Monthly Archives: April 2015

Quick project update! As noted in our last post, we had finished collecting data points and dimensional information for the stock tank and were setting our sights on creating a tank of our own.

After pulling our engineers out from under shop vehicles, we set them behind the computer to get this project moving. Check out some of our initial 3D models!

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

And here's a shot showing our fill-neck design and upper hose connection!

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Below is a shot showing the quick-connect fittings located on the base of the expansion tank. As noted in our first post, these attach to the plastic plate on the radiator fan shroud. One of the ports will be capped on manual models.

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Our tank is being designed to function with all stock connection points and will not require any

Interested in picking up this aluminum E36 expansion tank? Check out our product page linked below!

BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank!

Time to break open the stock tank and see what lies within. If you follow some of our other development projects, you would know that we recently split an E46 3-series expansion tank and found quite a complex system including both internal and external features. Although this added some complexity and difficulty to the project, it seemed like our engineers enjoyed the challenge.

Stock Expansion Tank Internals

First, before we slice this guy in half, a look inside the tank from the cap.

Stock expansion tank, internal design

We can see from this shot that the tank does indeed feature a unique internal chamber. A tube appears to run the full length of the tank. Let's get to the band saw so we can split this component for evaluation.

Stock expansion tank, internal design

Stock expansion tank, internal design

Stock expansion tank, internal design

The internal

Interested in picking up our Mercedes CLA45 intake system? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Performance Air Intake

Mishimoto intake 3D render

When we last left off we had finished the evaluation of the stock intake system, and the design of our prototype had commenced. Our first component is the turbocharger inlet tube, which mounts to the compressor inlet. Check out a few shots of our 3D-printed design!

Inlet Tube

3D-printed prototype inlet tube

3D-printed prototype inlet tube

3D-printed prototype inlet tube

Although our inlet piece may emulate the stock unit in terms of ports and features, the two are actually quite different. Check out the comparison shot below showing the stock inlet tube and our prototype unit.

Stock inlet tube (left) and Mishimoto inlet tube prototype (right)

The stock tube essentially bumps from the filter size directly to the small OD of the compressor inlet. This creates a wall at the end of the tube which may result

Interested in purchasing our F30 intake system? Check out our product page for more information!

Mishimoto BMW F30 Performance Intake!

BMW F30 on dyno

After wrapping up some loose ends with our E36 and E46 projects, it was time to turn our attention to one of the new offerings from BMW. The  4-cylinder turbo N20/N26 caught our eye as a very interesting new engine, and we decided to bring one into the shop for an initial look at the vehicle and to begin developing a few products for this chassis.

Stock Intake System

Before pulling out the welder and aluminum, we needed to evaluate the stock intake system to determine our game plan for design. Below is what you see once the hood is popped. The double-pull hood latch system is pretty slick!

Stock BMW F30 engine bay

Stock BMW F30 engine bay

Stock BMW F30 engine bay

The stock intake system pulls air from the front kidney area via a duct, shown below.

Stock airbox duct

This duct provides airflow to the lower portion of the intake airbox.

Stock

Interested in picking up our N54 oil catch can system? Check out more details on our product page linked below!

BMW N54 Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit

After selecting a catch can location and fabricating a mounting bracket, we needed to fully install the can/bracket combo and begin putting together a set of CCV lines to complete our kit.

Catch Can Lid

Before doing so, the functional prototype of our catch can lid arrived for evaluation by our team. Check it out!

Mishimoto CNC-machined catch can lid

Mishimoto CNC-machined catch can lid

We added our internal baffle system as well as our 50-micron bronze filter. Here's a shot of the fully assembled can, ready for mock-up!

Mishimoto catch can assembled

Mishimoto catch can assembled

Now that we had both a prototype lid and a fabricated mounting bracket, we could install these components together and set up our lines properly.

Mishimoto catch can mock-up

Mishimoto catch can mock-up

Mishimoto catch can mock-up

Hose Routing and Mock-Up

We are now at

Interested in picking up our E36 fan shroud? Check out the full details on this kit on our product page!

Mishimoto BMW E36 Performance Fan Shroud Kit!

Our final prototype is complete and looks fantastic. The fan mount is constructed from 1/8" steel that has been cut to a specific shape allowing for additional airflow through the radiator core at speed. Additionally, the mount is powder coated black to provide a durable finish. As noted in our last post, we tested this unit extensively with our 16" fan to ensure that coolant temperatures were properly regulated during both idle and all driving conditions.

Check out a few shots of the mount!

Final prototype of fan mount

Final prototype of fan mount

This shroud has been designed to function with the stock expansion tank as well as the aluminum expansion tank we have been working to develop. Check out the mounting system our engineering team designed to secure the tank properly in the stock location.

Final prototype of expansion tank mount

Interested in picking up our aluminum coolant expansion tank? Check out more details on our product page linked below.

Mishimoto Ford Mustang EcoBoost/V6/V8 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank

It's hard to match that feeling you get when purchasing a new car, especially the new S-550 Mustang. Picking up your friends for joy rides, melting the tires down the full length of your neighborhood, pulling into the driveway, popping the hood in complete ecstasy " wait " what is that? Is that the coolant expansion tank? Why is it so terrible looking?

This is pretty similar to what happened the day our shop 2015 EB arrived. The engine bay on both the 2.3L and 5.0L vehicles is quite nice, well organized, and clean. Unfortunately, right up front in plain sight sits quite an eyesore in the form of your coolant expansion tank. To improve aesthetics, we decided to tackle R&D to bring you guys a more appealing alternative to the stock tank.

Stock Expansion Tank Exterior

Before jumping into a design of our