Monthly Archives: February 2020

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, and more specifically in the driveways of their new owners, some were left scratching their heads inquiring about the “big silver box” prominently displayed in their engine bay. Thanks to the use of coolant to transfer heat from the charged intake air, the intercooler can be placed in line with the intake manifold, mitigating the extra lengths of hot- and cold-side

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 managed

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 day.

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

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 turbochargers for the first time since 1977. Enter the N54. Sporting a twin-turbo, double VANOS, and direct injection setup, it's no wonder that the N54 won three straight Ward's 10 Best Engines awards, and that