Dinan Intercoolers

I currently have the Dinan stage 2 tune on my 12 X5 50i. I am considering adding their intercoolers. Has anyone installed the intercoolers? What were your real life experiences? Power gains, consistent power without heat soak issues, etc.

I hope you are using quality fuel

Originally Posted by RockChips

I hope you are using quality fuel

I would make that assumption, but what do better intercoolers have to do with good fuel. As a matter of fact you could probably run a lower fuel quality with better intercoolers.

I was addressing the tune he already has.

Heat soak is always an issue with turbos and even more so when you try to make more power. By reducing the intake air temperature, you effectively add more oxygen allowing you to make more power. I am curious if people are seeing real power gains and more consistent power.

I alway buy the best fuel I can. In general, I buy Sunoco 93, or the highest octane I can find at the pump.

I also try to avoid stations that appear run down. If they let the outside look like crap, I do not trust them maintain high standards storing and pumping their fuel.

I'd be curious to hear if the car runs cooler with the intercooler.

My car has the fans on full blast all the time each time I stop to a light.

Phil

Intercoolers will not help engine tempature. They cool the intake charge allowing a more dense air/fuel mixture to be forced into the engine. The better intake charge will give you a little more hp. The big gain is more consistent hp.

It is a common issue for any forced induction vehicle to lose HP on very hot days or if in stop and go traffic or racing.

Back when I was racing, turbos and superchargers were just getting popular. It was common to leave the turbo guys on the line spooling up as long as possible. The idea was to have them build up as much heat as possible ("burn them down). (Better intercoolers and mutliple turbos has made this less beneficia; but, it is still real.)

If you want to drag race you X5 50i, the right way to stage you vehicle is to pull up until you light the first amber, build boost and bump in (edge forward) to light the second amber. The other racer will know what you are doing and will be able to stage his car properly.