BMW Intercooler Upgrade & Engine Tuning Benefits

As you may know, intercoolers in BMW cars perform a very important job. 

By taking the heat away from the turbo air charge and increasing its density in the process, they are making it possible for the powerhouse to get as much oxygen to burn as possible. Moreover, the lower operating temperature also decreases the likelihood of engine knocking – an irregular and, if not taken care of, potentially damaging phenomenon.

But did you know that simply swapping an intercooler for a more efficient one won’t give you a huge power boost? If you want to unlock the full potential of a BMW intercooler upgrade, you’ll need a new engine map. 

Join us as we dive deeper into the world of engine tuning and intercooler upgrades!

How Does an Intercooler Work in BMW & MINI Models?

In one of our previous articles, we already discussed the technical whats and hows of intercoolers in general. Want to learn more about that? Be sure to check out the All You Need to Know About BMW & MINI Intercoolers blog post.

Here’s a brief recap though, so that you can get to the point faster.

An intercooler in BMW is basically a heat exchanger meant to cool down the air charge from the turbo- or supercharger. Colder air is denser, which means it has a higher concentration of oxygen. As a result, this allows the engine to burn more fuel and, consequently, produce more power. 

What does the air charge cooling process look like? 

The ambient air flows through the finned ducts you can sometimes see right behind the front bumper. At the same time, the air charge compressed by the turbo passes through the intercooler laterally, allowing the internal metal fins to absorb its heat and transfer it to the external ones, reducing the temperature of the air charge. 

And just like that, your engine can get much cooler air to produce even more power.

Types of BMW Intercoolers

All BMW intercooler designs have the same goal – cooling the air charge, so that the engine can get some fresh boost. However, not all intercoolers are created equal… or rather the same, since you can’t definitely say which one is better than the other. 

That being said, we can basically divide them into a few categories:

• Air-to-air or water-to-air intercoolers – the former rely on the ambient air as the medium that transfers the heat away from the air charge, while the latter require a cooling liquid and a special radiator; the air-to-air designs are simple and lightweight, and the water-to-air ones are heavier and more complex but offer increased efficiency.
• Bar-and-plate or tube-and-fin – this refers only to air-to-air intercoolers and means the way they are constructed; both of these have metal fins and are seemingly alike, but there are differences in the way they are made and in their performance.
• Top- or front-mount – this one is pretty self-explanatory and describes the mounting method of an intercooler in relation to the engine.  

Now that we’ve explained the basics, let’s talk about the…

BMW Engine Tuning and What’s an Intercooler Got to Do With It?

The stock ECU maps installed in BMWs are pretty mediocre to begin with. They are designed to meet emission standards and accommodate various engine units produced on the assembly line, regardless of their component tolerances. It’s meant to be a compromise between performance, compliance, and universal fit, but conceals unexplored capabilities within your engine. 

And that’s what BMW engine tuning can help with. These modifications are all based on adjusting the ECU map. The tuners tweak things like boost pressure, fueling, ignition, timing, cooling fan operation, and how variable valve lift and timing systems work. 

The results? 

1. Performance
   
   First things first, after an ECU tuning session, your BMW is going to feel like it just had a double espresso. We're talking about more horsepower, more torque, and a smooth throttle response. In fact, you can expect an increase in power and torque of up to 25% compared to the stock. If there was a BMW intercooler upgrade installed, also expect full utilization of its greater efficiency. 
   
   
2. Longevity
   
   More power doesn’t mean more stress on the engine. Some automakers set the ECU to run at higher temperatures to get you into the service shop more often. But with the right tweaks, we are able to better control the coolant temperature. Adjustments in things like air-fuel mixture, boost pressure, or ignition timing lead to a drop in the temperature of exhaust gasses. This translates to a cooler-running engine overall and less wear on its components. 
   
   Additionally, proper management of the ECU parameters further reduces the chance of engine knock occurring. 
   
