[voozilla]

Hello guys, its been few months since i bought my car.. its done about 600miles. I was planning to upgrade to a performance intercooler i.e from Wagner turning.
Would it be ideal doing it now or maybe wait for sometime.. i was planning on a downpipe and ecu remap aswell after the 1st service..
do intercoolers really help? or the stock one is sufficient? Help me out guys.

 

[pjsjr13]

Hello guys, its been few months since i bought my car.. its done about 600miles. I was planning to upgrade to a performance intercooler i.e from Wagner turning.
Would it be ideal doing it now or maybe wait for sometime.. i was planning on a downpipe and ecu remap aswell after the 1st service..
do intercoolers really help? or the stock one is sufficient? Help me out guys.

IMO its a must do mod whether your car is stock modded. I bought the Helix DDC Intercooler, installation took about 1.5 hours. As a matter of fact a member here has one for sale, he has a JCW the intercoolers are different from JCW to S

 

[Poderes1]

I have a Helix DDC intercooler for sale if your interested. I bought it for my F56 JCW but it doesn't fit. Its only for the F56 Cooper S only. message me if interested.

 

[vetsvette]

Go with the Helix, you won't be sorry. I've had mine since the first week in May. Check out their website for more info. A lot of R & D went into the unit. They didn't just take an off the shelf core and weld up some end tanks.

 

[OzDJMini]

I have a Helix DDC intercooler for sale if your interested. I bought it for my F56 JCW but it doesn't fit. Its only for the F56 Cooper S only. message me if interested.

Let me know if you're headed Downunder for a vacation and want to pack it into your luggage.

Keen to buy one of these, but I suspect the postage would be a killer.

Derek (DJ)

 

[minimojo]

The quick of it. Unless you are specifically planning to increase turbo boost by remapping the ECU or changing the turbocharger don't waste your money on a new intercooler. I would assume that the production design would handle the heat from the stock boost loads well enough. When you increase boost, you increase heat from the compressor and need a more efficient intercooler to remove the extra heat. The cost for gain ratio on just an intercooler upgrade is minimal. Just my opinion.

 

[rangar12]

The quick of it. Unless you are specifically planning to increase turbo boost by remapping the ECU or changing the turbocharger don't waste your money on a new intercooler. I would assume that the production design would handle the heat from the stock boost loads well enough. When you increase boost, you increase heat from the compressor and need a more efficient intercooler to remove the extra heat. The cost for gain ratio on just an intercooler upgrade is minimal. Just my opinion.

^ What he said. IMO, unless you're going to be running >10 psi of boost, charge air heating isn't really going to affect performance. Have you done an ECU remap/tuning box yet?

The sequence of upgrades I have planned, to keep it well balanced is:
1. tyres and wheels (grip and unsprung mass)
2. sway bar
3. burger JB4 / or maybe the DINAN box, it has a valet mode! totally need that in india haha!
4. exhaust and JCW tune
5. BBK
6. intake, stage 2 and catch can. maybe ill consider an intercooler at this stage... haven't thought that far just yet haha

what is your plan? would love to know what you have managed to do so far.

 

[vetsvette]

^ What he said. IMO, unless you're going to be running >10 psi of boost, charge air heating isn't really going to affect performance. Have you done an ECU remap/tuning box yet?

The sequence of upgrades I have planned, to keep it well balanced is:
1. tyres and wheels (grip and unsprung mass)
2. sway bar
3. burger JB4 / or maybe the DINAN box, it has a valet mode! totally need that in india haha!
4. exhaust and JCW tune
5. BBK
6. intake, stage 2 and catch can. maybe ill consider an intercooler at this stage... haven't thought that far just yet haha

what is your plan? would love to know what you have managed to do so far.

1. Check
2. Check
3. Check
4. Check
5. Check
6. Check, just didn't do them in this order. >

Nothing says you can't install now in anticipation of further mods. Also, a cooler air mixture is going to make more power at any level of boost, just may not be as noticeable. It is especially helpful in hot weather. And if you can get a good deal on one I don't see a downside.

 

[rangar12]

... And if you can get a good deal on one I don't see a downside.

i haven't actually got around to doing any of the upgrades as the arrival of my car is still a couple of months away!

You're absolutely right, there is no downside and if one is getting a good deal, go for it. IMO its probably better to upgrade other aspects of the car and get to it when its actually going to be able to deliver tangible results. Is the stock ECU map really going to take advantage of that lovely cold air? I don't have any data to back it up, but I think not.

 

[voozilla]

^ What he said. IMO, unless you're going to be running >10 psi of boost, charge air heating isn't really going to affect performance. Have you done an ECU remap/tuning box yet?

The sequence of upgrades I have planned, to keep it well balanced is:
1. tyres and wheels (grip and unsprung mass)
2. sway bar
3. burger JB4 / or maybe the DINAN box, it has a valet mode! totally need that in india haha!
4. exhaust and JCW tune
5. BBK
6. intake, stage 2 and catch can. maybe ill consider an intercooler at this stage... haven't thought that far just yet haha

what is your plan? would love to know what you have managed to do so far.

