323i Supercharger

[Sejnomar]

I was thinking of getting a supercharger for my 323i 99'. (120,000 km) Is it worth getting?? Does anyone have one installed?? Does it kill the engine faster?? Burns more Gas?? What kind of times does it give?? (0-60).

I'm really new to this.

Or is it just better to get an M3??

Thanks.

[AlexM105]

In your case its better to get an M3.

[ganseg]

I'd like one too, but for about $5500, its not worth it. Then you'd want Limited slip, too, and a bunch of other mods. Enjoy the handling.

[clean-m-tech330]

it honestly depends on your budget- if you can afford and m3, I'd definitely go for an m3- however if not and you have roughly 6k then i would opt for the s/c there's a s/c'ed 323 on here making 270whp i think which is very respectable- so there's plenty of choices for you, :thumbsup:

[ewok]

^ 290whp:mischief:

[clean-m-tech330]

^

haha my bad- 290 not bad at all :craig:

[e popa]

:thumbsup:

[bavarianx]

Had one with the VF kit and loved the performance. The 323i stock tends to lag and the S/C brought it up to the next level:thumbsup:

[Nico3k]

^ 290whp:mischief:

Are you running cams and headers to make that kind of power? Care to share your setup? Thanks

[david05111]

Are you running cams and headers to make that kind of power? Care to share your setup? Thanks

LOL! Whats the deal with the ticket in your sig? 100+?? Care to share the story?

[lilbusa600]

I was wondering if there is any need to upgrade the internals on the engine? Mine has 104,000mi. clean-m-tech330 how make 290hp? Is that whp?

[ewok]

I'm running Technik St.3w/ Gen.1 headers and FI cams.

Are you running cams and headers to make that kind of power? Care to share your setup? Thanks

[666BMW3]

I was thinking of getting a supercharger for my 323i 99'. (120,000 km) Is it worth getting?? Does anyone have one installed?? Does it kill the engine faster?? Burns more Gas?? What kind of times does it give?? (0-60).

I'm really new to this.

Or is it just better to get an M3??

Thanks.

Don't do it my friend...don't do it!!....Your car has 120,000 KM on it that's too late for him....Get a M3 and die happy!:thumbsup:

[clean-m-tech330]

I was wondering if there is any need to upgrade the internals on the engine? Mine has 104,000mi. clean-m-tech330 how make 290hp? Is that whp?

yeah im whp- 290

[Nico3k]

LOL! Whats the deal with the ticket in your sig? 100+?? Care to share the story?

Bimmerfest... got a front license plate ticket... real nice cop :thumbsup:

[ridin325]

i wouldnt get one a waste of money if it was 3 grand it would be worth it but they are around 6-7 grand depending on kit. you could buy a m3 engine and transmission for cheaper if you look around

[Sejnomar]

Thanks for all the input.

An M3 sounds like a great idea, but the thing is I can't afford it, and I don't want to be paying off a car for 1-5 years. Also I prefer a 4 door over a 2 door. Just my taste.

I'll be moding the hell out of my 323i now and drive it for many years to come. My 323i will not be driven between November-March/April (Winter), and I'll only be putting around 10,000-15,000 km's per year.


This is the supercharger that I'm looking at... $6,000.00


http://www.bavauto.com/assets/imglib500/sc-kit.jpg

This Supercharger system is a FIRST to offer both a Front Mounted Intercooler with an Oil Cooler. It is the only Front Mounted Intercooler in production at present. The system will deliver instantaneous power and low end torque that is unfamiliar to other types of superchargers currently available.

This is achieved all while running on super unleaded with the factory exhaust catalyst and stock muffler in place. (See the Dyno chart for RWH data).

There is no need for adding a Mechanical Fuel Pressure Regulator, or any other ancillary add-ons to compensate for ignition or fuel. It is all done in the software, just like how the factory would.

