DIY on how to Split your IC. There are a few around, but they all looked confusing to me, hence thought I make it easier for more newbs like me out there. Big thanks to Nanayaw6 for the video and information, and also 320 Dreamer.

Things needed:
-Bmw Power steering reservoir tank (ebay, $10-15 shipped)
- Bmw bracket to mount tank. Part # 32 41 1 094 917 (BMW dealership, about $10)
- 3/4" - 5/8" reducer + 2 clamps to fit (Used from the IC hose, to the 5/8" hose and to the BMW reservoir)
- 3/4" bypass cap (plug) + clamp to fit 3/4" (Used to plug the T on the radiator hose)
- 1/2" bypass cap (plug) + clamp to fit 1/2" (Used to plug extra outlet on the BMW reservoir)
- 2 feet 5/8" hose + clamp to fit
- misc nuts and bolts to mount BMW reservoir (check your tool box lol)

Attached are a few pix of the mount, tank, stock T, plugs and a small visual DIY by Nanayaw6 as well. *Note my location of the bracket was wrong, had to move the bracket to the left another inch. You need to use washer/ bolts to push the bracket lower so the reservoir will clear the hood!

Video is pretty much self explanatory, Yaw did a superb job describing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTeghP20RkU

Dont forget to bleed the system! Any Q's, feel free to hit me, Nanayaw6 or 320 Dreamer up.

More info, pix, alternative method here Cutting those stock clamps off is SUPER hard, if you do want to cut them off, you can, and you just connect those 2 hoses with a 3/4" connector.

 

That is an awesome job man, how long did it take you to do this? Btw how's your liver...haha

 

Took few hours because I ended up taking the fan shroud off to make things easier, and tried to get the clamps off, which I failed, and bailed on lol. If you follow the diy properly, shouldn't take more than 45mins-2 hours depending on your DIY skills lol.

Liver.. ok bro, what a gong show last night haha its 7pm now, feels like noon time, because I slept in. Vick was pretty hungover as well lol

No more drinking... until Sunday LOL

 

im just glad I never have to do that again....lol

good diy...

 

Good job posting this up bro. Glad it all worked out

 

nice writeup. 2 suggestions.
1 instead of adding a hose and plug remove the t fitting and replace it with a stright line fitting. no chance for leaks then.
2 the video shows the resovoir without a clamp on the line. you need to clamp it. from your other thread the temps are cooling down nicely!

 

The tank in the vid actually off of my car and I used a push-lock hose for that section so that sucker is stuck on tight. Took all of 10 minutes to get the hose off the first time I did a test fit on the tank. 3 months in and still no leak .

 

Nice write up, tbal!

 

I searched, but still dont understand completely, are you just adding this reservoir to increase the amount of coolant flowing through the system? Shouldnt there be two lines connected to the reservoir: one to flow in, one to flow out?

im not the smartest guy i guess

 

not exactly sure either but I believe you split the system so the hot engine coolant does not mix with the HE coolant = lowers IAT's

 

so why add the reservoir? why cant you just split it and be done.

how does coolant travel back up into the reservoir

 

The reservoir is basically just a fill point. The main purpose is to split the system so the 200F engine coolant doesn't mix with the 100F supercharger coolant.

An ideal setup would be a bigger rear reservoir as some of the guys have done.

 

Exactly. While the coolant in the reservoir does not mix much with the coolant in the intercooling system once it's full ( it'll mix slightly, but just barely )...the hot water in the reservoir will still radiate it's heat all the way down to the water in the intercooler. It'll also be a high pressure system instead of a low pressure system ( the benefit of this I still do not know yet ).

I don't believe too much in splitting the system unless you put a large reservoir in the trunk. The only reason I'd do a split system like the one mentioned above is if I'm bored and get the parts really cheap...lol. I'm not knocking it since I can see that it obviously works ( although 10* or so difference really should not be felt at all )...but I figure I may just do the big project ( trunk reservoir ) on the first try.

 

I guess if the mixing is minimal, its the fact the low pressure system is making it better... Either way for $25-50 its well well worth it!

 

Why do you think that all new cars use a high pressure system?
Because of thermal transfer of heat under pressure.
Think of this lightly place your hand on a hot or cold surface.
Then do the same with more force the temperature transfer is greater and faster.
If you want to really lower temps and add additional volume place another heat exchanger in series with your present system. Then the water is cooled longer and more volume is there for more heat transfer. The key to all of this is the pump it needs to handle dead head pressure and not flow to fast. Without a thermostat there is no way to control the temps. I'm working on a duel heat exchanger system controlled by a solenoid to switch from one heat exchanger to the next depending on which one is cooler very simple set up.

 

Subscribed.

 

Nice DIY Tony

 

very goood DIY

 

If I split without having rare tank, would that make something better than stock?

 

Yes, even with the small BMW res it makes a big enough difference. Search my datalog thread...

Also if you can wait a few days, I'm doing a custom 1gal front mount reservoir! Details, pix once installed

 

I was wondering why no one has made a larger front reservoir.

 

In a word "Space"

But when there is will, there is always a way

See above you

 

Great work. thanx for your sharing

 

Tbal, thank you. Very nicely done.

 

Is there a DIY for a trunk mounted setup or does anyone make a kit? How much hacking is involved should one want to go back to stock?