9 13.6%
  • ATM

    Votes: 9 13.6%

  • Total voters
    66

Jeffman

Major
Jan 7, 2017
1,628
1
631
0
So i have installed the VRSF 7.5 Race fmic

did a 3rd gear pull, started at 79f and ended 3rd gear at 79f ! So far so good. However it heat soakes like a MOFO ! ambient was 55f .. iats were at 80f went up to 104f in 5 mins of idling. Is this normal ? Another 5 mins of idling it climbed up to 122f in 55f weather.
That’s you’re charge pipe heat soaking...open your hood, it’s hot in there now after all that idling, right? Not much air flowing through your charge pipe to cool it, hence heat soaking.
Now get on the highway cruising no boost and watch your iat drop. At steady state my iat highway cruising is about 12degrees F higher than outside air temp. That’s the air blowing in the engine bay and the air moving through your charge pipe cooling everything down.
 
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Silent11

Corporal
Oct 31, 2018
124
86
0
Ride
2007 Bmw 335i
That’s you’re charge pipe heat soaking...open your hood, it’s hot in there now after all that idling, right? Not much air flowing through your charge pipe to cool it, hence heat soaking.
Now get on the highway cruising no boost and watch your iat drop. At steady state my iat highway cruising is about 12degrees F higher than outside air temp. That’s the air blowing in the engine bay and the air moving through your charge pipe cooling everything down.
you are right about the hwy temps mine were not even 10f over ambient, and when i get driving they go down but my 5 inch fmic never heat soaked like this, i thought the 7.5 race should have a lot less heak soak then my old fmic.
 

Rob09msport

Major
Oct 28, 2017
1,929
664
0
Monroe CT
Ride
09 335i msport le mans 18 x5
you are right about the hwy temps mine were not even 10f over ambient, and when i get driving they go down but my 5 inch fmic never heat soaked like this, i thought the 7.5 race should have a lot less heak soak then my old fmic.
Its cause bug intercooler so air travels real slow through it and it's taller and bigger. My temps go up while idling or driving very slow. You need to make sure your lower charge pipe isn't touching the tranny cooler lines or anything else. I put dei tape and adjusted mine it helped alot. I bought the 3 inch arm j pipe and need to install its all silicone until the upper charge pipe, should insulate better.

Also it's as simple as when your other fmic was cooling it didnt do great so when hot didn't transfer as much. This one is much more dense so transfers better so when warm it will make you iat warm
 

ShocknAwe

Captain
Jan 24, 2018
1,573
1
801
0
Charleston, SC
Ride
N54/3 1er ///Mutt
This is where I think having a w2a cooler like what Hydra is working on in place of the long charge pipe we currently have followed by a short CP will be beneficial for standing heat soak.

It's either that or a miniscule meth nozzle in the cold side piping.

I'd really like to make IATs work without having to rely on filling a meth bucket and the extra weight associated. Same reason I gave up E85. I hate having to make extra trips or do special chores day to day to keep my car running right.
 

Asbjorn

Lieutenant
Mar 10, 2018
854
603
0
European, based in China
Ride
Z4 N54 DCT
I posted my experience comparing the 7in, custom 7in HD and ER competition FMICs here


Tentative conclusion: Even if you are only running 400hp-450hp, you still need the largest FMIC you can get if you are ever thinking about hitting the track. On the street, any upgraded FMIC is probably OK.

My cars FMIC history goes like this: Stock - 7.5HD - 7 nonHD - 7HD "custom" - ER competition w/ water injection and water spray. The benefit of the ER fmic is that has the same frontal area as the 7.5HD / large wagner but without being stepped, so you can extend the coolant radiator down behind it. BUT I have yet to verify if this is actually beneficial to water temps or not. I have mounted a ball valve so I can turn the radiator behind the ER on and off and do A-B testing next time I hit the track this month.

When I went from 7.5HD to 7nonHD my tuner reduced timing due to excessive iats on track. I ran that setup because I wanted to test having an additional oem sized radiator in front, effectively doubling the thickness of the main radiator. I no longer run that setup, as I am now back to what is essentially a very 1M coupe-inspired configuration.

Just posted my conclusions on the ER FMIC with and without water injection here:


So far it is performing much much better than the VRSF 7 and 7 HD style FMIC. The ER + water injection seems to perform similar to the 7.5 HD without water injection. I saw iat of 62C in 37C weather here with the 7.5 HD


Today I only saw 52C peak iat in 32C weather on track.
 
Dec 27, 2016
134
81
0
Ride
2010 e90 335i
ATM for me. I don’t have any logs to give you currently but it is very efficient. I’d recommend it to anyone
 

_Calle_

Specialist
Jul 7, 2017
52
24
0
Germany
Ride
e82 135is
here is a log with the VRSF 7" HD and MHD 2+ from a 100-200kph pull, 3-4 gear, ambient was about 14-15°C

IAT starts at 20°C and was 25/26°C at the end of the pull.

 
Last edited:

Silent11

Corporal
Oct 31, 2018
124
86
0
Ride
2007 Bmw 335i
Log with the newly installed VRSF 7.5 Race FMIC

Full 1/4 mile pass at the drag strip 11.4 @ 120



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
 

Asbjorn

Lieutenant
Mar 10, 2018
854
603
0
European, based in China
Ride
Z4 N54 DCT
Just thought I would illustrate the difference between an FMIC that heat soaks on track and one that doesn't at my power level.

I would say the volume and mass between these two is about the same. One is twice as tall. One is twice as deep. On track one is heats the intake air the other cools it.

IMG_20191010_163316.jpg


IMG_20191010_163349.jpg
 

Brule

Sergeant
Feb 20, 2017
379
452
0
Ride
335i 2007 6spd manual
Log with the newly installed VRSF 7.5 Race FMIC

Full 1/4 mile pass at the drag strip 11.4 @ 120



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

No denying that intercooler is keeping temps down. I wonder how much harder it works the turbos compared to a tube and fin intercooler?