Enhance your B58 engine's performance with the MERA do88 Charge Cooler Manifold!
Background The B58 engine, introduced with the F-series, has proven to be a real gem of an engine, capable of high outputs with great character. However, there are a few week points that needs addressing, both for performance and reliability. The B58 comes equipped with a water-to-air charge cooler that is coupled a with front-positioned heat exchanger (water radiator). The heat exchanger serves to cool the water circulating through the charge air cooler, which in turn helps dissipate heat from the charge air before it enters the engine. The charge air cooler is integrated into the intake manifold on the B58, making it an intricate and dense construction, demanding accuracy in the design and execution by us as an aftermarket producer.
Challenges with the factory componentsOwners of tuned B58 engines often confront the issue of rapid heat soak in the charge air cooling system, particularly when the vehicle is used for track days. Elevated intake air temperatures may prompt the ECU to decrease the power output, or even switch the car into limp-home mode. Regular spirited street driving can also cause similar issues.
Additionally, the factory installed direct injection system, with its obvious benefits, is not well suited for high horsepower applications or ethanol flex fuel usage. To be able to inject more fuel, many turn to installing port fuel injector spacers between the intake manifold and the cylinder head. The downside with this solution is that it positions the injectors in a funny angle. As a result, the fuel hits the walls of the intake runners, leading to potential fuel puddling.
As is often the case, factory components can become limiting factors when you strive for high power levels, particularly in terms of airflow. The factory (OE) intake manifold is such a component, that not only restricts airflow but also poses a significant risk of cracking under high boost levels, due to its plastic construction.
The do88 solution
This performance charge cooler is part of our MERA range! MERA as in more, means more cooling, better airflow, more performance. Simply, MERA!
Garrett Motorsport core
Our MERA manifold features a Bar&Plate design air-water core, crafted by esteemed Garrett Motorsport, setting the industry standard for quality and performance. Its construction incorporates thin, densely stacked cooling fins, which offer exceptionally efficient heat transfer. The core is precisely 102 mm (4 inches) thick, maximizing its effectiveness for this specific application. Both the air and water fins´ characteristics have undergone meticulous evaluation to achieve the ideal balance between optimal cooling and airflow.
Innovatively designed cast end tanks
The charge air and cooling water are evenly distributed across the core through carefully designed, cast end tanks. The development of these end tanks involved a comprehensive process, including 3D-scanning, multiple design iterations followed by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis and 3D-printing, before arriving at the finalized prototype. We opted for cast end tanks over CNC-machining. Casting allows complex shapes that better serves the desired function. To us, maximum performance supersedes the bling factor!
Engine Cover Compatibility
A goal during the development of our do88 manifold was to keep compatibility with the standard engine cover. It goes without saying, many enthusiasts prefer to maintain the original appearance of their engine bay if possible. With this in mind, we invested significant effort to design a charge air cooler that not only makes a massive performance upgrade, but also have the possibility to use the engine cover. We managed the challenging task of accommodating our manifold under the engine cover.
Moreover, it is possible, with modifications, to also integrate our auxiliary fuel rail. To do this, the sound-dampening material beneath both the engine cover and the hood must be removed. Additionally, the standard engine cover mounting pins must be replaced with longer ones, which we include in our kit. Note that installing the engine cover in this elevated position brings it very close to the hood; slight trimming or reshaping of the hood's support structure can be done to increased clearance. We have verified this compatibility exclusively on the BMW 340i F30/F31 models.
The devil is in the detail and to date, this unique feature sets the do88 kit apart from the competition. High performance builds tend to be made by enthusiasts that value the appearance equally as high as the sheer performance without compromise.
Key Features
Versatile Manifold Design: From Fuel Injection to Power ModificationsOur manifold outlet tank is pre-configured to accommodate auxiliary port fuel injection. A custom-made fuel rail with female AN-8 threads is included, which easily installs to the outlet tank. We designed it for compatibility with Injector Dynamics ID1050x-34-14 or Bosch EV14XK (short) fuel injectors. If you opt to not use port fuel injection, we provide injector blanking plugs for your convenience. Additionally, each cylinder runner on the outlet tank is equipped with a 1/8; NPT port, suitable for nitrous or methanol injection - a commonly used power modification for the B58 engine (sealing plugs are included).
Extra Measurement & Vacuum PortsIntegrated into the side of the manifold inlet tank, do88 has incorporated a 3-port pad directly into the casting. This feature offers the flexibility to measure additional parameters or serve as an extra vacuum source. Should you choose not to utilize these three 1/8; NPT ports, sealing plugs are provided in the included hardware kit.
Advanced Thermal ManagementIncluded with the intake manifold is a special thermal barrier spacer, engineered to insulate the aluminum intake manifold from conductive heat transfer from the cylinder head. This barrier effectively lowers intake air temperatures (IAT´s), enhances the efficiency of the charge air cooler, and helps minimize the issue of heat soak. Unlike the OE plastic intake manifold, the do88 manifold is made from aluminum, capable of withstanding higher boost pressures. The thermal barrier spacer reduces the conductive heat transfer, otherwise typical to aluminum components. The spacer features a robust seal, achieved through custom-made, high-specification FKM-silicone O-rings. These O-rings are installed in precision-machined grooves for a secure fit. This approach offers a significantly better seal compared to other competitors´ methods, which often rely on less reliable sealing agents.
Included Plugs and Caps for Manifold CustomizationShould you wish to seal off the crankcase vacuum connection on the manifold outlet tank, a plug is included specifically for this purpose. Additionally, a cap is provided to close off the fuel tank breather line connection on the manifold inlet tank. These ports are commonly blocked for higher outputs, so we include these.
Product Details:
- Utilizes a high performance, motorsport grade, Bar&Plate, air-to-water intercooler core from Garrett, 102 mm (4;) thick. 11 water cooling rows, OE 6 rows.
- Lower inlet air temperature under identical conditions: 23°C compared to OEM 40°C. Exact figures to be found in the diagrams under the product pictures.
- More air to your engine, less backpressure and better airflow! Airflow at 0,1 bar / 1,45 psi pressure drop: 874 CFM (615 CFM), 42% higher! See diagram under the product pictures.
- Peak powergain of 5 hp! Measured on car with bootmod3 Stage 2+ (BMW 340i 2017).
- Highest midrange powergain
