Helix R56 Stepped Core FMIC Group Buy!

[orangecrush]

Not to derail this thread but has anyone bought this yet? I'm calling the dealer to see if it's available. With a little bit of retrofitting the retrofit kit, I think we can have cool brakes at the track.

Mark

[masterd78]

I'm going to call in tomorrow with my deposit! Sorry it's taken so long!

[PenelopeG3]

From someone who designed their own IC for my other car (non-Mini), nice work. You have a very nicely designed IC.

[Mark@Helix]

Originally Posted by PenelopeG3

From someone who designed their own IC for my other car (non-Mini), nice work. You have a very nicely designed IC.

Thanks alot,

We still have 4 slots left for this GB we should start shipping these FMIC's in approx 6 weeks.

1) Arnel
2) uMouse
3) masterd78
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush
6) apudapus
7) Krut
8) santiage
9) fignewton
10)
11)
12)
13)
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*

[Ralph@Helix]

Updated list including who has paid! Still some room if you're interested, just put your name on the list and give us a call at the shop 267-335-4337 to put a deposit down on your intercooler.

1) Arnel - paid
2) uMouse - paid
3) masterd78 - paid
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush - paid
6) apudapus - paid
7) Krut - paid
8) santiage - paid
9) fignewton
10)
11)
12)
13)
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*

[TerryTCL]

too late to sign up?

[Mark@Helix]

Originally Posted by TerryTCL

too late to sign up?

Still some room if you're interested, just put your name on the list and give us a call at the shop 267-335-4337 to put a deposit down on your intercooler.

1) Arnel - paid
2) uMouse - paid
3) masterd78 - paid
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush - paid
6) apudapus - paid
7) Krut - paid
8) santiage - paid
9) fignewton
10)
11)
12)
13)
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*

[fignewton]

Hey, I paid up this morning :>)
fig

[Ralph@Helix]

Originally Posted by fignewton

Hey, I paid up this morning :>)
fig

Thank you!

1) Arnel - paid
2) uMouse - paid
3) masterd78 - paid
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush - paid
6) apudapus - paid
7) Krut - paid
8) santiage - paid
9) fignewton - paid
10) countryboyshane - paid
11)
12)
13)
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*

[countryboyshane]

YES!

Definitely looking forward to the ship date Ralph. It's the "missing link" for my Mini.

[NAProf]

Being a noobie in the mod game I am a bit cautious in getting after-market parts. While this looks really good and seems to be very good value for the dollar, I wonder what are the drawbacks? I am an engineer and my experience is that you rarely (as in never) get something for nothing. So the big power gains are likely coming at the expense of something. Does the bigger intercooler now effectively block the A/C heat exchanger and so feed it hot air? Is some portion of the radiator blocked so that the water temperature is going to go up? Am I just being anal (my wife accuses me of that all the time)?
I would really appreciate someone with the knowledge and experience enlightening me on this (oh Obi Wan). Thanks.
Greg

[Mark@Helix]

Originally Posted by NAProf

Being a noobie in the mod game I am a bit cautious in getting after-market parts. While this looks really good and seems to be very good value for the dollar, I wonder what are the drawbacks? I am an engineer and my experience is that you rarely (as in never) get something for nothing. So the big power gains are likely coming at the expense of something. Does the bigger intercooler now effectively block the A/C heat exchanger and so feed it hot air? Is some portion of the radiator blocked so that the water temperature is going to go up? Am I just being anal (my wife accuses me of that all the time)?
I would really appreciate someone with the knowledge and experience enlightening me on this (oh Obi Wan). Thanks.
Greg

Good Questions

There really are no drawbacks, what you need to understand are the cars cooling capabilities and the impact the intercooler can potentially have on them. any car has a thermostat/ecm regulated coolant tempoerature ie if you have a 220 degree thermostat the coolant temps will maintain right around this temperature regardless of ambient temps. very hard sustained(roadcourse) driving can push the temps higher than this. The R56 as with other forced induction cars come with overkill cooling systems and are not easily overheated. Now onto the Helix FMICs impact on the cooling system. the Helix FMIC only covers approx 4 inches of the radiator and the Helix core at this area is thin and the fin density is such that plenty of air can pass through it without much restriction. in order for the FMIC to cause an overheating issue the air charge temperature that has passed through it would need to exceed the coolant temps under most if not all circumstances this is not the case. we have quite a few R56 intercooled cars on the road as well as over 100 BMW 335i intercoolers and have never had a customer complain about coolant temps or overheating issues that differ from the factory FMIC.
If any current R56 owners can chime in with what they are seeing in regards to coolant temps please do

