AIRTEC Motorsport DCT Cooler Upgrade for BMW E9x M3

Technical Data

As part of our expanding BMW product range, AIRTEC Motorsport are proud to launch our uprated DCT and manual gearbox oil cooler for the E9x M3 models, suitable for track or fast road use.

The Issue
During extended periods of track or even fast road use, particularly for cars with increased power, the DCT’s oil operating temperature can climb too high to offer sufficient cooling protection properties. As a result, there is risk of damaging the transmission, so the car’s ECU will automatically limit the engine’s torque output and put the car into a limp mode. It can even cause permanent damage, if it persistently overheats.

The Solution
Making full use of all the available space behind the bumper, the AIRTEC Motorsport transmission cooler utilises a core design that is a massive 218% bigger than standard and 91% taller than original, which equates to a frontal area increase of 118% to help cool the extra capacity.

Proven to work on track, the AIRTEC Motorsport cooler was tested to offer a huge 100% increase in heat rejection, allowing the new cooler to provide improved cooling, preventing the overheating issue.

The comprehensive kit also comes with a real carbon fibre air scoop that matches the profile of the new bigger core, as well as an aluminium vent to fit in the inner wheel arch to help extract warm air, creating an improved air flow to further aid cooling the new, larger core design.

Finished in a high-quality powder-coated black finish, the cooler is a direct replacement fit and comes complete with detailed fitting instructions.

TESTED ON TRACK
In May 2025, we ventured over to the iconic Nürburgring in Germany to complete a two day, back-to-back test in order to collect data as part of the track testing programme for our newly developed E9x M3 cooling package; in particular the engine oil cooler DCT gearbox oil cooler. For this, we used our AIRTEC Motorsport demonstrator vehicle, which is equipped with an uprated exhaust system and sports cats, a remap, KW V3 suspension, AP Racing brakes and a semi-slick tyre set up, among other modifications and driven by this season’s Time Attack driver Alan Shepherd.

The first day would entail a day of data logging with the standard coolers in place, before swapping over to our AIRTEC Motorsport coolers for the next day and repeating the same process.

On the first day we saw that as the day went on the gearshifts started to slow down and we experienced on one occasion downshifting to third gear for it not to respond first time, so decided to take the rest of the lap to cool down before causing any lasting damage to the transmission.

When looking at the data gathered from the oil temperature sensors we had installed in the inlet and outlet of the DCT cooler, we noticed the standard DCT oil cooler had an overall maximum thermal efficiency of just 16%, removing just 12 degrees of heat, whereas the AIRTEC Motorsport DCT oil cooler measured 36% by removing up to 24 degrees of temperature from the gearbox oil in comparison, which is an impressive 100% more than the standard oil cooler was able to do.

FULL VIDEO OF THE TESTING AVAILABLE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE

Dimensions: 
OEM DCT Cooler
Height: 120mm
Width: 220mm
Depth: 28mm
Volume: 0.73-litres
Frontal area: 264cm²

AIRTEC Motorsport DCT Cooler
Height: 230mm
Width: 250mm
Depth: 41mm
Volume: 2.35-litres
Frontal area: 575cm²

This cooler makes up part of BMW E9x M3 cooling package, which includes: 

• AIRTEC Motorsport Oil Cooler
• AIRTEC Motorsport Radiator
• AIRTEC Motorsport Power Steering Cooler
• AIRTEC Motorsport Under Tray

Features:

• Comprehensive kit designed specifically for the E9x M3 platform – fits both DCT and manual cars
• 218% larger core compared to standard DCT cooler
• 118% increase in frontal area compared to standard DCT cooler
• Improved capacity and oil cooling ability
• Proven to work; tested on track with 100% heat rejection improvement
• Genuine carbon fibre scoop to improve air flow into the cooler
• Aluminium vent to improve air flow out of the cooler
• Direct replacement that fits in original location
• Easiest to fit kit on the market
• Features detailed fitting guide

AIRTEC part no: ATMSBMW18