Here is my updated review of the Race Precision Intercooler (RPI) for the 335 and 135 BMW.
Check out teaser video at the end...
The RPI intercooler looks stunning on its own and in the car but I had to get rid of the RPI logo, not because I have anything against the company logo, I wanted the IC to appear stock once installed. With aluminium spray with a high temp tolerance, I erased the logo. Frankly, once the RPI intercooler is installed and the bumper back on, the Intercooler is still VERY noticeable behind the mesh compared to stock. But after 300 odd kilometres the colour integrated well with the rest of the car and you will not be able to spot the difference from stock unless you closely check the outlet pipes...but hard to see.
It took us, exactly 1 hour and 30 odd minutes to install the RPI intercooler. The install process was really easy for me as a novice. The only difficult part was lifting the car using the jacks and bricks that were lying around – if you are not the DIY type - do not try this at home – safety first!! I have subsequently build my own ramps which makes getting under the car easier. :thinker:
Removing the covers and bumper was a breeze – I read on other forums some people installed the RPI Intercooler without removing the front bumper. I think it can be done; but it is so much easier if you can see what you are doing by removing the bumper (and take pictures)
Basic tools are needed which you can pick up at your local hardware store such as basic metric sockets, screwdrivers, torx bit and ratchet handle; an extension is not necessary.
Removing the stock IC after unclipping it from its connectors will literally slide out. This you can do on your own without any help. The attach pictures show how small it is compared to its replacement and certainly MUCH lighter. I don’t think the plastic sides of the stock IC is bad or impacting on performance or badly designed – it just looks cheap.
Pushing the RPI intercooler into the gap is not easy because it is much larger than the stock unit (But it tightly secures the IC). One person cannot do this alone. I had to use my feet as well to push the new unit into place. But once in and the clips on the connecting pipes clicked in (make sure you hear those clips “click†in place); two screws fastened –the job is done. All that remained was the bumper and bottom covers refitted. And whalla!!!
When you start up the car a little bit of smoke and funny smells will come from the exhaust, probably the IC cleaning itself? But after a quick drive it will be back to normal.
Under high boost the intercooler inlet pipe on the left kept on blowing off due to the stock clip slipping off and putting the car in limp mode while driving. We fixed this by cutting the groove for the clip deeper (see circle A in picture) and replacing it with a larger clip (See circle B in picture). This fixed the problem permanently - :thumbsup: Thanks to Zeemax for the idea and fixing it...!!!
The drive
The sound is the first thing that changed. The exhaust tone is louder, deeper and throatier outside and inside the cabin (but a nice racy sound).
But the car feels less enthusiastic almost lethargic at lower revs in “D†mode. But in DS mode and the moment you push it above 3000rpm, the devil is let loose. The “butt dyno†pull is even and strong. Drive feels much smoother compared to stock. The car runs cooler and the engine oil temp remains shy of the 120 degree Celsius. The "lethargic" driving feel is absent when the car is tuned.
My concerns:
1. The stock intercooler had dirty “blow back†oil on both sides of the connecting pipes that will certainly find their way into the turbos and filter intakes. It is disconcerting for a car with such low milage. Without an “oil catch can†this will happen with the new intercooler as well. BMW engineers better fix this!
2. The RPI intercooler does not have any hooks or holes at the bottom to attach the bottom car covers to the front bumpers – at high speeds the wind lifted/pushing into or down the bottom covers – there is no other way to attach the covers. With the stock IC the covers screwed into the stock intercooler holding everything nicely in place. (I have since resolved this by purchasing the updated bottom cover from BMW that comes complete with the required holes and screws attaching to the front bumper...and no issues)
3. The RPI intercooler does not require any cutting or modifications to the bumper/covers or the plastic housing of the radiator. But due to its size the RPI intercooler does bend some of the existing plastics below the radiator. This will not cause permanent damage but it is not an “exact†fit either. Now two months later the plastic around the radiator has sprung back in place and looks complete stock from the side and bottom.
This is a must moddification for the 335i. Enjoy the pics!!! and teaser video! :thumbsup:
1. The RPI FMIC & Removing the bumper
2. Removing the stock intercooler
3. Installing the RPI intercooler
4. Fitment of outlet pipes & clips attached, both ends
5. RPI compared with stock intercooler
6. Completed installation
Here is that short teaser video clip...A better and drive by video to follow next week...all i can say now the sound will be intoxicating in the new vid...:thumbsup:
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="
"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="
" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
Check out teaser video at the end...
