BMW S55 Intercooler On N54 Time Attack Car

The N54 FMIC was showing IAT increases of 35-40 degrees, were as the F80 top mount intercooler shows increases of 10-15 degrees. Every new car uses water to air intercoolers because of how efficient they are. With the N54 and S55 sharing the same part number for the intake manifold most of this is plug and play. With very little other modifications needed the N54 might have unlocked an easy way to save weight and make more power!

[@AshwinLB]

can’t even express how hyped I am for this project

[@graymatter78-23]

Freakin nuts on how I was thinking about this just 3 months ago, and now it exists, this looks so cool

[@Grimm5698]

Awesome! Can't wait to see the final product and data on temps, might just have to convert my track 135 to this set up 😎

[@in54ne82]

Another great video from you guys 👏! Thanks for everything you do and the information shared with everyone watching. Can't wait to see the final result!

[@williammears9272]

The fact that you guys only have 5K subs is criminal! I say “only” not like 5K isn’t a lot, when it it’s but the type of content you produce deserves more subs!

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Thank you! Were workin on it!

[@FGNi-em9sb]

Wow this is great! Have always wondered if this could be done. Looking forward to the end result

[@murk1352]

Phenolic spacer lol, I run the same PR one on my N54 Powered 135. Man if you can run an ice tank in the engine compartment or trunk & run ice water through that bad boy, you put a bag of ice & cold water in the tank. I know the CTS-V guy run them through their super chargers as a “Chiller Kit”! It just pumps the water through your exchanger & intercooler & back into the tank. That way the water is literally ice cold!🥶 Back in the early 90’s I ran a Vortech S-Trim on my 93 mustang & they came out with an air yo water intercooler & it came with an ice tank that came mounted in the engine compartment. I think running an ice tank would have huge gains in IAT temps…💪🏻💯✌🏻🏁

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Definitely if you're drag racing the ice tank is huge. I looked into chiller kits as well but I haven't had AC for so long wasn't really an option for me but other people could easily do that.

[@murk1352]

@@SeemsLegitGarage Yeah I guess that makes sense, I always have drag racing on the brain & not track lol. Cool that you did that, I like when people think & do out side the box things. I’m surprised no one came out with a kit for what you did, it would really consist of only fabbing the pipe you had to make & lines, maybe some brackets. Very cool…💪🏻💯🏁

[@chrisj9256]

TRUE GOATS of n54/ e82/ e9x platform

[@chriswashburn9430]

Phenolic

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Yaaaa I knew that haha

[@imSchwaggy]

Sheesh 🔥

[@JQ_Unity]

This is serviceability vs performance gain and more parts that can serve as potential failure points. Interested in seeing the final results and before and after with this vs a high quality intercooler core (not vrsf lol)

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Honestly with all the couplers on the stock FMIC setups moving the couplers to the top and then some AN lines makes serviceability easier. Sure you have a few AN lines and an additional heat exchanger but your failure rate for those is way less then silicone couplers in my opinion.

[@jesseboles2234]

There's a guy who did this on his n54 E36 318ti swap

[@QP335i]

Do you have a video about the laminova oil/ water radiator?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Not a specific video I use it to cool the 8HP trans fluid. I could talk about it when I do a car catchup video when its up and running again.

[@bernardknolle4792]

How's this going guys? Also, do you need a N55 135i to test this out on 😁😁

[@liquidsk8s]

I’m curious about the S55 side radiator which you mentioned works in conjunction with the heat exchanger. Did you run a side radiator or completely ignore it as unnecessary due to the improved aftermarket heat exchanger? In the process of doing my own on a N55. Prep stages 🤪

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

I skipped the side one all together just because with the upgraded top mount and front heat exchanger and the fact that the front heat exchanger has nothing in front or behind it the flow in increased over stock s55 as well.

[@liquidsk8s]

@@SeemsLegitGarage no radiator/fan behind it? I’m looking at pairing stock top mount with mishimoto heat exchanger. I’ll see if I end up needing a extra cooler. Just would need to redo the oil cooler location etc.

[@KurtBetton]

What are you doing for the header tank? Stock S55?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

yes

[@ngamber]

Are you able to retrofit the S55 sump too?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Its on a list of things to try but not sure when I will get around to it

[@wpg1977]

Totally bad ass !!!!💪🏼

[@diditiu3988]

Hello! Any update on this? How was the air to water intercooler of the S55? Any problems with it running this car?