   
3. Efficiency
   
   Who doesn't love saving a bit of cash at the pump? Engine tuning can help you with that too. By fine-tuning the ECU, you can expect a nifty 10% drop in fuel consumption. It might not sound like much, but trust us – after a while, it adds up. Especially if you're racking up the miles on your BMW.

What if you could get a tune with a better intercooler in one package…?

Awaken Performance Tune & Intercooler Upgrade Benefits

Typically, introducing any changes to the ECU programming involves a visit to a specialized tuning workshop. There, the tuner can make various adjustments within the tuning software after connecting their laptop to your vehicle using an OBD-II port. All of that usually takes several hours, as they often need to gather multiple data logs and assess your car's performance on a dyno.

Alternatively, you have the option to opt for a remote BMW engine tuning service, such as Awaken Performance by BimmerTech. With it, you get all the benefits of a tune, but you don't even have to leave your home to have it installed. 

It’s all very simple:

1. Schedule a session with us. 
2. Connect your laptop to your car using an ENET cable. 
3. Let us check your vehicle’s software and gather the necessary information.
4. Join the second session and allow us to adjust your ECU settings.
5. Enjoy your car anew!

Since we prioritize safety, you will need to log your car for the second session. By collecting all the necessary data logs after applying the tune, we’ll be able to carefully monitor the condition of your car, detecting any quirks that need polishing. Don’t worry – the logging process isn’t difficult and we’ll guide you through it.

Please note that without the final logging, we are unable to guarantee that the changes will function flawlessly – it is required for us to gather the logs to assess how the ECU remap is functioning and adjust it (if necessary).

Considering the benefits like a 25% increase in power and torque, lower operating temperatures, and a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency, this becomes more of an investment rather than an impulsive purchase. And you'll quickly see a return on it, making this a cost-effective choice for a reliable tune that can be effortlessly installed in your vehicle.

When it comes to the Awaken Performance Quartz Frost intercooler upgrade – stacked up against the OEM intercooler, it has a 60% greater volume. Combined with an appropriate ECU tune, the Quartz Frost BMW intercooler can vastly improve the air charge cooling and therefore power potential of your car. 

Which BMWs Are Compatible with Quartz Frost Intercooler Upgrade?

Our Awaken Performance Quartz Frost Intercooler Upgrade is compatible with most BMW models powered by either the BMW N20, BMW N54, or BMW N55 engines. Below is a list of some cars you’ll be able to fit the upgrade into.

• 2012–2015 F20/F21 BMW M135i – Intercooler compatible
• 2012–2015 F30 BMW 320i – Intercooler compatible
• 2011–2016 F30 BMW 328i – Intercooler compatible
• 2012–2015 F30 BMW 335i – Intercooler compatible
• 2014–2016 F32/F33/F36 BMW 420i – Intercooler compatible
• 2013–2016 F32/F33/F36 BMW 428i – Intercooler compatible
• 2013–2016 F32/F33/F36 BMW 435i – Intercooler compatible
• 2011–2016 F07/F10/F11 BMW 520i – Intercooler compatible
• 2009–2017 F07/F10/F11 BMW 535i – Intercooler compatible
• 2012–2015 F01/F02 BMW 740i – Intercooler compatible

Please note that this is just a sample list of compatible models. The actual compatibility might vary depending on the trim and region the car was meant for. To make sure the Quartz Frost Intercooler will fit your ride, decode your VIN on our website before placing an order.

Is a BMW Intercooler Upgrade Worth It?

To sum it up, BMW intercooler upgrades are a valuable addition for those who want significant power gains from their BMW engines. In this instance, a BMW intercooler upgrade is not only worth it but also a must. 

However, they're not solely reserved for the power-hungry. Even if you're opting for just an ECU tune, a larger intercooler can still make a noticeable difference and vastly improve cooling, leading to improved longevity of your engine’s internal components. Not to mention engines like the BMW N20, which isn’t the best tuning platform without an intercooler upgrade.

So, whether you're in pursuit of roaring power or a subtle boost, consider the advantages of a more efficient intercooler when planning your upgrades.