New oil cooler cover from Wunderlich

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 do exactly that, 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 Approval Certificate upon request.
It would be interesting if someone who has one installed installed a oil temp unit.

I have developed a pretty good dialog (using the Mate translation app) with Hans. I’ll broach the subject with him sometime down the road.
 
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 do exactly that, 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.
I like your thought on heat dissipation and radiating heat to cool the oil,as a oil cooler should do.

I would like to share what happened to me with a 2006 ElectraGlide I owned.I can't remember the name of the company.I won't even try to remember.I did get a refund and agreed not to announce that their oil cooler fan for my application did not do what they claimed.The fan actually blocked the air flow.The bike was tuned and it ran so freakin hot it pinged like hell.I will say that their fan was on the front of the cooler and just plain blocked the cooler and lower part of the engine.After I took the fan off the bike I never had heat or ping issues and I live in Arizona.

I hope they redesigned or did something to improve the fan.As I remember they were good folks but the fan was not.
 
It would be interesting if someone who has one installed installed a oil temp unit.

I have developed a pretty good dialog (using the Mate translation app) with Hans. I’ll broach the subject with him sometime down the road.
The last thing I want on my bike is a oil temperature gauge here in Arizona.I'm NUTZ enough,LOL!:ROFLMAO:
 
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.
If folks are wanting to cool down their R18 temps.
Get the BT MOTO TUNE!

I don't know why I forgot to mention that.It is really remarkable how much easier and cooler the mine runs with the tune..
 
I like your thought on heat dissipation and radiating heat to cool the oil,as a oil cooler should do.

I would like to share what happened to me with a 2006 ElectraGlide I owned.I can't remember the name of the company.I won't even try to remember.I did get a refund and agreed not to announce that their oil cooler fan for my application did not do what they claimed.The fan actually blocked the air flow.The bike was tuned and it ran so freakin hot it pinged like hell.I will say that their fan was on the front of the cooler and just plain blocked the cooler and lower part of the engine.After I took the fan off the bike I never had heat or ping issues and I live in Arizona.

I hope they redesigned or did something to improve the fan.As I remember they were good folks but the fan was not.
I hope it was not ThunderMax (-: I recently purchased theirs for my new Electra Glide - still waiting to receive it. It comes with a shroud but mounts behind the oil cooler. Lesson-learnt perhaps?

The TrailTech is a universal fit. It uses a super-reliable Spal fan and mounts behind the oil cooler as well, but without a shroud. It comes with a thermostat that inserts into the fins with a heat-transfer compound. The adjustable controller displays the oil cooler temperature. I have been using two since 2014 already without a hiccup and have added more afterwards. I also use dipstick thermometers on my Victories and estimate that an oil cooler fan cuts the oil temperature by around 12-15°C (22-27°F). Probably more in traffic and slow rides when it runs continuously.
 
It would be interesting if someone who has one installed installed a oil temp unit.

I have developed a pretty good dialog (using the Mate translation app) with Hans. I’ll broach the subject with him sometime down the road.
Agreed. It needs to be an Early Adopter with an oil temperature unit to record 'before' and 'after' readings. It would be challenging to admit that one had bought a $1500 lemon though, especially if you like its look. So, let's not hold our breaths. I own a couple of those T-shirts and steadfastly attempt not to award myself any more of them. Although I clearly slipped-and-tripped when I ordered the Fools' Edition (-:

I can imagine that Hans will only have good things to say about his oil cooler. And even better reasons for not having had it certified yet (or ever) (-:
 
I hope it was not ThunderMax (-: I recently purchased theirs for my new Electra Glide - still waiting to receive it. It comes with a shroud but mounts behind the oil cooler. Lesson-learnt perhaps?

