Just Won e46 turbo, some questions

[brodaiga]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.spaturbo.com.br/html/bmw/325.php
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SPA-Turbo-BMW-3-series-6-cylinder-e36-e46-complete-kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33742QQihZ011QQitem Z320148751731

hey guys, i'm proud to announce I will be joning the FI ranks soon. I have staked out a particular turbo kit on ebay for a week, and have just won it for $1825,. It is new but missing an intercooler which is cheap on ebay.

Before you start saying there are no turbo kits for the e46 non M yet, that is true, however, the maker of this kit is a well known company named SPA TURBO which is based out of brazil and sells internationally. They even have US distributors now at spaturbousa.com.

The kit is advertised for the e36 but I was assured by the distributors that it will fit with some minor pipe adjustments, the manifold is the same. They sell the kit for $3800.

The disadvantage to this kit is that it is somewhat basic, hence it's low price tag. It relies on a FMU unit to tune it and does not come with tuned software or injectors. It was just made to work with OEM parts. My research has shown though it is a bolt on kit that will give around 80 to 100 rwhp on my 330.

I do not plan to get custom tuning on this. I just want it installed to save money and i'll take whatever the benefit it is from the fmu controls. The kit should not throw any codes I believe.

My question is: Do you guys have recommendations for the install? I know nothing about minor tuning with the FMU. Any recomendations?

[BreakMyWallet]

youre going to need a tune dude. thats where the money goes

[brodaiga]

youre going to need a tune dude. thats where the money goes

please elaborate. what does tuning a fuel pressure regulator involve? it seems quite a simple setup.

[dirsh]

I really really really really hope you can get this to work but in reality it is going to be next to impossible without proper tuning. You're better off selling to an E36 owner or something and buying a supercharger

[ALPIN3]

Why would you do that when you can pick up an AA unit for $4400? I mean, hopefully you get it all worked out with this kit, but with the price of a SC being so low these days, I wouldn't have made this purchase. Good luck with the tuning.

[ALPIN3]

Wait, you won it for $1,825? Guess I missed that part. Anyhow, good luck either way.

[brodaiga]

Why would you do that when you can pick up an AA unit for $4400? I mean, hopefully you get it all worked out with this kit, but with the price of a SC being so low these days, I wouldn't have made this purchase. Good luck with the tuning.

thanks for the posts, $1800 is a bid g difference from $4400. I am new to FI in bmws and would like some clearer information.

1. why would I have problems with this kit?
2. it runs on low level boost using an FMU. How expensive is it to just pay someone to install. then pay to adjust FMU. please tell me what i'm missing here.

[MachRc]

good luck..

you could be the next DA monkey juice hung

...


just dont disappear..or try to sell it to another e46 owner...


keep us updated.. becasue for some reason if you think you can build a proper turbo kit using ebay stuff your going to find out soon the hardest way its not possible unless you spend alllllot more finding proper tuning and chasing down bugs... lol ive seen a guy do the same thing on an auto and had the stock ecu compensate for 6.5 psi and for some wierd reason he got the car jacked and it doesnt exist anyymore.. like most turbo e46s they dont last too long around here..

everyone will tell you.. wait for nickg or HPF..

Id send it back and ask for a refund.. and say wrong application for wrong car.. and even pay them restocking fee to get it off my hands..


hot potatoe s0n!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brodaiga]

this is not ebay stuff and I did not built the kit. It is sold by company known worldwide for turbos, they just don't sell much in USA. My research points that they build quality components that will not fail. This turbo was specifically designed for the e36. But I independently called a US dealer this company has and they say e46 is not a problem. they were ready to recommend a shop for install.

so, please tell an FI newbie, what could be the problem?

[ALPIN3]

so, please tell an FI newbie, what could be the problem?

Essentially, a blown engine. The ECU operations on the E46 are very twitchy (for lack of a better word) and your usual off the shelf FPR fix is not enough to keep an E46 running smoothly under boost. Its really that simple. You will most likely end up purchasing smething like the AEM engine management unit (thats like what, $3000 by itself?) to get this running right for the long haul.

[vaio76109]

HAHA, you just opened Pandora's box, close it quickly.

[MachRc]

this is not ebay stuff

so, please tell an FI newbie, what could be the problem?

you won it from ebay = ebay stuff..

have you even checked out their website??

their 325 kit has no info...

helll clicking ANYTHING on their sitey sends you back to the main page..

trust many have tried but ended in failure including tuners..its not easy..tuning it is the hardest part. so hard its been almost a decade and no turbo kit for the 330.. were just trying to help..

if you were totally mechanically inclined like ritos with his exahust turbo.. or todd from my330 mit pei nickg zolti asjborn or anyone else we would shut the hell up..

but were only trying to help you from immenent disaster

[brodaiga]

Essentially, a blown engine. The ECU operations on the E46 are very twitchy (for lack of a better word) and your usual off the shelf FPR fix is not enough to keep an E46 running smoothly under boost. Its really that simple. You will most likely end up purchasing smething like the AEM engine management unit (thats like what, $3000 by itself?) to get this running right for the long haul.

hmm, thanks for the post. It's hard to believe that their US distributor would not inform me.

