• Homemade N54 FMIC (Even bigger than AA and HPF) for $300

                    
      		   
      Published on 09-03-2010 02:03 AM
      16 Comments Comments
      Why buy one of those overpriced FMIC's out there for ~$1000 when you easily can build a bigger one for $300? (All hoses and pipes included)
      The IC it self costs $240 and the pipes and silicone hoses costs $60 from a shop here in Sweden. I like to do things by my self, so I said to my self; Why not give it a try? This specific IC has an area of 13770 cm3.

      As a comparsion, here's some of the most common and biggest FMIC's out there right now:
      Helix: 11917 cm3
      Stett: 11470 cm3
      HPF: 13282 cm3
      AA: 11085 cm3
      The stock IC is: 7620 cm3.

      The installation was quite easy. Just like the AA IC you just have to trim the stock IC-shroud away.

      One thing that worried me a bit in the beginning was if the boost response maybe could suffer from this HUGE IC...? But, nope! She was still as fast and responsive @ WOT as before.
      I took her for a ride when the installation was done, and WOW what a beast she became!

      I will do some AIT-logs in a couple of days, but im shure that this IC will do an incredible good job.
      I will also take some better pics of the IC, mounted on the car.

      Could this be the biggest FMIC ever mounted on a N54?





      This article was originally published in forum thread: Homemade FMIC (Even bigger than AA and HPF) for $300 started by Big Tom View original post
      Comments 16 Comments
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 09-03-2010, 02:08 AM
        Quite the price difference compared to the "mainstream" options.

        Where did you buy this IC from?
      1. DarkPhantom's Avatar
        DarkPhantom - 09-03-2010, 02:28 AM
        Tom, where was the IC bought and where is the DIY? Click here to enlarge I'm looking forward to this as I may just do this myself!
      1. Big Tom's Avatar
        Big Tom - 09-03-2010, 03:21 AM
        http://shop.klracing.se/cgi-bin/ibut...Beskr&Visn=Std

        It should be possible to find a simular one in US.
      1. Big Tom's Avatar
        Big Tom - 09-03-2010, 04:10 AM
        Here's some more pics:

        Click here to enlarge


        Click here to enlarge
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 09-03-2010, 10:15 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DarkPhantom Click here to enlarge
        Tom, where was the IC bought and where is the DIY?
        I think he is saying the install is similar to AA.
      1. alpinedevil335's Avatar
        alpinedevil335 - 09-03-2010, 10:58 AM
        DIY? Have you logged? Gains?
      1. DLSJ5's Avatar
        DLSJ5 - 09-03-2010, 11:14 AM
        Nice work Tom!
      1. fast4door's Avatar
        fast4door - 09-03-2010, 11:15 AM
        Nice find..but I think size isnt the only thing that counts when designing a FMIC..alot of R&D goes into the Ic's from AA and HPF
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 09-03-2010, 12:48 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by fast4door Click here to enlarge
        Nice find..but I think size isnt the only thing that counts when designing a FMIC..alot of R&D goes into the Ic's from AA and HPF
        You should read CP-E's papers...
      1. Monster135's Avatar
        Monster135 - 09-03-2010, 07:23 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by fast4door Click here to enlarge
        Nice find..but I think size isnt the only thing that counts when designing a FMIC..alot of R&D goes into the Ic's from AA and HPF
        Sorry but that R&D BS is nice euphemism for BMW tax...

        Great job on the IC bro! Looks sick.
      1. oddjob2021's Avatar
        oddjob2021 - 09-03-2010, 08:37 PM
        great job tom. i love the custom i/c idea. i hope it is as efficient as it is large Click here to enlarge is it bar/plate or tube/fin?
      1. fast4door's Avatar
        fast4door - 09-04-2010, 01:01 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Monster135 Click here to enlarge
        Sorry but that R&D BS is nice euphemism for BMW tax...

        Great job on the IC bro! Looks sick.
        thats the same thing people said about the $200 downpipes and now people are finding out theyre rusting on the inside..btw the same argument can be made on the other side of the spectrum..aftermarket exhausts cost alot but the stock exhaust with no cats still seem to be the best option for the N54, most of the most powerful N54's are still running stock piping..its all about the R&D
      1. Big Tom's Avatar
        Big Tom - 09-04-2010, 01:34 AM
        Will try to do some logs this weekend.
        Biggest difference is that the car feels crazy strong @ higher RPM's compared to my crappy RaceCooling IC I had on the car before. Click here to enlarge

        Click here to enlarge
      1. Laloosh's Avatar
        Laloosh - 09-04-2010, 03:35 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Monster135 Click here to enlarge
        Sorry but that R&D BS is nice euphemism for BMW tax...

        Great job on the IC bro! Looks sick.
        Ding Ding Ding, It sad what some of these companies charge, hell some dont even offer piping and other offer like 1-2 feet of piping on each side. Other cars which have turbos mounted near the firewal and require custom intakes/charge pipes/hot sides/cold sides/go for less. And the cores are legit. Look at the 135 axle back exhaust. Some companies have the balls to charge 700-800 for straight pipe that delete the muffler? REALLY?

        Great job with the FMIC
      1. 0-60Motorsports's Avatar
        0-60Motorsports - 09-14-2010, 07:11 AM
        Wow great job with this!
      1. Monster135's Avatar
        Monster135 - 09-15-2010, 12:51 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by fast4door Click here to enlarge
        thats the same thing people said about the $200 downpipes and now people are finding out theyre rusting on the inside..btw the same argument can be made on the other side of the spectrum..aftermarket exhausts cost alot but the stock exhaust with no cats still seem to be the best option for the N54, most of the most powerful N54's are still running stock piping..its all about the R&D
        Alot of people who've bought the VKs are happy with them. I almost went with them myself because I refused to fork over 700 dollars to AR Design. I haven't heard of the VK's rusting, Raceland yes but they've fixed the problem. $350 for pipes or $700 for pipes. You wanna pay more for piping be my guest, they both do the job. The problem vendors in the BMW community know that you guy will fork over the cash without any complaints about the ridiculous price, so they continue to charge whatever they want.

        For example AA's exhaust for the 135. A basic rear section with no mid pipes and a "sound cancellation chamber" for $700. Aahahahahahahaha $700 for a freakin muffler??? Now you have to ask yourself why would someone make a muffler and try to sell it for $700? Simple because they know people like yourself who buy into the R&D BS will line up to buy it no questions asked. Demand more for your money bro you work hard for it.