I am switching intercoolers from my Current top mount Alta to the all new M7 intercooler. I got the heat sheild as well. I didn't order the "heat dissapating coating option" but I did some research with a Dupont paint rep and found out that the color black alone transfers heat faster, especially with a flat finish. So I think I will paint the top of the DFIC with a thin coat of Dupont satin finish black and save 110 bucks. The M7 DFIC is supposed to give me better throttle responce all around and from a dead stop as well as give me a little more boost due to its smaller size and efficiency. The cooling fins are more thin with the version 2. I will let you know if I notice a difference and what differences it makes. I get it wednesday!

 

The difference in thermal conductivity between metal and flat black is non-existant at room temps, up to quite a bit above ambient. Check out "thermal dispersant coatings" and you may find that you can buy some spray on for more than spray paint, but less than the cost of what M7 charges. If you can live without the IC on the car for a couple days, ship it off to Cradin (www.cradin.com) and they'll turn it around for you in about a week for under $100. And then you'll get the benefit of a real thermal coating. And it's flat black.

Matt

 

All new?

 

thats what i was thinking JIMINNI

 

M7 v2??

 

Version 2 is the re-designed DFIC with different cooling fin arrangements. It was released last tuesday from M7 and it is the same price. Im excited. I hope it helps with the pressure drop dead spot when I accelerate off the line and between gears. They called and I will see it tomorrow! I have the paint matched and ready for the larger hoop scoop that comes with it...I am also a painter so it should be a quick installation. They asked me to call in and let them know how I like it because I will be one of the first people to have one.

 

Sounds sweet. Do let inquiring minds know how the dfference is, as well as quality, install, etc... Thanks!

 

You may want to to think about going back to the OEM throttle body if you have an accelaration dead spot. A good tune will also correct that fault.

 

Hmm. I didn't think of that....Really? Anyways, I chose dinan stuff at the time because I had a warranty. Now I don't, so I did head and cam stuff. I am up for anything at this point. I hate that dead spot.

 

Jan from RMW tuned my wifes MINI on the Dyno and it is has incredible throttle response and I have heard that the larger throttle bodies cause issues with performance. Jan and I actually talked about that one day. With a custom tune, the extra airflow could probably be utilized though.

 

Well the reason I got the throttle body was because Dinan said it would help with throttle responce with the stage five tuning. So I did the stage five and later upgraded it to the stage six with the cam upgrade. I have a frankenstein car, I am trying to eventually make it an all M7 car. I don't know if Dinan software works if you go beyond dinan stuff, but it should be a better map than stock. I hope the intercooler compliments my mods. My car REALLY screams after the dead spot, especially when its 42 degrees in washington!

It probably wouldn't hurt to swith to an 04-07 tranny also.

 

Hey sorry to see the ALTA go but thanks for the business in the past! I still really like the look of your car with that wheel and tire combo. Unique and really complements the car.

Also, I am interested to see the revised IC. Be sure to poke up some pics ASAP!

Happy motoring! Hope to see you at the next PSMINI event!

 

Thanks! I will get some pics. The car looks alot better with tinted windows maybe the sky will clear up here in Washington for a few minutes so I can get an updated beauty pic.
I really like the intake throttlebody hose I have from alta.

 

I have one coming tomorrow and it will be on the car when Jan tunes it on Saturday....... anyone interested in the outcome

 

I am! Have fun on Sat.

What made you go with the new DFIC? Are there any pics of it any place? Is it larger then befor?

Longboard

 

Just curious why you want an m7 car?

 

Good question.

Johan,

How did your car turn out? You can PM me if you want.

Longboard

 

please snap one of the internal turbulators and post that one up.

Matt

 

Well, I installed it and I love it. It is truly amazing what it does for the entire RPM range. I especially noticed the immediate pedal responce as well as the quick jump with how the acceleration launches out of the bottom range to about 4500 RPM's. Even after 4500 the car was noticeably faster than before. My old alta improved the higher rpm range from stock, but made the low end a bit more sluggish. I also noticed the RPMS want to hang out a little longer in between gears like it did when it was completly stock.
It is a pound lighter than the version 1 and has less back pressure. The plates and fins are more thin and there are more cooling fins. It is the same size. This new DFIC compared to my old alta top mount made my car feel dramatically more ALIVE and Awakened, an outstanding improvement and compliment to the rest of the mods.
I did have to do a fair amount of sanding to the fiberglass hoodscoop which comes with it and a little bit of grinding to two of the factory holes where it bolts on to the hood. I took pictures and I will post them tomorrow. The unit is completely sealed and isolated with an aero gel heat sheild on the underside. It looks awesome. Everyone in my shop was impressed with everything.
The idle was up because there was a leak in the system because I tried to use the factory boots which comes to short. I switched to the M7 boots and now the idle doen't hang around. Im not kidding. The intercooler is a HUGE difference. My car is a little monster now.

 

and some OBD data logging stuff, and really quantify it! Butt dynos are calibrated to match credit card expenditures!


Matt

 

I choose M7 because I have seen and used their products which are innovative and extremely well designed. I wanted to have a car that is solid and capable without jeopardizing the reliability. I have talked with their techs who have helped me for countless occasions during all of my mini modding and happy to do so even if the mod or question isn't M7 related. They are honest, focused and will tell you when and if you don't need something. The founder is a second generation mini racer from the old mini days who is dedicated to the perfection of the Mini Cooper and knows the car inside and out with tons of experience. I know If I get something from those guys its solid, top notch and worry free. Its good stuff. Take the intercooler for example, the first front mount and still the best.

of course in my opinion

 

Where did you get all that from? When did M7 start making a front mount intercooler?

 

God, is that true.... guilty as charged

 

I wondered why my butt dyno was worn out...

 

Good question, because it raises the issue of "integrated systems" for mods to our cars. I followed the usual route, particularly prevalent in 2005 when I got my MINI: a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. From lots of different manufacturers, with little evidence of actual performance gains, and no evidence that they were designed to work together.
I think things have changed a little, and now there are a few shops that can truly offer a systems approach to performance, especially when combined with tuning on a dyno. I'd be going with these people, but my credit card is tired and not looking forward to the next 2 months...