Wagner Tuning BMW M2 Competition S55 Side Mount Radiator

Wagner Tuning BMW M2 Competition S55 Side Mount Radiator

If you push your BMW M2 Competition hard on track or B-road, keeping intake temperatures in check is one of the most effective ways to maintain consistent performance. This Wagner Tuning side mount radiator is designed specifically for the F87 M2 Competition and its 3.0-litre S55B30 twin-turbocharged engine, giving the low-temperature cooling circuit a meaningful upgrade where the standard setup tends to fall short.

How It Works

The M2 Competition uses a water-to-air intercooler system. Instead of cooling the charged intake air directly with outside air (as a traditional front-mount intercooler does), it uses a dedicated low-temperature water circuit to absorb heat from the intake charge before it enters the engine. The cooler that water stays, the better the charge air cooling, and the more consistent the power delivery.

Wagner Tuning’s side mount radiator replaces the standard side water cooler with a larger, more efficient unit. The increased volume means the system holds more coolant, which takes longer to heat soak. The result is lower intake temperatures for longer during sustained driving or repeated hard acceleration runs.

The Numbers

Almost doubling the coolant volume at the side cooler is a significant step up. Wagner Tuning have also applied a thermally conductive anti-corrosion coating to the core, which helps maintain long-term cooling performance and protects the radiator against degradation over time.

What’s Included

• 1x side water cooler (low-temperature circuit)
• 1x carbon air duct for the side water cooler
• 1x mounting hardware kit
• 1x installation instructions

The included carbon air duct is an important part of the package. It directs incoming air more effectively through the new core, making sure the larger cooler actually receives the airflow it needs to do its job. Fitment is designed to be near plug-and-play, using the OEM mounting points and supported by Wagner Tuning’s detailed instructions.

Who Is This For?

This upgrade is particularly worthwhile if you use your M2 Competition on track, drive in warmer climates, or run a tune that increases power output above standard. The S55 engine responds well to cooler intake temperatures, and reducing heat soak in the water-to-air system is one of the most direct ways to keep performance stable lap after lap, or pull after pull. For a road-only car driven gently, the standard cooler may be adequate, but anyone driving the car as it was intended will feel the benefit.

Important: Always check fitment before purchase. Use the site’s vehicle lookup or refer to the Vehicle Fitment tab for full compatibility details. This radiator is designed for the BMW F87 M2 Competition with the S55 engine only, and is not compatible with the standard N55-powered M2.

Why Upgrade the Side Cooler?

On a stock M2 Competition, sustained hard driving can cause the low-temperature coolant to heat soak quickly, leading to rising intake temperatures and a noticeable drop in performance. By increasing coolant capacity and cooling surface area, this radiator extends the time before heat soak becomes an issue and helps the system recover faster between hard runs. Combined with other Wagner Tuning cooling upgrades, it forms part of a complete solution for owners serious about keeping their S55 cool.