VPD Oil Cooler install

[jonsibal]

I finally got around in installing my oil cooler. I want to say thanks to Fife at Victory Product Design and Roman of Max Velocity for setting up a group buy on this great product.
All the components are of high quality. Installation was straightforward - no drilling involve :) . The only thing that got me was putting the fittings together due to lack of proper tools. There was enough steel braided lines provided in the kit to mount the oil cooler radiator anywhere in front of the car. This kit I got was specifically for FI cars running an FMIC. I believe the difference is that this kit uses a Setrab oil cooler mounted behind the kidney grill as opposed to the NA kit where the oil cooler is mounted where the FMIC usually go.

Here are some pictures...

My engine bay in the beginning of the installation
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd001.jpg
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd002.jpg

Measuring for proper lenght of the steel braided lines.
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd003.jpg

Remove front radiator air shroud.
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd004.jpg

Route the assembled lines from the oil filter cap into the space between the headlight and radiator and out in behind the kidney grills.
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd005.jpg
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd006.jpg
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd007.jpg

Connect lines to Oil Cooler radiator.
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd008.jpg

Position the oil cooler using the spacers included in the kit to the fastener holes of the front radiator air shroud.
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd009.jpg

[jonsibal]

Assemble and install the VPD oil filter cap
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd011.jpg

Connect lines to the oil cap.
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd012.jpg
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd013.jpg

Reinstall the Front radiator air shroud and kidney grills. Add oil as needed. Start the car, check for leaks.
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd014.jpg

Thats it! All done. :)
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd015.jpg
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd016.jpg
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd017.jpg
http://jonsibal.com/vpd/vpd018.jpg

I had to add about 1.25-1.5 qt of extra oil ( This depends on which oil cooler radiator you end up using as well as the lenght of the lines used. Im still monitoring my oil temps on different driving conditions and will post readings but so far I haven't seen any temps over 200 on a hot cali day. :)

[highboostingm3]

Jon,

That is insanely sick! I wish that I knew about that GB! I want that mod! I love it! I can't wait until you can post some temp results! I love the braided lines & AN fittings! The color looks so cool. The red covers are very original in your engine bay as well. Looks tight all around! :buttrock

My S52 doesn't have an aluminum valve cover! I want one so bad! I want it polished! Your's is sick!

[eeeks]

Looks great! Should work really well...I just wish they had an adaptor oil cannister lid for the threaded cap in the M52 2.8....grrr... I would've been all over this buy.

[VPD]

Looks great! Should work really well...I just wish they had an adaptor oil cannister lid for the threaded cap in the M52 2.8....grrr... I would've been all over this buy.

The adapter threaded cap does exist.

:)

[eeeks]

VPD...that doesnt exist on the website does it?

[VPD]

VPD...that doesnt exist on the website does it?

Look in the E46 section. :)

[fast4d]

where does that hard line from your valve cover go to?

[jonsibal]

where does that hard line from your valve cover go to?
The hard lines goes into the intake- between the HFM and the turbo.

Nick, hey my bad for posting link of non supporting vendor.:embarrasm

But how come the www.maxvelocity.net link was edited? Last time I checked, Roman of maxvelocity is a supporting vendor. :help
http://www.bimmerforums.com/vendors.cfm

[NickG]

You're completely right Jon.....my bad...you can go ahead and put the link back if you like.


The hard lines goes into the intake- between the HFM and the turbo.

Nick, hey my bad for posting link of non supporting vendor.:embarrasm

But how come the www.maxvelocity.net link was edited? Last time I checked, Roman of maxvelocity is a supporting vendor. :help
http://www.bimmerforums.com/vendors.cfm

[Jaded M3]

Wow, nice job. Something to keep in mind.

[babbo]

Looks great! Should work really well...I just wish they had an adaptor oil cannister lid for the threaded cap in the M52 2.8....grrr... I would've been all over this buy.

You can just change your oil filter housings! Its not that difficult to do.

[Jim M3]

I am thinking of using this cooler as well but with the Dinan SC I am not sure there is room with the SC sitting in the front right there. I am not sure how you would loop the lines to the cooler. I have been looking in the engine bay trying to imagine how you could get the lines to the front. You have the SC belt going to that area. I want an oil cooler but have been trying to figure out which type makes the most sense. I was looking at the Euro cooler just to avoild the upper oil connections. Does this top have a thermostatic valve so your not always cooling oil?