[Mark@Helix]

still a few spots left guys

1) Arnel - paid
2) uMouse - paid
3) masterd78 - paid
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush - paid
6) apudapus - paid
7) Krut - paid
8) santiage - paid
9) fignewton - paid
10) countryboyshane - paid
11) ThumperMCS
12) old81
13)
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*[/quote]

[orangecrush]

Originally Posted by NAProf

Being a noobie in the mod game I am a bit cautious in getting after-market parts. While this looks really good and seems to be very good value for the dollar, I wonder what are the drawbacks? I am an engineer and my experience is that you rarely (as in never) get something for nothing. So the big power gains are likely coming at the expense of something. Does the bigger intercooler now effectively block the A/C heat exchanger and so feed it hot air? Is some portion of the radiator blocked so that the water temperature is going to go up? Am I just being anal (my wife accuses me of that all the time)?
I would really appreciate someone with the knowledge and experience enlightening me on this (oh Obi Wan). Thanks.
Greg

Greg,

Though I graduated in engr'ing, I don't have the technical data or knowledge that Mark @ Helix has.

Having said that.... I can tell you this. IF there was a drawback, (ie. less area to allow air, etc, etc) it is so minimal that us weekend warriors can't detect.

I personally am buying the intercooler because I do track days. During the heat of summer and the track, the air attempting to cool the radiator obviously becomes hotter. The system becomes heat soaked and the ability for the radiator or intercooler to dissipate heat becomes lethargic.

By installing a larger intercooler, the ability for the system to recover is noticeable which doesn't per se increase HP but allows you to keep more of what is loss due to the extra heat.

Having said all of that, I've had several people tell me they increased HP just from installing an intercooler. I personally thought it didn't increase HP but I'm just mentioning what I've been told by several people.

Regardless, for me, it's a no brainer.

Mark

[ThumperMCS]

Originally Posted by Mark@Helix

still a few spots left guys

1) Arnel - paid
2) uMouse - paid
3) masterd78 - paid
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush - paid
6) apudapus - paid
7) Krut - paid
8) santiage - paid
9) fignewton - paid
10) countryboyshane - paid
11)
12)
13)
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*

You forgot me

[orangecrush]

Originally Posted by ThumperMCS

You forgot me

Awwww, how could anyone forget Thumper??





Mark

[old81]

Mark@helix, I sent you a PM. Are these new units going to ship in early/mid June?

If you you would please plug #12 with "Umberto via 'old81' for one of these units.

09 JCW.

Thank you,
Don

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark@Helix
still a few spots left guys

1) Arnel - paid
2) uMouse - paid
3) masterd78 - paid
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush - paid
6) apudapus - paid
7) Krut - paid
8) santiage - paid
9) fignewton - paid
10) countryboyshane - paid
11)
12) Umberto via "old81"
13)
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*

[ThumperMCS]

Originally Posted by orangecrush

Awwww, how could anyone forget Thumper??





Mark

I know!

[willsblackmini08]

Are there still open slots. I just found out were are actually getting a bonus from the first quarter of the year and this seems like a great way to spend a chunk of it.

[uMouse]

Mark@helix,

Do you have an ETA update on these units?
Thanks.

[ThumperMCS]

Originally Posted by uMouse

Mark@helix,

Do you have an ETA update on these units?
Thanks.

Not soon enough....

I want mine. Now.

[orangecrush]

Originally Posted by ThumperMCS

Not soon enough....

I want mine. Now.

Might still be a while. They offered the original group buy on 2-22 and they didn't ship until 4-15.

The new group buy was started on 4-15 but didn't get deposits until 4-23.

I hope it's different but if the first one is any kind of indicator, we may be in for a little bit of a wait.


Mark

EDIT: Or, this could be the answer... DUH

Current ETA is about 6-8weeks.

If that's the case, we should be just about right.... perhaps I can make the KY RMW tune afterall.

[Canvasmonkey]

Count me in , how do I pay?

[Mark@Helix]

I'll get a "TENTATIVE" timeframe on these FMICs early next week guys...

1) Arnel - paid
2) uMouse - paid
3) masterd78 - paid
4) vmk82
5) orangecrush - paid
6) apudapus - paid
7) Krut - paid
8) santiage - paid
9) fignewton - paid
10) countryboyshane - paid
11) ThumperMCS
12) old81
13) canvasmonkey
14) *possible spot*
15) *possible spot*[/

[Mark@Helix]

Originally Posted by Canvasmonkey

Count me in , how do I pay?

Helix will be in contact for a deposit