[doughboy]

Apart from the usual suspects like Forge and AMS, what intercoolers are people using on their 335i?

Have you seen this ETS unit sold through AR design??

http://www.ardesign.info/store/bmw-1...tercooler.html

Looks great and comes with couplers / charge pipe, 100% no cutting apparently, good data to back up the claims and all at only $770US!! (same as my DPs)

Their point about binning the restrictive stock couplers seems valid, and you get a nice mandrel bent stainless charge pipe to replace the plastic one.

Worth a look........ maybe a group buy? Anodised PINK??

[creepy coupe]

You upping the power output DB?

[phil200tdi]

I'd be interested in the cost for a UK group buy...

[doughboy]

You upping the power output DB?

Always room for more...

As i'm keeping the car for probably 3 more years, an FMIC has always been on the cards for longevity. Since I dyno'd the car on JB3 map 7 and the intake temp nearly went off the scale after one 4th gear run I knew it was an essential item!!!

Phil - I've already contacted Andrew at AR with a few questions, he will do a deal if we want 2 or more.

[idnan]

I'm up for a GB and if its from AR design then I'm also looking for downpipes as well.

[doughboy]

If we did a GB, it's my opinion that we're better off doing separate shipments to each buyer after agreeing a discounted per-unit price with AR.

We'll have to pay about £60 ($100 or so) each standard air freight, but that is far less than the Duty & VAT if we get collared for it and if we're in one shipment we'll all get caught!! A smaller package, with low value marked on it is much more likely to slip though than a great big shipping crate.

UK import Duty will be 6% or 7% for 'car engine parts' then 20% VAT on top of that plus a handling charge from the shipper. We don't have to pay any US taxes at all as it's export. So in effect that would be an extra 29% on the purchase price IF we get collared.

Personally I've had 2 items from AR and never paid any tax at all.

Also it saves messing about splitting the delivery etc. Eg I'll have mine sent straight to the garage.

Any thoughts?

[idnan]

That all seems fine. I'm sure there are a few other people interested on here and maybe even the 1 series forum, so we can get a bigger discount. Maybe we could start a new thread to drum up interest or change the title of this one?

[phil200tdi]

Yep I'm up for it.

Mine is 58 plate e90 lci and according to some (but not others) I have contacted this has a different charge pipe, worth mentioning here for others to clarify or be aware of. Can anyone put this to bed?

[doughboy]

Mines a 09 LCI, so same worries.

I know AMS do two versions, but I emailed AR today and he has come back and said the ETS unit fits pre and post LCI in one version, as does the forge unit so it must be possible.

The 7" core option is for modded turbos and needs lots of cutting, so that's not for us I think.

More investigations underway.....

[m1bjr]

Im keen too mate. Keep me in the loop.
Not doing the DPs now, but IC is usefull for foreign and track trips

[phil200tdi]

Ok i'm happy with ets or forge.

I think it'd be worth starting a new thread as stated earlier with fmic group buy it in the title.

[doughboy]

OK - I'm just waiting for some answers to come back from Andrew at AR.

Personnally I can't see the beneft of buying the forge unit from the US when its made in the UK.

Also I haven't found any temperature logging evidence for the forge, whereas this ETS unit seems great - the multiple gear dyno pulls are particularly good, and it has better couplings, and it fits 100% without cutting AND its cheaper!!

I'll start a GB thread when I hear back from AR.

[phil200tdi]

I read somewhere evolve had a hand in developing the forge unit. perhaps they can do a good GB if we get enough interest?

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by doughboy

If we did a GB, it's my opinion that we're better off doing separate shipments to each buyer after agreeing a discounted per-unit price with AR.

We'll have to pay about £60 ($100 or so) each standard air freight, but that is far less than the Duty & VAT if we get collared for it and if we're in one shipment we'll all get caught!! A smaller package, with low value marked on it is much more likely to slip though than a great big shipping crate.

UK import Duty will be 6% or 7% for 'car engine parts' then 20% VAT on top of that plus a handling charge from the shipper. We don't have to pay any US taxes at all as it's export. So in effect that would be an extra 29% on the purchase price IF we get collared.

Personally I've had 2 items from AR and never paid any tax at all.

Also it saves messing about splitting the delivery etc. Eg I'll have mine sent straight to the garage.

Any thoughts?

Off topic with regards to the FMIC but on-topic relating to charges lol

If you can get the supplier to email the 'official ' invoice and then pop in a zero rated invoice with the parcel & mark the goods as samples only you might escape charges easier.

You can arrange your own insured courier via www.parcels2go.com - I did this with my Alufelgen replacement alloys (twice ) - I really didn't want to pay duty on the replacement wheels. Alufelgen popped in a zero rated invoice marked as customer samples or replacements (cant remember now). Parcel2go have an insurance system where you pay 5% of the goods value to insure them on top of the freight fee.

I think the wheels cost about £120 to collect via UPS and deliver in the UK. £500 insurance adds another £25 .

I didn't pay any charges on either occasion and the parcel arrived in about 3 days - all fully trackable online.

Just a thought Mike....

[doughboy]

Thanks Paul, some handy tips.

I know AR put the 'correct' wording on their shipping forms, so it's just up to shipping method.

I paid $120 for standard trackable air freight which took 3/4 days from dispatch to home delivery, didn't ask about insurance though.

[AlanYoro35i]

Interested keep me updated!

what oil cooler unit would you advise over the stock?

and do you guys think removing the secondary cats and replace with straight thur pipe a good idea?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

Interested keep me updated!

what oil cooler unit would you advise over the stock?

and do you guys think removing the secondary cats and replace with straight thur pipe a good idea?

Personally the OE oil cooler is Ok for me, on a track on a hot day you might struggle, but that doesn't justify the outlay for me.

If I was a 'ring regular' then maybe, but i'm not!

The AR unit with extra radiator look the best but its $850 plus alot of fitting work.

Re the CATs, removing the secondaries won't help much AFAIK, and you'll fail your MOT completely and utterly!!

[AlanYoro35i]

oh i see, i thought i saw some where as the 335i has 4 cats removing 2 of them would still be okay?

any way what would be the likely cost for the inter cooler at the moment including shipping?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

oh i see, i thought i saw some where as the 335i has 4 cats removing 2 of them would still be okay?

any way what would be the likely cost for the inter cooler at the moment including shipping?

Sorry mate, as removing the primaries is a given, I thought you meant removing the Secondary CATs aswell!

The restriction is in the primary cats near the turbos, so removing the secondary only would do very little if anything IMO.

When I get prices from AR I'll start a new thread.

[phil200tdi]

Good work doughboy..

[335iLondon]

Sorry to drag OT

But has anyone passed MOT in 2011 with no primary cats?

[doughboy]

Tony E92fan passed his last year and nothing has changed since then.

I'll be getting mine done before the end of this year, its due first one in march 2012, that gives me time to see if the new standards cause trouble from Jan2012.