This Supercharger Kit Includes:


Revolutionary new, compact design supercharger
8 PSI boost with over 320+ BHP at the crank
Special uni-belt with additional rollers
Front mounted intercooler to keep the power high
Front mounted oil cooler. The supercharger has its own separate oil system with reservoir Bypass valve
Mandrel bent tubing
High temperature hoses with clamps
K&N air filter
All installation hardware included
Six high flow fuel injectors
Dyno tuned and tested software included
Warranty on Supercharger Parts
1 year/unlimited mileage
CD Installation guideline with pictures
12.0 Hrs Installation recommended
Technical support included


Thanks.

[2000_328CI]

i would do it... with that many miles on the car, that supercharger will just help the car dig its own grave.

If I were you, I would sell the 323i and use the 6k you were going to put towards a 330i... or heck, spend the 2500 it costs to buy a 330 engine. There was one floating around on this site not to long ago. Spend 2500 for the 330 engine, have that installed, then put the money you have left over towards your savings for the supercharger for the 330... than buying the supercharger would be wroth while

[Sejnomar]

Is 120,000Km's (approx. 75,000miles) really that much?? to me that seems little.... for a car thats almost 7 years old.

You make it seem like the supercharger will kill the engine in the first couple of months.. will it???

this is why this is a hard decision to make....

[2000_328CI]

No 75k miles is not a lot for a bmw (it should go to 200 with no problems)

no the supercharger won't kill the engine


Its just that the gain you will experiance doesn't justify the price IMO

If you want to go fast, there are numerous cars you can buy for the price of the supercharger that will go a lot faster than your 323 will go after you put FI on it

Thats all... but your money, your car... do what will make you happy :)

[asilva]

the money you pay for a supercharger will make you faster than any car you can buy with your 6k and 323 as a trade, say you did buy a 330 your only going to lay down 225rwhp at best stock, and with the 323 SC'd its 250rwhp and a lighter car....so its up to you, I am personally thinking about it myself

[MachRc]

^^ you will run 190-209rwhp on a 330 stock in new condition.

for a 323, expect 230-250 rwhp depending on boost, tranny, mileage, sc'er,headers, cams, etc., etc.

[nevin]

don't you have to buy a bunch of **** to go with the super charger so the rest of the car can handle it. Like pullies,limited slip (i think this is a must & mucho $$$), headers, blah blah blah....If this is the case then your no going to spend 6k it's going to be more like 10k! The installation alone could be more than 1K. I say not worth it.

[e popa]

^^ you will run 190-209rwhp on a 330 stock in new condition.

for a 323, expect 230-250 rwhp depending on boost, tranny, mileage, sc'er,headers, cams, etc., etc.

275 rwhp

[RinsinRudeboy]

The most simple and the first mod you should do on a 323i is replace the air inlet manifold with that of a later 325i(or order one). This will bring the engine up to 190bhp before you even start on anything else.

[texlnghorn]

The most simple and the first mod you should do on a 323i is replace the air inlet manifold with that of a later 325i(or order one). This will bring the engine up to 190bhp before you even start on anything else.

Won't this change the air fuel mixture? Does the computer need to be recalibrated?

[Chris@Technik]

don't you have to buy a bunch of **** to go with the super charger so the rest of the car can handle it. Like pullies,limited slip (i think this is a must & mucho $$$), headers, blah blah blah....If this is the case then your no going to spend 6k it's going to be more like 10k! The installation alone could be more than 1K. I say not worth it.

You don't have to buy anything, however it's strongly recommended to upgrade other vital parts of the car to assist the car in handling the increased power output. Brakes and suspension are two essential parts the should be upgraded after the installation of the supercharger kit. Your stock clutch can do a decent job of handling the power to a certain level, just don't go dumping the clutch everytime you stop and you shouldn't have much of a problem at all.

Headers, cams, exhaust,differential, and the like are all nice additions, but by no means mandatory. They only add to the performance of the kit and naturally power and torque are increased.

I'm curious to know why you think it'll cost 10k to have a properly running s/c kit with some other goodies along with it. A simple stage 1 kit roughly 6k installed will provide ample gains and retain a near stock like driveability. You don't have to add those other parts, it's simply on you to decide how far you want to go. I can assure you a stage one kit alone will appease most people out there.