I do not want to spend any more money on this kit than the install and FMU adjustment. The question is for me, will I be risking blowing my engine by having this bolted on and hte fmu adjusted and leaving it at that?

[eee4666]

You've got some big cajones taking this project on. keep this thread updated and GOOD LUCK :thumbsup:.


you could be the next DA monkey juice hung
for some reason if you think you can build a proper turbo kit using ebay stuff your going to find out soon the hardest way its not possible unless you spend alllllot more finding proper tuning and chasing down bugs

Id send it back and ask for a refund.. and say wrong application for wrong car.. and even pay them restocking fee to get it off my hands..
:thumbsup:


Like MachRc said, just trying to help but this kit sounds like a money pit with alot of headaches along the way.

[brodaiga]

and I appreciate the help. I am an amateur mechanic by hobby, a med student by day. I have not gone through with the deal yet and can still back out. You must admit $1800 for a turbo kit built for our cars is hard to pass up. It is hard to believe this company can sell these customized kits for all sorts of cars and have their customers blow their engines or spend 3k more to make it work.

you won it from ebay = ebay stuff..

have you even checked out their website??

their 325 kit has no info...

helll clicking ANYTHING on their sitey sends you back to the main page..

trust many have tried but ended in failure including tuners..its not easy..tuning it is the hardest part. so hard its been almost a decade and no turbo kit for the 330.. were just trying to help..

if you were totally mechanically inclined like ritos with his exahust turbo.. or todd from my330 mit pei nickg zolti asjborn or anyone else we would shut the hell up..

but were only trying to help you from immenent disaster

[cullyboiracin]

post 10...go now

[brodaiga]

post 10...go now

que?

[BartenderPlease]

Thats dynamite son, get it off your hands before it blows. Just trust us

:thumbsup:

[Boosted330]

sell the kit. NO ONE HAS PROPERLY TURBO'D AN E46 330 AND TUNED IT PROPERLY, EVEN WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PUT IN. 328's and stuff have been turbo'd but there is NO WAY that a 330 will run properly with a turbo, especially with NO TUNING. the problem is NOT with the brand, the problem is with the CAR. they turbo'd E36's NOT E46's, the CATS are mounted ON the headers in the E46 330's and it needs to be CUSTOM DONE.

hopefully ive laid it out for you clearly. i have a supercharged and auto to manual tranny swapped 330ci, i've looked at EVERYTHING with forced induction on e46's. i've had my car since 2001 so i've been around since the FIRST EVER supercharged 330's came out from ESS

[brodaiga]

Thats dynamite son, get it off your hands before it blows. Just trust us

:thumbsup:

i seem to be leaning in that direction. I haven't paid for it yet, so I would not be losing anything if I refuse, seller just gets an ebay credit and I get a negative rating. not to mention, I will not have time to mess with this stuff. I hoped it would be a reliable bolt on.

Not to mention, I have a TSE3 and koni fsd sitting in my room ready to go on

[BartenderPlease]

i seem to be leaning in that direction. not to mention, I will not have time to mess with this stuff. I hoped it would be a reliable bolt on.

Not to mention, I have a TSE3 and koni fsd sitting in my room ready to go on

Well you just keep your TSE3 and knoi fsd, but I'm glad you are going to get rid of this. Ut would have costed you THOUSANDS in the long run. Thousands.

Good choice :thumbsup:

[brodaiga]

sell the kit. NO ONE HAS PROPERLY TURBO'D AN E46 330 AND TUNED IT PROPERLY, EVEN WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PUT IN. 328's and stuff have been turbo'd but there is NO WAY that a 330 will run properly with a turbo, especially with NO TUNING. the problem is NOT with the brand, the problem is with the CAR. they turbo'd E36's NOT E46's, the CATS are mounted ON the headers in the E46 330's and it needs to be CUSTOM DONE.

hopefully ive laid it out for you clearly. i have a supercharged and auto to manual tranny swapped 330ci, i've looked at EVERYTHING with forced induction on e46's. i've had my car since 2001 so i've been around since the FIRST EVER supercharged 330's came out from ESS


thanks for the informative post, this is what i was looking for. You say 328 were turboed, aren't those e46? just curious what makes the 330 so different besides the cats (don't people get headers and screw the cats all the time)

[brodaiga]

Well you just keep your TSE3 and knoi fsd, but I'm glad you are going to get rid of this. Ut would have costed you THOUSANDS in the long run. Thousands.

Good choice :thumbsup:

yeah, screw this, for thousands, i can upgrade to an M3. This is why I love the internet. It can save your ass

[Boosted330]

thanks for the informative post, this is what i was looking for. You say 328 were turboed, aren't those e46? just curious what makes the 330 so different besides the cats (don't people get headers and screw the cats all the time)

i was referring to the company you mentioned. the only turbo'd e46's as far as i know of were all custom tunes and none were on 330's. azevedo motorsport in new jersey is the company that tuned those cars.

[pei330ci]

sell the kit. NO ONE HAS PROPERLY TURBO'D AN E46 330 AND TUNED IT PROPERLY, EVEN WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PUT IN.