The RPI intercooler looks stunning on its own and in the car but I had to get rid of the RPI logo, not because I have anything against the company logo, I wanted the IC to appear stock once installed. With aluminium spray with a high temp tolerance, I erased the logo. Frankly, once the RPI intercooler is installed and the bumper back on, the Intercooler is still VERY noticeable behind the mesh compared to stock. But after 300 odd kilometres the colour integrated well with the rest of the car and you will not be able to spot the difference from stock unless you closely check the outlet pipes...but hard to see.
It took us, exactly 1 hour and 30 odd minutes to install the RPI intercooler. The install process was really easy for me as a novice. The only difficult part was lifting the car using the jacks and bricks that were lying around – if you are not the DIY type - do not try this at home – safety first!! I have subsequently build my own ramps which makes getting under the car easier. :thinker:
Removing the covers and bumper was a breeze – I read on other forums some people installed the RPI Intercooler without removing the front bumper. I think it can be done; but it is so much easier if you can see what you are doing by removing the bumper (and take pictures)
Basic tools are needed which you can pick up at your local hardware store such as basic metric sockets, screwdrivers, torx bit and ratchet handle; an extension is not necessary.
Removing the stock IC after unclipping it from its connectors will literally slide out. This you can do on your own without any help. The attach pictures show how small it is compared to its replacement and certainly MUCH lighter. I don’t think the plastic sides of the stock IC is bad or impacting on performance or badly designed – it just looks cheap.
Pushing the RPI intercooler into the gap is not easy because it is much larger than the stock unit (But it tightly secures the IC). One person cannot do this alone. I had to use my feet as well to push the new unit into place. But once in and the clips on the connecting pipes clicked in (make sure you hear those clips “click†in place); two screws fastened –the job is done. All that remained was the bumper and bottom covers refitted. And whalla!!!
When you start up the car a little bit of smoke and funny smells will come from the exhaust, probably the IC cleaning itself? But after a quick drive it will be back to normal.
Under high boost the intercooler inlet pipe on the left kept on blowing off due to the stock clip slipping off and putting the car in limp mode while driving. We fixed this by cutting the groove for the clip deeper (see circle A in picture) and replacing it with a larger clip (See circle B in picture). This fixed the problem permanently - :thumbsup: Thanks to Zeemax for the idea and fixing it...!!!
The drive
The sound is the first thing that changed. The exhaust tone is louder, deeper and throatier outside and inside the cabin (but a nice racy sound).
But the car feels less enthusiastic almost lethargic at lower revs in “D†mode. But in DS mode and the moment you push it above 3000rpm, the devil is let loose. The “butt dyno†pull is even and strong. Drive feels much smoother compared to stock. The car runs cooler and the engine oil temp remains shy of the 120 degree Celsius. The "lethargic" driving feel is absent when the car is tuned.
My concerns:
1. The stock intercooler had dirty “blow back†oil on both sides of the connecting pipes that will certainly find their way into the turbos and filter intakes. It is disconcerting for a car with such low milage. Without an “oil catch can†this will happen with the new intercooler as well. BMW engineers better fix this!
2. The RPI intercooler does not have any hooks or holes at the bottom to attach the bottom car covers to the front bumpers – at high speeds the wind lifted/pushing into or down the bottom covers – there is no other way to attach the covers. With the stock IC the covers screwed into the stock intercooler holding everything nicely in place. (I have since resolved this by purchasing the updated bottom cover from BMW that comes complete with the required holes and screws attaching to the front bumper...and no issues)
3. The RPI intercooler does not require any cutting or modifications to the bumper/covers or the plastic housing of the radiator. But due to its size the RPI intercooler does bend some of the existing plastics below the radiator. This will not cause permanent damage but it is not an “exact†fit either. Now two months later the plastic around the radiator has sprung back in place and looks complete stock from the side and bottom.
This is a must moddification for the 335i. Enjoy the pics!!! and teaser video! :thumbsup:
1. The RPI FMIC & Removing the bumper
2. Removing the stock intercooler
3. Installing the RPI intercooler
4. Fitment of outlet pipes & clips attached, both ends
5. RPI compared with stock intercooler
6. Completed installation
Here is that short teaser video clip...A better and drive by video to follow next week...all i can say now the sound will be intoxicating in the new vid...:thumbsup:
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="