[@asadnasser4320]

Same question. Any updates !!

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Zero issues with it, it outperforms the air to air by miles on track.

[@BuiltNotBought317]

Did you have to change your tuning for this?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

No tune changes required

[@chasetucker1131]

How does this compare against having a 7.5 vrsf stepped intercooler?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Miles better on track and racing, almost no different if you're just daily driving.

[@1998austin311]

Wait a minute could the same thing be done with the n55

[@fadeenanaa4495]

up, I have the same question lol

[@ST.G8x]

Yes the manifold is the same, so you would just have to buy their kit when they release it.

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

I believe even with the N54 and N55 having different part numbers they will both work. Really its just the nubs on top to mount the intercooler that is the concern. I know throttle body location is the same.

[@cold_e9086]

Where’s the next video!!

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Engine waterpump decided to stop working so I have a new one on the way, should be up early next week!

[@n54_GOAT]

Did you try this out on twins yet?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Not yet, just been so busy with customer projects and haven't found someone fully committed on twins to want to do the swap

[@juanpablodiazguillot3325]

Are you going to sell this solutions for the n54 community?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

I for sure will sell a DIY kit with everything required but with how many different setups people have now it would be hard to offer a plug and play kit. You would just need a local shop to weld you the hot side charge pipe

[@juanpablodiazguillot3325]

@@SeemsLegitGarage IMO I think thats the least of the concerns. The solution that you guys can ease us(the fans of SLG hahaha) would be all the adapters to fit the heat exchanger on the front bumper and the guide to know what to trim(in my case for the e92 335i), and the J pipe to the intake manifold, and BOV. The rest, as u said on the vid, its almost plug and play. Keep rocking guys. Really good solutions you are making, keep it legit.

[@n54_GOAT]

Update?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

In the New Wrap video, but more to come now that its nice out and I can get better data

[@AidanRoldan]

can i buy the intake manifold from you

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Sorry it already sold

[@xavinb8225]

does this work on an n55?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

not sure but with custom charge pipe it should work, I know the manifold is not the same part number but its basically the same

[@markburkey6371]

I think the word you were looking for is phenolic

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Yes!

[@markburkey6371]

@@SeemsLegitGarage where's my cookie??? Lol

[@drratt]

It's this a OEM s55 water pump i got a text message during class

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

no its a craig davies pump

[@AshwinLB]

@@SeemsLegitGaragedo you know the flow rate on it?

[@blrn54]

The vrsf intercoolers junk and get heat soaked Plazmaman is 1/4 the weight 1/2 the size and double efficient. If you get a Plazmaman intercooler it will not heat soak. They are on all the top time attack and drag cars. I have a 1000hp rated one on my n54 and cannot get it hot running over 30psi on a 6466 turbo.

[@user-ki8zf1rp1e]

Its a shame we don't have more tube & fin intercoolers on the market across all car brands. Bar & plate is cool for street and drag use but has no business on an endurance car. I agree, Plazmaman intercooler with custom intercooler piping is honestly the way to go until SLG brings us a solution. What size core were you able to squeeze behind the front bumper?

[@blrn54]

@@user-ki8zf1rp1e 495mm x 420mm x 75mm core.

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

You should send some data, I would love to compare. Send a Datazap link

[@blrn54]

@@SeemsLegitGarage Sent one to your support email with Subject Plazmaman.

[@paolodezar4008]

Why not get the after market w2a cooler for S55 ? And then do welding mods to suit? Cost saving?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

we did, just used stock to it mocked up. It has a Wagner now

[@Brolik809]

can i do this settup on my f30 n55 ? with a s55 closed deck block conversion.

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Yeah you could do the intercooler swap but I have no clue about swapping just the block from an s55 to an n55

[@InstaltechCarAudio]

Mate this was done years ago 😂

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Yeah with very little posted about it and zero data shown. The goal of this is not to claim being first but the first person to actually release data and show why its better for track cars.

[@n54_GOAT]

This is awesome, but why not just do meth for IAT cooling if doing all this work?

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

Not viable for most racing classes and this isn't common so I though it would be cool

[@Sickoloko24]

old news its already been done on twins i hate people that steal ideas and dont give credit pos

[@SeemsLegitGarage]

No idea who to give credit to since we didnt see any