Dinan Intercooler Install?

wolfe77 · 05-17-2010, 01:29 PM

Anyone familiar with the install on the Dinan Intercooler? My dealer quoted 4 hours of labor which seemed excessive. I've watched several of the install vids from other FMIC makers and they seemed pretty straightforward. Even with some cutting most were around an hour. Is there some strangeness with the Dinan install that makes it more difficult than others?

I've looked around for instructions on this, but haven't found anything as of yet.

ben14142001 · 05-17-2010, 01:46 PM

I'm doing it next week, I have the intercooler and instructions with me though. There is a decent amount of cutting necessary to do it, which is the most time consuming part. I assume it will take me around that much time to do it myself with a buddy. I installed the oil myself, which seems to be more intensive than this install, but I'd say it's 4-5 hour install for one person at home. Dinan's site has it listed as a 4 hour install, so that's where they get the number from.

GaryS · 05-17-2010, 03:36 PM

Dinan specifies 4 hours. I'm pretty sure Dinan dealers have to charge what Dinan says.

Juicer · 05-17-2010, 04:09 PM

I installed the code3/spearco myself which has the same core as the Dinan and essentially the same piping, just no shroud in front. It took me about 4 hours on ramps by myself. There is heaving cutting on the 135i (as opposed to the 335i). I cut it with a "mini" hack saw I bought for $5 from Walmart. I'd recommend getting a flex head gear wrench to tighten the nut on the T-bolt clamps. It will save you lots of time.

wolfe77 · 05-28-2010, 03:53 PM

For anyone who has done the install, did you have issues fitting the bumper back on? It looks like the screws directly in the center under the bumper would drive right into the intercooler. In fact it doesn't look like there's room for the front splash guard to fit back in at all. Weird. Any info would be appreciated.

Dangerlucas · 05-28-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juicer

I installed the code3/spearco myself which has the same core as the Dinan and essentially the same piping, just no shroud in front. It took me about 4 hours on ramps by myself. There is heaving cutting on the 135i (as opposed to the 335i). I cut it with a "mini" hack saw I bought for $5 from Walmart. I'd recommend getting a flex head gear wrench to tighten the nut on the T-bolt clamps. It will save you lots of time.

I got the same intercooler and with a friend it took us about 1.5 hours. I'm guessing that part of the reason it was so quick is that we didn't take off the bumper and the fact that I knew exactly what to cut. Also we had a lift, which helps quite a bit.

ben14142001 · 05-28-2010, 04:20 PM

I've been doing the Dinan install for the last couple hours today. It's not too bad, I'm just taking my time. It has extra shrouding compared to the Spearco/Code3, so you have to cut a little more. And yes, there is quite a bit of cutting to be done.

@Wolfe77: The instructions says that screw cannot/ should not be put back in for the exact reasons you listed. Front splash guard should fit fine though.

Dackelone · 05-28-2010, 06:35 PM

How about some pics??? Bitte!

infinitekidM2C · 05-28-2010, 07:10 PM

On the install..im confused..where do i stuff the $100 bills again? Kidding..and yes pics are needed

wolfe77 · 05-29-2010, 01:48 PM

Eh, I figured it out. Stupid mistake. I didn't trim the vertical plastic pieces on the back of the grill down far enough. As a result the bumper was hitting the shroud at those points and sticking out a bit too far forward to be able to reseat the splash guard.

@ben14142001 - yeah I was aware I'd be leaving out the one captive nut and screw, but my little screw up didn't leave me enough clearance to even get the splash guard in there.

Other random thoughts... muscling the intercooler up by yourself with the car on ramps and getting both hoses to seat properly really, really sucks. And hose clamps are still the work of satan....

ben14142001 · 05-29-2010, 01:51 PM

^ I just did that last night, luckily I had help. It was still a pain in the ass, haha.

MMOTION · 06-11-2010, 03:32 PM

So the Dinan intercooler upgrade still requires cutting and modification? I was under the assumption this was direct bolt-on affair coming from Dinan. How does the size and core efficiency compare to units from ETS or VK?

ben14142001 · 06-11-2010, 03:34 PM

It requires a pretty good amount of cutting, haha. Not sure about size comparison. I know Dinan uses a Spearco core.