Crazy! bro :| i was just thinking of a remap and a Downpipe in future and intercooler currently, as its in stock.

The quick of it. Unless you are specifically planning to increase turbo boost by remapping the ECU or changing the turbocharger don't waste your money on a new intercooler. I would assume that the production design would handle the heat from the stock boost loads well enough. When you increase boost, you increase heat from the compressor and need a more efficient intercooler to remove the extra heat. The cost for gain ratio on just an intercooler upgrade is minimal. Just my opinion.

I was planning to remap and downpipe it in the future.. maybe after sometime, i.e after i run the car for 4kmiles.. currently i just have an Exhaust and Air Filter installed.

 

[voozilla]

Go with the Helix, you won't be sorry. I've had mine since the first week in May. Check out their website for more info. A lot of R & D went into the unit. They didn't just take an off the shelf core and weld up some end tanks.

Basically, only Wagner turning Intercooler is available with my car Tuner..i'll have to check with Helix or Forged if they would ship to India..and speak with my Technician if we would be able to fix it.
This is the one avaiable here:
http://www.wagner-tuning.com/Competition-Intercooler-Kit-Mini-Cooper-S-F56-200001076_p_216.html

 

[APmini]

I have a Helix DDC intercooler for sale if your interested. I bought it for my F56 JCW but it doesn't fit. Its only for the F56 Cooper S only. message me if interested.

So figured I'll ask, how long or short it took to get that intercooler off your hands? Also if it is a "direct fit" does name brand matter?

 

[Schoolfish]

So figured I'll ask, how long or short it took to get that intercooler off your hands? Also if it is a "direct fit" does name brand matter?

I have a Wagner IC and love it it’s fit and workmanship. I did it once I comitéd to a stage 1 remap. I’ve put 30k miles on car since and have moved into a stage 2 with bytetronik’s help with DP. I’d recommend to swap the charge pipes at the same time.

As it’s been mentioned, if you’re gonna change factory power output, then you should consider an IC.

 

[APmini]

Oh ok so if I went downPipe g stage 1 tune now, I would need better intercooler than Wagner IC?
My main objective is to NOT go overboard on my daily. So a clean & reliable 260whp is my goal.

 

[Schoolfish]

Oh ok so if I went downPipe g stage 1 tune now, I would need better intercooler than Wagner IC?
My main objective is to NOT go overboard on my daily. So a clean & reliable 260whp is my goal.

That’s definitely a stage 1 and possibly up to a stage 2 remap. Just make sure to ramp up The suspension and chasis bracing and so on. Stick is nice but with that kinda power and that weight you’ll want to upgrade it adequately to really enjoy it.

I’d add a forge or Wagner IC to your list of items to add.

 

[Schoolfish]

That’s definitely a stage 1 and possibly up to a stage 2 remap. Just make sure to ramp up The suspension and chasis bracing and so on. Stick is nice but with that kinda power and that weight you’ll want to upgrade it adequately to really enjoy it.

I’d add a forge or Wagner IC to your list of items to add.

You can see my updated mod list to my mini on this site. I’ve done all the work myself at home and now feel like I truly know my car and what it’s doing and what it needs. I’ll be at Sonoma next weekend driving and plan to run some updated data logs. I’m expecting to see around 310-320BHP - correcting using 15% reduction at wheels (rounding to 50) maybe hit 270+ WHP.

also make sure you are changing oil at least every 5k if not a little sooner with spirited driving, hot weather , or track events.

 

[APmini]

Hmm ok Kool...! As for my suspension, I wanted to keep my DDC option so just lowered, brakes & ps4s 225/45/17 tyres. With me reaching 260whp, what else will be expected suspension wise?

 

[Schoolfish]

Hmm ok Kool...! As for my suspension, I wanted to keep my DDC option so just lowered, brakes & ps4s 225/45/17 tyres. With me reaching 260whp, what else will be expected suspension wise?

Your stock DDC shocks will fade fast and not be as responsive due to shorten dampener stroke. Just a heads up. Taking my off and switching to Koni yellows was like WOW! And adjustable.

aside from that consideration definitely look at chasis bracing and rear sway bar with adj drop links and control arms - you will love that setup any way you set it! Handles night and day. You’ll see this all over these forums.

Brakes or at least upgrade rotors and pads

 

[APmini]

Awwe mannn good looks on this needed! So tell me, when you say DDC fade fast, how soon are we talking? I just had her lowered 6wks ago. Is koni good with fixed shocks? I've haven't been a fan of adjustable suspensions. I was looking into rear lower adjustable control arms to level camber.
As of now I'm still sitting @round 210hp....how much time you suspect I'll have running close to stock/now?

 

[MINIsofMaine]

My new to me F56S will get an intercooler upgrade. I have run a few second GEN MINIs that I modded and when running the MINIs on an all day MINIs of Maine rally event the upgraded intercooler maintains peak performance throughout the entire day. Without the upgraded intercooler I would notice heat related run issues as the day unfolded. Once the R56S and the R55S were upgraded with Wagner Intercoolers they ran amazingly strong all day. I haven't run the F56S yet all day to compare with the GEN2 MINIs but cooler intake air and maintaining peak temps can't hurt.