New oil cooler cover from Wunderlich

Adrian R said:
Hmm, not sure. I think the stock one looks fine, however more protection is a good idea, I just wonder if the additional protection could attenuate too much air.
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Yeah.
I kinda was thinking about folks that don't like the stock oem cover but did not want to buy the pricey LMC oil cooler.LMC_Ruth_detail.jpg
 
PistolPeteSTL said:
Just saw this today- a better looking cover from Wunderlich. To me, it's the one bit of the bike that looks cheap, nice to have a second option for dressing it up.

www.rideapart.com

Wunderlich Has A New Line Of Accessories For The BMW R18

Wunderlich presents a new lineup of accessories for the BMW R18 cruiser which includes rear luggage racks, a passenger compartment, and an oil cooler cover.
www.rideapart.com www.rideapart.com
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The chrome is too much for my taste but maybe in the satin black.
 
MilwDave said:
I’m going to get the beach bars and the LMC swing saddle installed along with a few of the BMW RSD items this winter. I’ll make a list for next winter. I’m really getting intoLMC stuff and depending on finances I may go with their cooler.
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I'm probably gonna stay with the stock cover.The LMC stuff is real nice though...
 
burangs said:
I honestly like the OP's rattle can job on the OEM guard best. I am considering some combination of that and black to bring out a "kidney" grill.
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Thanks. I know that is going to be a high wear area of the bike and would need touch ups, so may as well DIY so it's easy to DIY the rock chips once a year or so. Anything put there is going to get beat up as miles are put on unless a new fender that sits lower is installed.
 
MilwDave said:
I’m going to get the beach bars and the LMC swing saddle installed along with a few of the BMW RSD items this winter. I’ll make a list for next winter. I’m really getting intoLMC stuff and depending on finances I may go with their cooler.
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This winter is almost over. Let's see it!
 
Since it will likely need touch-ups, you might want to try black PlastiDip. I often use PlastiDip on a part for awhile to see if I like the look/color and if I do, I just peel it off before I have it powder coated.
 
PistolPeteSTL said:
Just saw this today- a better looking cover from Wunderlich. To me, it's the one bit of the bike that looks cheap, nice to have a second option for dressing it up.

www.rideapart.com

Wunderlich Has A New Line Of Accessories For The BMW R18

Wunderlich presents a new lineup of accessories for the BMW R18 cruiser which includes rear luggage racks, a passenger compartment, and an oil cooler cover.
www.rideapart.com www.rideapart.com
Click to expand...
Definitely an improvement but there is an alloy version that one of our members fitted that is absolutely perfect but with an absolutely insane price tag. Can’t remember exactly how much but 1400 dollars comes to mind
 
Adrian R said:
That looks not only cool, but also more effective...
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I am not convinced that the LMC Oil Cooler will be more effective.

There is a good reason that OEMs and aftermarket radiator specialists like Febur and Setrab build thin-wall water and oil radiators with copious even thinner fins, whether in steel or aluminium - to maximize surface area and to radiate heat very efficiently. The sheer size of the LMC Oil Cooler might well compensate for the thicker billet's decreased heat transfer capability to some extent, but I doubt that LMC can offer calculations or trial results to substantiate that *. Aesthetics clearly drove size and shape, and CNC attributes would have dictated the machined assembly's channel number, layout, and dimensions. The latter is pretty significant given that both the oil inlet and outlet are at the bottom of the unit. If the combined channel cross-section exceeds that of the OEMs (entirely likely - 'to be safe'), the oil will not displace (push out) all air in the unit without a high-point plug to bleed it out.

There is also a good reason that BMW added an unsightly oil cooler - missing on the Concept. The 1802cc Boxer obviously needs it, and any 'upgrade' better be super-efficient if it replaces the OEM's.

Each to their own, but I would fit a better-looking cover rather than a potentially improvised oil cooler. Or move the stock oil cooler higher up the front of the frame, where it could look OK, without cover, in gloss black and where it would be less of a Stone Catcher as well. However, that would require bronze/chrome/black tubing rather than hoses.

I will be adding a Trailtech 732-FNA1 Oil Cooler Fan on the back of mine to improve matters on slower rides. I do that to all my large V-twins and connect it to unswitched power to keep on running after the ignition is switched off.

* - Automotive homologation is a big thing in Germany. LMC should be able to provide a German StVZO and/or ECE (2002/24/EC for class L - motorcycles and light 3- and 4-wheeled vehicles) Approval Certificate upon request.
 
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