AA supercharger reliability at 8psi in 330ci

[schulmann]

I am quite well experienced on supercharged cars.
I blow up a couple of engins when I started and learned a lot of things. The first thing that I learned is: HP addiction is a sever sickness worst than any kind of drugs, sex or anything else. So here I am again ... on a new forum looking for big troubles.

My ride is a BMW 330ci 2002 in Canada.


The AA stage 1 kit, 8psi seems to be very nice. It is simple and well priced.
I want to install it on a daily driver that I will use for lapping. The BMW will ride on ice, under rain, on hot tracks so on.

The 330ci with its 220hp is a little weak. I want increase its power to 300hp without thowing out my money. So the AA kit is just made for this purpose.

Reliablity questions:

- 8psi: It seems to be high for a stock engine. Are the ring lands enough strong to handle this pressure and a couple of small pings. I would rather go with 6psi to start my project.

- How the 6sp transmission and the rear drive train handles this power. Are they enough strong ?

- How well the AFR and the ignitions are tuned ? What is the error margin for width temperature changes and bad fuel ?

- What is the first part failing on a Supercharged BMW ?
(Don't tell me it is 100% perfect, no matter what a part will sooner or later fail)

- What are the best add-ons to improve reliability ? I am ready to loose a couple of HP for better reliability.

[Boosted_ZHP]

As a pervious owner of this kit I could help you out a little.

I am quite well experienced on supercharged cars.
I blow up a couple of engins when I started and learned a lot of things. The first thing that I learned is: HP addiction is a sever sickness worst than any kind of drugs, sex or anything else. So here I am again ... on a new forum looking for big troubles.

My ride is a BMW 330ci 2002 in Canada.


The AA stage 1 kit, 8psi seems to be very nice. It is simple and well priced.
I want to install it on a daily driver that I will use for lapping. The BMW will ride on ice, under rain, on hot tracks so on.

The 330ci with its 220hp is a little weak. I want increase its power to 300hp without thowing out my money. So the AA kit is just made for this purpose.

Reliablity questions:

- 8psi: It seems to be high for a stock engine. Are the ring lands enough strong to handle this pressure and a couple of small pings. I would rather go with 6psi to start my project.
I had this kit on my car for around a year, and it is still on the car with no issues. The current owner likes it. The stock motor could handle the 8 psi with no issues. PSI is not the only thing to worry about, the way the car is tuned helps a lot with reliability. AA tunes well.
- How the 6sp transmission and the rear drive train handles this power. Are they enough strong ?
My car was a 6sp ZHP the tranny and diff held great, they are fairly strong components.
- How well the AFR and the ignitions are tuned ? What is the error margin for width temperature changes and bad fuel ?
I am not sure of thier parameters, give them a call or PM, but the cars a tuned for any weather and for 91 plus octane.
- What is the first part failing on a Supercharged BMW ?
(Don't tell me it is 100% perfect, no matter what a part will sooner or later fail)
The Tires :str8pimpi
- What are the best add-ons to improve reliability ? I am ready to loose a couple of HP for better reliability.
Honestly the kit is pretty reliable, I would get headers to add a little more power, also work on your suspension and brakes along with tires so your car is well balanced.


I hope this helps

[schulmann]

Thanks for the feedback.

Anybody else with some comments ?

[Minnoe07]

AA is a great company and if everything is installed correctly, you shouldn't have any problems. 8 psi is the norm for stg. 1-2 supercharger kits.

[MarvelPhx]

You should have no problem with 8psi if done correctly.

[Penn]

I haven't had any problems. *knock on the wood*
It's been on for about 3000km.

[schulmann]

No serious performance drivers on this forum ?!
Only 4 feedbacks ...

[malina]

8 PSI for a stock engine is not a lot. I'd say it's a safe level (manual transmission) of boost that won't reduce engine longevity that much with a proper maintenance to worry about it in the long run. Over 13 000 miles on my kit already and over 101 000 miles on the clock. Still pushing decent HP numbers.

[M3WannaBEE]

I do not really know if you believe this to be relative in any way but I had a 323 SC with 6.5 pounds of boost for about 9 months. During this 9 months I pushed the living hell out of it, meaning red lining at least least 10 times a day and put over 10 K on it. I did not have one issue and the only reason I got rid of it was because I bought a M3. I put it on the car at 87K and would really like to emphasize that I pushed the car hard and it just kept asking for more.... I personally think 8 psi is nothing for these engines and mind you the 323 has weaker internals then the 330 does!

[Activ3]

I do not really know if you believe this to be relative in any way but I had a 323 SC with 6.5 pounds of boost for about 9 months. During this 9 months I pushed the living hell out of it, meaning red lining at least least 10 times a day and put over 10 K on it. I did not have one issue and the only reason I got rid of it was because I bought a M3. I put it on the car at 87K and would really like to emphasize that I pushed the car hard and it just kept asking for more.... I personally think 8 psi is nothing for these engines and mind you the 323 has weaker internals then the 330 does!
:werd:

I've had the 8.5psi C38 kit for almost 10k miles already on my 328i. I make multiple 600+ mile roundtrips each month to and from school, and it's held up remarkably well. My car has also seen the track a few times with the kit, and again has had no problems..

[ahull]

I have the C38 Stage I, been on for about 1000 miles so can't really comment on longevity, but the butt-dyno says "yeah baby!"

[MachRc]

yeah no issues so far whats so ever at 8.5 or at 9.5 psi.

the first thing to go out on the SC kit I guess is the belts.

I have a ESS ASA kit so I cant speak for AA's rotrex blowers but like mentioned above 8 or sp psi is very safe.

anything above 9psi( really 8.5) isnt recommended with stock motor is what im told if I want maximun longevity.

im at 142,000 miles and still pushing.

as for reliability.. get it installed correctly, and stay within the 8.5psi range.

and do your oil changes often.. and um.. thats it.

[Minnoe07]

Yep, over 8000 miles on my ESS TS2 kit and I have been autocrossing once a month this season. Holds up strong!