Just currious if you had heard of the Active Autowerk custom turbo done on a 330Ci 2 years ago.

and I appreciate the help. I am an amateur mechanic by hobby, a med student by day.

There are "cheap" medical facilities too, you get what you pay for.

[mdsonicTT]

http://e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359490&highlight=oshin+turbo

[NickG]

Designing and installing the hardware for an E46 turbo kit is definately possible. There are some hardware design issues that need to be overcome for proper fitment and operation, but it can be done.

The key to having everything work perfectly, as everybody says, is the tuning. If you have no means of reprogramming the factory ECU, then you're going to run into trouble. And I don't mean just basic fuel and spark.....there's much more to it than that. If you want the car to run PROPERLY, with no check engine lights, good street manners, smooth powerband, etc., you have to have the tuning nailed. If you don't have a means to do that, then do yourself a BIG favor and scrap the idea of a DIY turbo kit.

It took me a fair amount of time to figure out my 330's ECU, but I did, and I couldn't be happier with the results. So it is definately possible, but not easy.

[dirsh]

see if you can reach an agreement with the seller. that kit will not work with your car. the auction was misleading

[zeshon]

I hope I don't need to re-iterate what's been said, but I will do so anyway.

There are two companies currently designing a turbo system for the 330i. HPF in particular has done truly remarkable work on the M3, and they have a turbo kit coming out in December-ish. It's going to be off the chain expensive, but you gotta pay for quality.

If you do a search for DA MOTORSPORT, you will see you're not the first to try and buy a parts only turbo kit and try and set up a tune. It's not hard to assemble the parts needed to make a turbo car, it's tuning our ultra complicated ECU that's the problem.

If you're deadset on making this work, here is what you should do. Contact Oshin, lay2low, and anyone else who have designed their own kit on the forum. You need to buy larger injectors, a FMIC, and to contact HPF to acquire their stand alone unit. You are then going to want to buy a new car because this project will leave your car out of commission for months-years. Once you manage all that, you will need to remake all of your piping (I assume) for the kit, figure out how to mount it all, then have your car towed to a performance shop to have yoru dino tune done. After all of this effort, you will have spent WELL over the money/labor hours required to buy a top teir supercharger kit from ESS.

Hope I have dissuaded you, if not, then I pray you're never my doctor.

[brodaiga]

I was dissauded by the first couple of posts. The seller pressured me into paying or he will sell the kit to the next highest bidder. I told him to go ahead. I am now working on a used ASA supercharger for sale here in the classifieds.

I hope I don't need to re-iterate what's been said, but I will do so anyway.

There are two companies currently designing a turbo system for the 330i. HPF in particular has done truly remarkable work on the M3, and they have a turbo kit coming out in December-ish. It's going to be off the chain expensive, but you gotta pay for quality.

If you do a search for DA MOTORSPORT, you will see you're not the first to try and buy a parts only turbo kit and try and set up a tune. It's not hard to assemble the parts needed to make a turbo car, it's tuning our ultra complicated ECU that's the problem.

If you're deadset on making this work, here is what you should do. Contact Oshin, lay2low, and anyone else who have designed their own kit on the forum. You need to buy larger injectors, a FMIC, and to contact HPF to acquire their stand alone unit. You are then going to want to buy a new car because this project will leave your car out of commission for months-years. Once you manage all that, you will need to remake all of your piping (I assume) for the kit, figure out how to mount it all, then have your car towed to a performance shop to have yoru dino tune done. After all of this effort, you will have spent WELL over the money/labor hours required to buy a top teir supercharger kit from ESS.

Hope I have dissuaded you, if not, then I pray you're never my doctor.

[zeshon]

Glad to hear it, you will be pleased.

[slvrr]

Essentially, a blown engine. The ECU operations on the E46 are very twitchy (for lack of a better word) and your usual off the shelf FPR fix is not enough to keep an E46 running smoothly under boost. Its really that simple. You will most likely end up purchasing smething like the AEM engine management unit (thats like what, $3000 by itself?) to get this running right for the long haul.

Closer to around $1500-2000.This is correct you will need a stand alone fuel management, Turbo back exhaust or at least a downpipe,injectors a boost controller I would recommend a manual boost controller , most importantly a tuner that knows how to tune a turbo'ed car.. This mod is not for the faint of heart trust me I have been down this road countless times as I'm a huge boost junkie!! I was the second person that I know of to turbo a VW R32 and it wasn't cheap by all means, was it worth it absolutely.:4ngie:By far your biggest expense is going to be the tuning and dyno time. Which for what you will gain on stock components is probably not going to be worth it. You are still going to spend close to 5-7,000 for everything total.Just keep your fingers crossed that the manifold doesn't crack under pressure or the tuner that you choose doesn't over boost your motor or detonate it!! Unfortunately I think you have gone the wrong route here and would advise you to return the kit. If you want to run a turbo on your bmw I would suggest you start off with a lot better quality parts. Good luck either way.

Damnit I didn't read this all the way through. I'm glad for your sake that you went a diffrent route.