Aftermarket Charge Air Cooler Options

[Spun Pornhub]

I'm looking for feedback on which aftermarket intercooler offers the best bang for the buck. Lately, it seems like everyone is releasing their own version one after another. While it's nice to have options, what I'd like to know is which brand offers the best value in terms of performance and reliability? Besides Alibaba, has anyone encountered any issues with any of the $550+ units?


Evolution of Speed (EoS) $3195
https://www.eospeed.com/products/evo...nt-intercooler
https://www.eospeed.com/products/evo...r-cast-version

CSF $2000
http://csfrace.com/bmw-radiator-splash/
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1318857

Wagner $1990
https://www.wagner-tuning.com/produc...200001124.html
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1595977

Forge $1899
https://www.forgemotorsport.com/BMW_...uct--1602.html

Agency Power $895
https://www.vividracing.com/agency-p...152642101.html
https://www.vividracing.com/agency-p...152642102.html

Phoenix Racing $629
https://www.burgermotorsports.com/pr...18603951521907
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1625951

VRSF $550
https://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-s55-to...0-f82-f87.html
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1615063

Alibaba $350
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1620185

[cryptz]

Forge makes the most significant changes imo that is the one I plan on going with.

[tom @ eas]

Curious to know why you feel the stock heat exchanger is inadequate? What is your current setup and long term power goals? Track use or just perceived need?

We have plenty of 600+ whp cars on the road with stock heat exchangers, even dynoed one at 800whp last week.

[Spun Pornhub]

Originally Posted by cryptz

Forge makes the most significant changes imo that is the one I plan on going with.

Forge looks most unique and also comes with a coolant reservoir. This is the one I'm leaning towards unless something better comes around in the next few months.

[Spun Pornhub]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Curious to know why you feel the stock heat exchanger is inadequate? What is your current setup and long term power goals? Track use or just perceived need?

We have plenty of 600+ whp cars on the road with stock heat exchangers, even dynoed one at 800whp last week.

I would classify this as a perceived want rather than need. I've read stories about how the factory charge air cooler tend to leak coolant so it's got me thinking of aftermarket replacement options.

My car is currently only at Stage 1 power level with frequent spirited driving sessions. I'm hoping the larger IC core on the aftermarket units would provide at least 10% cooler intake temps during the hot summer days in LA and Vegas.

[domino_z]

Phoenix/burger = vsrf = alibaba

Personally I'd do the front exchanger first before top mount, if you have the itch to do something

[Ilvez]

Will larger volume IC induce more lag?

[rocklobsta1109]

Originally Posted by Ilvez

Will larger volume IC induce more lag?

On paper its possible, but the volume differential vs. air mass being flowed through the intercooler would make it undetectable. Short answer is no, it won't increase the lag.

[MakeMuricaGreat]

IMO, not worth it.

While the cheaper/budget friendly routes, VRSF, "Phoenix Racing", and even the Alibaba ones all seem practical based upon their price friendliness, all three look like they were fabricated by an eight fingered Parkinson's patient.

As for the CSF, easily one of the more popular options on the "high end" or this niche market which I've also seen look pretty potato from various posts, the feedback has been rather mixed on the major benefits or improvements, thus leaving the price within the spectrum of "not worth it" IMO. I also don't recall if it was CSF themselves or just another vendor/forum member that posted an immature, b!tchy, and childish post hoping for customers of VRSF's engines to fail and suffer for buying their charge cooler, but that left an impression on me similar to that of Arin from APR: toxic & cancerous.

I can't elaborate much on Forge's option, but I've had dozens of Forge products on my VAG vehicles in the past and their quality control and fabrication has always been stellar.

If it's strictly a "want", then you should attempt to justify the pricing and keep track of how often you actually enter the danger zone in terms of temps on your OEM cooler.

[qmp]

EOS has 2 options. Full billet ($3200) is cnc from a solid block of billet so you will pay a premium and cast (1900). Same design and core. I've compared with other brands and EOS is a superior product. Internals surfaces are polished and knife edge for better flow. Good luck finding that feature on other brands. Made in the US and great support. I currently have EOS top mount, front HX , and intake manifold. Summer heat is a thing of the past. Top mount is cool to the touch in 90 degree summer traffic with +800whp on tap. Over 200 dyno pulls most of them back to back. Rock solid. Billet dissipate heat at a fast rate. An education/OCD guess is any paint or power coat would reduce heat dissipation so I choose to leave my unit raw. I polish it occasionally.

I'll remove and take pic of the internals when I replace my reservoir tank.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by MakeMuricaGreat

I also don't recall if it was CSF themselves or just another vendor/forum member that posted an immature, b!tchy, and childish post hoping for customers of VRSF's engines to fail and suffer for buying their charge cooler, but that left an impression on me similar to that of Arin from APR: toxic & cancerous.

It was CSF themselves that made those statements. Hopefully, not the owner himself, however in the past when the CSF account has replied on these boards it's stated that it's the owner typing.