05-17-2010, 01:29 PM	#1
wolfe77 New Member 5 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Dinan Intercooler Install? Anyone familiar with the install on the Dinan Intercooler? My dealer quoted 4 hours of labor which seemed excessive. I've watched several of the install vids from other FMIC makers and they seemed pretty straightforward. Even with some cutting most were around an hour. Is there some strangeness with the Dinan install that makes it more difficult than others? I've looked around for instructions on this, but haven't found anything as of yet.
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05-17-2010, 01:46 PM	#2
ben14142001 Captain 27 Rep 707 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nashville iTrader: (1)	I'm doing it next week, I have the intercooler and instructions with me though. There is a decent amount of cutting necessary to do it, which is the most time consuming part. I assume it will take me around that much time to do it myself with a buddy. I installed the oil myself, which seems to be more intensive than this install, but I'd say it's 4-5 hour install for one person at home. Dinan's site has it listed as a 4 hour install, so that's where they get the number from.
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05-17-2010, 03:36 PM	#3
GaryS Colonel 37 Rep 2,084 Posts Drives: 2009 135i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i [6.50]	Dinan specifies 4 hours. I'm pretty sure Dinan dealers have to charge what Dinan says.
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05-17-2010, 04:09 PM	#4
Juicer First Lieutenant 17 Rep 310 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Parking lot iTrader: (1)	I installed the code3/spearco myself which has the same core as the Dinan and essentially the same piping, just no shroud in front. It took me about 4 hours on ramps by myself. There is heaving cutting on the 135i (as opposed to the 335i). I cut it with a "mini" hack saw I bought for $5 from Walmart. I'd recommend getting a flex head gear wrench to tighten the nut on the T-bolt clamps. It will save you lots of time.
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05-28-2010, 03:53 PM	#5
wolfe77 New Member 5 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	For anyone who has done the install, did you have issues fitting the bumper back on? It looks like the screws directly in the center under the bumper would drive right into the intercooler. In fact it doesn't look like there's room for the front splash guard to fit back in at all. Weird. Any info would be appreciated.
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05-28-2010, 04:20 PM	#7
ben14142001 Captain 27 Rep 707 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nashville iTrader: (1)	I've been doing the Dinan install for the last couple hours today. It's not too bad, I'm just taking my time. It has extra shrouding compared to the Spearco/Code3, so you have to cut a little more. And yes, there is quite a bit of cutting to be done. @Wolfe77: The instructions says that screw cannot/ should not be put back in for the exact reasons you listed. Front splash guard should fit fine though.
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05-28-2010, 06:35 PM	#8
Dackelone European Editor 10539 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	How about some pics??? Bitte!
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05-28-2010, 07:10 PM	#9
infinitekidM2C Major General 4207 Rep 5,728 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2019 M2 COMPETITION [9.50] 2008 135i (my old car) [7.39]	On the install..im confused..where do i stuff the $100 bills again? Kidding..and yes pics are needed
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05-29-2010, 01:48 PM	#10
wolfe77 New Member 5 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Eh, I figured it out. Stupid mistake. I didn't trim the vertical plastic pieces on the back of the grill down far enough. As a result the bumper was hitting the shroud at those points and sticking out a bit too far forward to be able to reseat the splash guard. @ben14142001 - yeah I was aware I'd be leaving out the one captive nut and screw, but my little screw up didn't leave me enough clearance to even get the splash guard in there. Other random thoughts... muscling the intercooler up by yourself with the car on ramps and getting both hoses to seat properly really, really sucks. And hose clamps are still the work of satan....
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05-29-2010, 01:51 PM	#11
ben14142001 Captain 27 Rep 707 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nashville iTrader: (1)	^ I just did that last night, luckily I had help. It was still a pain in the ass, haha.
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06-11-2010, 03:32 PM	#12
MMOTION Lieutenant Colonel 109 Rep 1,801 Posts Drives: like you'll never drive again Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: uptown iTrader: (26)	So the Dinan intercooler upgrade still requires cutting and modification? I was under the assumption this was direct bolt-on affair coming from Dinan. How does the size and core efficiency compare to units from ETS or VK?
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06-11-2010, 03:34 PM	#13
ben14142001 Captain 27 Rep 707 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nashville iTrader: (1)	It requires a pretty good amount of cutting, haha. Not sure about size comparison. I know Dinan uses a Spearco core.
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