The TrailTech is a universal fit. It uses a super-reliable Spal fan and mounts behind the oil cooler as well, but without a shroud. It comes with a thermostat that inserts into the fins with a heat-transfer compound. The adjustable controller displays the oil cooler temperature. I have been using two since 2014 already without a hiccup and have added more afterwards. I also use dipstick thermometers on my Victories and estimate that an oil cooler fan cuts the oil temperature by around 12-15°C (22-27°F). Probably more in traffic and slow rides when it runs continuously.
Unlike the Harleys that have a splash system to the upper end(which has been used for years by HD).The BMW actually carries oil pressure.I think like 50 pounds.My Indian carries 60 pounds pressure to the heads.Which means the BMW & Indian are air and oil cooled.The HD is air cooled.
The HD oil cooler and splash system basically helps cool the oil.It really doesn't cool the engine like the oil pressure does.
Again,I am not here to argue or push my thoughts on anyone.I am just saying,I went down that road before and wasted time & money.
IMO,no fan is needed.Espicially after the tune.
Another issue is the cooler itself.I bet the BMW oil cooler is similar to my Indian oil cooler .There is a valve/thermostat in the cooler.It won't allow oil to flow thru till the bike reaches operating temperature.Its a EPA thing.Hence the thermostat in the oem oil cooler.
The best oil cooler system I think I ever saw was the Moto-Guzzi California.I had a large oil cooler with a fan from the factory.The ECU actually controlled the fan.
Here is the issue:
The manufactures have the ECUs programmed to run at a certain temperature and use a catalytic converter to increase temps in the exhaust to burn off any unburned gases.The engine needs to come up to that temp to operate efficiently or it won't run properly.I don't see how a tug of war between trying to cool the engine oil down and the ECU compensating to increase or decrease temps.Again,just a viewpoint.
Having the ECU tuned(reprogrammed) to elimate the lean/hot issue is really the way to .The ECU on all bikes will shut down the engine if temps go to high.
Be well and good luck with the mods...
 
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This thread needs to be a dedicated to correcting the nasty, ugly, offensive oil cooler..... listing options offered.
So I have seen the different types of covers and modifications of the nasty ugly offensive oil cooler behind the front fender. The best one is the LMC oil cooler but I don't want to spend that kind of money, and additionally I think it is a bit too visually overwhelming ...just IMO.

The wunderlich chrome covers visually work very well style wise on the Trans Continental, but I have a first edition and I think it brings too much attention to the OEM cooler in a chrome finish.

I am considering either

1) Spray painting the stock cover metallic "chrome-ish" like PistolPeteSTL did ( photo attached)

2) Spray painting the stock cover a flat grayish sandblasted grey to best closely match the engine body ( non chrome) ( similar to Garage 221style)

3) Spray painting the stock cover gloss black to match the frame, tank, fenders........ and possibly even considering adding matching white pin striping on each side of the stock cover after its painted gloss black. But I am afraid any pin striping that low will look out of place and draw the eyes to that area instead of making the oil cooler blend in better and visually disappear. So most likely better to paint the stock cover gloss withOUT any pinstrinping...still wondering.

PistolPeteSTL sprayed his stock cover and it came out excellent......and although it makes the cover look more classy and blend in better with the engine, I believe it still draws the eyes to how big the old cooler is visually. The silver metallic removes the eye sore of the flat black OEM cover but at the same time does not hide the size of this oil cooler and the cover.

Garage 221 out of Italy makes a nice cover themselves that kinda has influences of the BMW kidney grills of the cars. I like that it is a sand blasted flat metallic that matches the body of the engine. ( but they want like $800 for the cover and at that price I rather pay a bit more and get an LMC cooler.


Anyone yet try spray painting the stock OEM cover gloss black to match the frame ??

I have gut feeling that painting the stock OEM cover gloss black may hide the size of this oil cooler the best visually, since i think the chrome and sand blasted painted make the oil cooler look even brighter and larger visually even while successfully getting rid of the cheap plastic look....

opinions ??



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Body color painted to match seems like a good way to make the oil cooler blend into the bike better ??


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Kinda like what Harley did on their CVO bikes , added a lower frame "spoiler"


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