[mike@x-ph.com]

We upgraded to CSF cooler after the stock one on the M4 started leaking, its doing great in the Vegas summer heat.

VRSF was recently released and its been a very popular option for our customers as well.

[MakeMuricaGreat]

Originally Posted by FaRKle!

It was CSF themselves that made those statements. Hopefully, not the owner himself, however in the past when the CSF account has replied on these boards it's stated that it's the owner typing.

In that case, yeah, I'd definitely never put a single dollar, dime, or penny into them or their business.

[Dippydo]

What actually causes the stock ones to leak? Increased power? Heat? or just random luck of the draw being in the defection rate of a product?

[Fast4d]

lowest bidder...

[Spun Crankhub]

Super ambiguous replies shedding no conclusive insight on whether switching over to one of these aftermarket options is worthwhile. With that said, I did pick up one of the VRSF coolers, but am still torn as to whether or not I will install.

[DeividF80M3]

Really? why are you buy a product without knowing if you need it?

The analysis that should be done is:

- I detect high intake temperatures. I'm looking for a solution.

Here people spend money on pieces without knowing if they need it, without trying a before and after in a dyno ...

You see a piece in market and you feel the need to buy it by adding it to your mods list. I do not understand anything

[Shadow2]

I'm very interested in the Forge part, but haven't seen anyone using it yet. Its the only one that is different in any significant way from the stock unit, using an expansion tank similar to a typical engine cooling system. But again, haven't seen any performance reports yet.
As far as the argument of "need vs. want." My take is that the OEM unit has been shown to fail, on multiple cars, some at stock power levels, giving the potential to kill a motor. Making it essentially the same as the crank hub issue. Also, at stock power levels, no additional cooling is really needed, but with increased boost levels obviously comes increased iats, meaning if any of these coolers drop those temps at all, it would be a benefit.
On my own heavily modded Pure st2+ car, I plan on getting one at some point, not in a rush mind you, I need to install a fuel-it pi system before I can really start pushing anyway. Leaning towards the Forge, but the EOS non-billet one looks good too, although its been out of stock on they're site for awhile now. I know every part I've seen from Forge, on other platforms, has been top notch, thats gotta count for something I figure.

[bobbyh907]

Originally Posted by DeividF80M3

Really? why are you buy a product without knowing if you need it?

The analysis that should be done is:

- I detect high intake temperatures. I'm looking for a solution.

Here people spend money on pieces without knowing if they need it, without trying a before and after in a dyno ...

You see a piece in market and you feel the need to buy it by adding it to your mods list. I do not understand anything

You forgot a line.

- Failed IC's are becoming more and more common as time goes on. I don't want mine to split and dump coolant into my intake tract so I'm going to upgrade to one with welded end tanks to hopefully address that known issue.

[DeividF80M3]

Originally Posted by bobbyh907

You forgot a line.

- Failed IC's are becoming more and more common as time goes on. I don't want mine to split and dump coolant into my intake tract so I'm going to upgrade to one with welded end tanks to hopefully address that known issue.

I had no knowledge of that failure. Is there any thread I can see about that failure?

The only manufacturer that has that solution is Forge, right?

[bobbyh907]

Originally Posted by qmp

EOS has 2 options. Full billet ($3200) is cnc from a solid block of billet so you will pay a premium and cast (1900). Same design and core. I've compared with other brands and EOS is a superior product. Internals surfaces are polished and knife edge for better flow. Good luck finding that feature on other brands. Made in the US and great support. I currently have EOS top mount, front HX , and intake manifold. Summer heat is a thing of the past. Top mount is cool to the touch in 90 degree summer traffic with +800whp on tap. Over 200 dyno pulls most of them back to back. Rock solid. Billet dissipate heat at a fast rate. An education/OCD guess is any paint or power coat would reduce heat dissipation so I choose to leave my unit raw. I polish it occasionally.

I'll remove and take pic of the internals when I replace my reservoir tank.

Underhood temps are going to be way hotter than the air coming out of the cold side of the intercooler. The only heat dissipating should be into the coolant in the IC core. Bare billet will actually heat up the cooled charge air, albeit negligibily. You want your charge air tract as isolated from outside influences as possible.

[nbennettksu]

Originally Posted by qmp

EOS has 2 options. Full billet ($3200) is cnc from a solid block of billet so you will pay a premium and cast (1900). Same design and core. I've compared with other brands and EOS is a superior product. Internals surfaces are polished and knife edge for better flow. Good luck finding that feature on other brands. Made in the US and great support. I currently have EOS top mount, front HX , and intake manifold. Summer heat is a thing of the past. Top mount is cool to the touch in 90 degree summer traffic with +800whp on tap. Over 200 dyno pulls most of them back to back. Rock solid. Billet dissipate heat at a fast rate. An education/OCD guess is any paint or power coat would reduce heat dissipation so I choose to leave my unit raw. I polish it occasionally.

I'll remove and take pic of the internals when I replace my reservoir tank.

If thats your car, sick