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Monthly Archives: February 2020

  1. Powering Perfection - Performance Air-to-Water Intercooler R&D - Concept, Design, and Production Sample

    Powering Perfection - Performance Air-to-Water Intercooler R&D - Concept, Design, and Production Sample

    The future is all about downsizing technology. We’ve all heard the familiar anecdote that our smartphones have more processing power than the computers that aided the Apollo missions. From computers and cameras all the way to something like cars, smaller has been the way. Why not downsize the intercoolers too, right? That was BMW’s plan by incorporating an air-to-water intercooler on the S55-powered M3 and M4. In a world of monstrous fin surface areas, BMW is focused on condensing. Let’s see just how they were able to pack all that cooling power into such a small core.

    When the F80s started showing up on the showroom floors,

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  2. Powering Perfection - Charge Pipe Kit Concept, design, and Production Sample

    Powering Perfection - Charge Pipe Kit Concept, design, and Production Sample

    It's no secret that the engineers at BMW strive to make each level of their M lineup the top tier in each segment. When it comes to the F80 and F82, the twin-turbocharged and liquid-intercooled grunt of the S55 coupled with the agility of the 3-series chassis is a killer combination that rockets these Bimmers to the top of the class. While the duo works on paper, in everyday use there is one aspect that does, quite literally, crack under the pressure the charge pipes.

    When it comes to the advancement of intercooling technologies, not much has changed for charged air conduits. Through the marvels of engineering, we have used liquid cooling power to create an intercooler that's a quarter the size of an air-to-air unit while retaining the same, if not better, efficiency. However, we still need some good old-fashioned charge pipes to take the air from the turbo to the intake manifold. When it comes to the pipes equipped on the M3, the concept might be old-fashioned, yet their engineers

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  3. Powering Perfection - Performance Heat Exchanger R&D - Concept, Design, and Production Sample

    Powering Perfection - Performance Heat Exchanger R&D - Concept, Design, and Production Sample

    One of the main reasons the M3 is on another level is the S55's ability to keep its cool, especially when it comes to the intercooling system. BMW equipped the F8X generation of the M3 and M4 with a state-of-the-art air-to-water intercooling system for a more efficient means of keeping the charged air cool, but before we dive into our plans for besting the F80's heat exchanger, let's take a look at what an air-to-water system even is.

    The Cool Factor

    The process of air-to-liquid intercooling has been around for some time now, but it wasn't until recently that we started seeing this method on mass-produced vehicles. It was originally for super high horsepower engines, however, its advantages have trickled down to cars that we now see on the road every

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  4. Protecting Perfection - Direct-Fit Oil Cooler R&D - Concept, Design, and Production Sample

    Protecting Perfection - Direct-Fit Oil Cooler R&D - Concept, Design, and Production Sample

    Oil is the lifeblood of any vehicle. Its lubrication properties keep all the metal bits inside of the engine from shredding each other to dust. While the M3 and M4 rise above just about every other run-of-the-mill commuter car, nothing knocks them down a few pegs quite like overheated oil or oil that finds its way out of the system.

    External air-to-air oil coolers are typically seen on the sportier variants of any car, but we tend to find a lightweight, tube-and-fin construction. These are cheap and easy to produce but are often better suited for daily driving or maybe the occasional spirited rip down some back roads. They also tend to be more susceptible to damage.

    The M3 is all about balance, as we went over in our intro post. For that reason, the engineers at BMW incorporated

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  5. Powering Perfection - BMW F80 M3 Vehicle Overview

    Powering Perfection - BMW F80 M3 Vehicle Overview

    When it comes to sports sedans, enthusiasts and automotive muggles alike can easily recognize the pinnacle of the segment"the BMW M3. It's not much of a surprise since the Bavarians have been pouring just about every ounce of their engineering prowess into the M3 since 1988 to become the benchmark. The F80 is the latest iteration of BMW maintaining the bar.

    Balancing the Force

    Balance is the name of BMW's game. The general premise behind the F80 is being the best all-around, top-tier mid-sized sports sedan. Since it's a BMW, they did most things right, but some compromising took place to bring balance to the

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  6. Protecting Perfection - BMW F8X M3/M4 Baffled Oil Catch Can R&D - Concept, Design, and Production sample

    Protecting Perfection - BMW F8X M3/M4 Baffled Oil Catch Can R&D - Concept, Design, and Production sample

    Any outdoor sculpture facing the elements is going to eventually tarnish. Sure, there have been advancements in materials and coatings, but grime and dirt building up on that piece of art is an inevitable consequence of being outside. Eventually someone is going to have to come by with a power washer to clean things up.

    The situation is relatable under the hood of the F80 M3. The S55 is a work of art, but the unavoidable by-product of blow-by is constantly peppering the intake tract of the engine. Luckily, Mishimoto is already working on a solution to keep your M3 as the benchmark for luxury sport sedans.

    To fully understand the blow-by situation in the F80, we have to first take a trip back to the early 2000s. The year is 2006, and BMW started equipping production vehicles with

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