[Staszek]

No 75k miles is not a lot for a bmw (it should go to 200 with no problems)

no the supercharger won't kill the engine


Its just that the gain you will experiance doesn't justify the price IMO

If you want to go fast, there are numerous cars you can buy for the price of the supercharger that will go a lot faster than your 323 will go after you put FI on it

Thats all... but your money, your car... do what will make you happy :)

Not sure what you are saying about the gain not justifying the price. A supercharged 323 will blow away a 330 and while it wont beat an M3 it wont get killed by one either.

75,000 is not alot of miles for a BMW at all, I would do it.

[2004FLe46Ci]

i think its a great alternative to get quick power, plus its your car and your mods, everyone cant get an M3, but with a couple thousand bucks can get pretty close, im also thinking about S/C my 325 or M3. the S/c will save me 25,000 dollars.

[vids_blk323Ci]

Can u elaborate please?

The most simple and the first mod you should do on a 323i is replace the air inlet manifold with that of a later 325i(or order one). This will bring the engine up to 190bhp before you even start on anything else.

[Carlman]

Don't forget, this forum is full of 'free advice' and it's worth what you pay for it... the last few posts make sense to me... and you seem like a perfect candidate for an SC, that is professionally installed by someone who's done it more than a few times before.

I'm considering the same thing if business goes well this year... on an '05 325i. I don't want a new car. If you want an M3, that's a totally different car than a 323 sedan... just not the same in any way.

Doing an engine swap is an insane idea to me. The amount of labor charges for that will more than take up any (perceived) savings over an S/C.

You'll probably end up with somewhere near 250 rwhp, which is a lot of fun to have... I'm looking forward to it as well. Other things to 'upgrade' are thing I'd replace anyway at some point... when I need a new clutch, I'll get a new lightened flywheel and clutch... to save some labor... When I need brakes, I'll get better pads... etc.

I've already got a UUC exhaust, short-shifter and anti-sway's... And I did those mods for non-S/C'd fun... but they could easily be viewed as 'preparation' as well. ;)

At the end of the day, 6,k is 6,k. What else could you spend it on that would be more fun? Maybe a motorcycle? A small boat? I don't know... To me, it'd be the S/C.

-C

[PLAN-B]

No 75k miles is not a lot for a bmw (it should go to 200 with no problems)

no the supercharger won't kill the engine


Its just that the gain you will experiance doesn't justify the price IMO

If you want to go fast, there are numerous cars you can buy for the price of the supercharger that will go a lot faster than your 323 will go after you put FI on it

Thats all... but your money, your car... do what will make you happy :)

That has to be thinking of the century. Then in that case buy ur self a bike then u beat everyone. The guy is into bmw and wants to make his bmw fast. If he wanted JUST to go fast he would have bought a fast car. Its the whole point of making the most of what u got for the budget at hand, but if i tell him go buy urself a bike and go fast it defeats the purpose of him owning a BMW!!!! IMO buy urself a japanese car and you wont have a problem going fast!!heeehehheheh:rofl::rolleyes:

[SammyV]

do it.. im at 83k miles been supercharged for over 15k now and enjoying it!

[ericslife]

Fellow Canadien

Dont worry about the mileage, if its been serviced right and you dont drive the pi$$ out of it everyday it's fine. I had 215000km on my '93 318i and i was seriously thinking of putting in the 'charger sitting on Nixon's floor. Thew know me and my car and said no worries.
6k seems a bit much, dosent AA have the same for $4400, i just did a search and found it on their site.
If you havent done the suspension you wil have to, just to be safe. You dont have to go Coilovers but the Bilstien sport and H&R are fine, sway bars and tower bars to give more feel while driving. All this could be had for the $1600 difference in price if you look around.

Eric d

[ericslife]

Yeah, here's the link
http://www.aatuning.com/supercharger/e46325/main.php

eric