[VPD]

I am thinking of using this cooler as well but with the Dinan SC I am not sure there is room with the SC sitting in the front right there. I am not sure how you would loop the lines to the cooler. I have been looking in the engine bay trying to imagine how you could get the lines to the front. You have the SC belt going to that area. I want an oil cooler but have been trying to figure out which type makes the most sense. I was looking at the Euro cooler just to avoild the upper oil connections. Does this top have a thermostatic valve so your not always cooling oil?

Jim, you can get the kit with an optional inline thermostat that bypasses the oil from the radiator until it hits 180 degrees F.

There have been other pictures posted on Bimmerforums of the same kit installed on a SC application. If you do a search on the oil cooler you will find it.

[540is]

Looks sweet :-)

[943184dr]

Jon,
Looks awesome, i was wondering, do you have any pics of the inside of the oil filter housing cap? i was wondering if there is anything to route the oil that comes in a and out of the cooler at all.

Thanks
Tom

[///3oris]

You can just change your oil filter housings! Its not that difficult to do.

I was thinking the same... how much is this oil cooler kit in comparison to OEM? I belive the Euro housing is a few hundred bucks and then you'd just have to get the lines and oil cooler, correct? I've seen a writeup on this on another site somewhere (z3 related, I believe).

Anyway, what's the price difference going OE versus this VPD cooler? I'd rather go OE unless the price difference is some ridiculous amount.

Thanks,

Boris

P.S. Jon, I bet your install looks beautiful, but I'm on 28.8 right now and your pics didn't load in the 10-15 mins that I waited (many red X's).

[shark328]

can't wait! my oil temps go up to 240-260 All the time! I don't have intercooler yet. Imay go with aquamist.
Do you see a big drop in boost from pressure drop of going thru the IC?

[atakm]

...Im still monitoring my oil temps on different driving conditions and will post readings but so far I haven't seen any temps over 200 on a hot cali day. :)

What were your temps before the oil cooler install?

[M-crazy]

YOUR MY HERO!!!!! :eek: :buttrock :eek:

[shark328]

I am using the UUC oil filter cap & my oil temp & oil psi gauges are tapped into that. Can/should I tap holes in the new cap? Any other solutions? A sender block at the rear of the oil filter housing is hard for me because the 95 M3 is tighter back there than the 96+. The sc piping also gets in the way.
I could put the oile tepm back down at the drain plug but I broke one of those before & would rather avoid that. Any cheap & easy solutions?
thanks
d :toiletman

[Vince S.]

Looking good Jon. And thumbs up to Fife at VPD for a great product. ;)

[Croak]

I am using the UUC oil filter cap & my oil temp & oil psi gauges are tapped into that. Can/should I tap holes in the new cap? Any other solutions? A sender block at the rear of the oil filter housing is hard for me because the 95 M3 is tighter back there than the 96+. The sc piping also gets in the way.
I could put the oile tepm back down at the drain plug but I broke one of those before & would rather avoid that. Any cheap & easy solutions?
thanks
d :toiletman

I'm running a 95 engine with a JTD oil distro. block, fits fine, though you'll need to take off the discharge tube to install it, not a big deal. Once it's on, it is totally out of the way.

[shark328]

on the old nut.
wooh! that sounds a little racey!
As I recall it's 22mm or something.

[jonsibal]

I was thinking the same... how much is this oil cooler kit in comparison to OEM? I belive the Euro housing is a few hundred bucks and then you'd just have to get the lines and oil cooler, correct? I've seen a writeup on this on another site somewhere (z3 related, I believe).

Anyway, what's the price difference going OE versus this VPD cooler? I'd rather go OE unless the price difference is some ridiculous amount.

Thanks,

Boris

P.S. Jon, I bet your install looks beautiful, but I'm on 28.8 right now and your pics didn't load in the 10-15 mins that I waited (many red X's).

Boris, check the group buy section in this forum. I think the price might still be good.

oh and here are the links to the pictures just incase you still wanna see them.

www.jonsibal.com/vpd


What were your temps before the oil cooler install?

Ive seen my temps on hotter days go up to 225+. After the oil cooler intsall, I still haven't seen it pass 200. 20+ temp drop sounds worth it for me :D


Jon,
Looks awesome, i was wondering, do you have any pics of the inside of the oil filter housing cap? i was wondering if there is anything to route the oil that comes in a and out of the cooler at all.

Thanks
Tom

Tom, sorry no pics but you can contact Victory Product design and they should be able to explain how the part works.

Thanks for all your feedbacks.