Supercharger on an automatic 325Ci?

[M3_Aaron]

Can anyone shed some light on what sort of preparation is required for an automatic E46 before supercharging it? The car in question is a 2005 325Ci with 55000km or 34000 miles.

Can the gearbox be strengthened? What can be done? A friend encountered gearbox problems on his 330Ci with an ASA Stage 1 but we're not sure if it was due to the power increase or driving style.

A manual swap isn't an option and there is already far too much money in the car to sell it for another.

Still undecided on which kit, but leaning towards the ESS TS1, ASA stage 1 or even VF-Engineering's Stage 1 when released later in the month.

Thanks!

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

I did. And I still track it. ASA Stage 1 with Technik Engineering tuning. Check out my blog in the signature.

No need to strengthen the transmission. I have a 5HP19 and it's still running great. But I do recommend changing the transmission fluid yearly. Also install an extra transmission cooler if possible.

[Novare330]

ive spoken with active several times about supercharging an automatic, i have an 05 330ci, step tranny, with about 63k miles on the odometer, and i will be supercharged soon (already have the kit), bascially it also breaks down to the way you drive, if you drive the car normally or if you beat on the car constantly, according to active, they havent had one automatic transmission fail on them yet, HOWEVER, there is always a risk.

their first ever e46 that they boosted was actually an automatic 330i, you can read about it here:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/performance_files_tested_by_c_d/active_autowerke_supercharged_bmw_330ia_specialty_file

active ran 7.5 PSI on their C30 kit, and the car has been running fine for a few years from what i understand, if you REALLY want to be safe about it and make sure that youre not going to break your tranny (like i am worried about), do what i am doing, im switching the standard 85mm pulley to a 90mm pulley, you will be running 6.5 PSI instead of the full 7.5 PSI, and dont beat on the car constantly.

horsepower doesnt break the transmission, torque does, stay away from sticky tires and an LSD :rofl: hard launches via torque breaking is not recomended either.

also, whether you have a ZF or GM transmission might also play a factor, ZF transmissions are known to be weaker than their GM successor, make sure you check that out

[bluejeansonfire]

Can anyone shed some light on what sort of preparation is required for an automatic E46 before supercharging it? The car in question is a 2005 325Ci with 55000km or 34000 miles.

Can the gearbox be strengthened? What can be done? A friend encountered gearbox problems on his 330Ci with an ASA Stage 1 but we're not sure if it was due to the power increase or driving style.

A manual swap isn't an option and there is already far too much money in the car to sell it for another.

Still undecided on which kit, but leaning towards the ESS TS1, ASA stage 1 or even VF-Engineering's Stage 1 when released later in the month.

Thanks!

I know very little of the auto trans, but i do know that e36 m3s came with one. I wonder if anyone has ever tried it in the non-M e46. It's somewhat inevitable that the trans will have some problems, it seems from the number of 323/325 charged auto tranny problems i've heard.

[M3_Aaron]

No need to strengthen the transmission. I have a 5HP19 and it's still running great. But I do recommend changing the transmission fluid yearly. Also install an extra transmission cooler if possible.

Thanks! Would you be able to point me to a store/vendor that sells transmission coolers? Where did you install yours?

ive spoken with active several times about supercharging an automatic, i have an 05 330ci, step tranny, with about 63k miles on the odometer, and i will be supercharged soon (already have the kit), bascially it also breaks down to the way you drive, if you drive the car normally or if you beat on the car constantly, according to active, they havent had one automatic transmission fail on them yet, HOWEVER, there is always a risk.

their first ever e46 that they boosted was actually an automatic 330i, you can read about it here:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/performance_files_tested_by_c_d/active_autowerke_supercharged_bmw_330ia_specialty_file

active ran 7.5 PSI on their C30 kit, and the car has been running fine for a few years from what i understand, if you REALLY want to be safe about it and make sure that youre not going to break your tranny (like i am worried about), do what i am doing, im switching the standard 85mm pulley to a 90mm pulley, you will be running 6.5 PSI instead of the full 7.5 PSI, and dont beat on the car constantly.

horsepower doesnt break the transmission, torque does, stay away from sticky tires and an LSD :rofl: hard launches via torque breaking is not recomended either.

also, whether you have a ZF or GM transmission might also play a factor, ZF transmissions are known to be weaker than their GM successor, make sure you check that out

Thanks for your reply, loads of great info!

I've spoken with Jean@AA also (going with an AA kit) and he said the same thing, it should be ok as long it isn't driven too agresively.

How do I go about finding if it has the ZF or GM gearbox?

I know very little of the auto trans, but i do know that e36 m3s came with one. I wonder if anyone has ever tried it in the non-M e46. It's somewhat inevitable that the trans will have some problems, it seems from the number of 323/325 charged auto tranny problems i've heard.

I haven't heard of anyone doing it either but I can't take that option as we never had automatic E36 M3s here.

[bluejeansonfire]

Thanks! Would you be able to point me to a store/vendor that sells transmission coolers? Where did you install yours?



Thanks for your reply, loads of great info!

I've spoken with Jean@AA also (going with an AA kit) and he said the same thing, it should be ok as long it isn't driven too agresively.

How do I go about finding if it has the ZF or GM gearbox?



I haven't heard of anyone doing it either but I can't take that option as we never had automatic E36 M3s here.

Wait, is that really true? a GM trans is STONGER than the ZF trans? Jeremy Clarkson has to hear about this. A german product was too weak, so it's issues were resolved with an american part. :lmao:

The trans will be stamped on the side

So you are going AA?
I think this is a better option than ESS TS for an auto tranny afraid of failure. I don't exactly know what fails in these, but I know torque is the usual killer of drivetrain parts. With a transmission's weak life on the line, a twin screw can deliver much more torque than any other system. Though cool, and often usable, this system isn't efficient at higher RPMs and seems to make lesser numbers than centrifugal superchargers.

[demonspeed7]

Any new developments with the supercharger on the auto?? I'm looking at getting this done as well. I'm just afraid of destroying my transmission.

[Miss325]

Any new developments with the supercharger on the auto?? I'm looking at getting this done as well. I'm just afraid of destroying my transmission.

I have one on order, and I will be posting up all info etc. once it has been installed and driven.

If you are afraid of destroying your trans, it's all in the way you drive. I have heard many stories of supercharged autos running fine, but I have also heard of them failing if you are constantly revving them high and stressing them on a daily basis.

For example, I have a friend also who SC'd their auto 330Ci, and their trans failed due to constant high revs and generally pushing the car to hard. I think he solved the problem by somehow strengthening the auto transmission, and since then he has not had any problems - the car has been running fine for a few years now.

[mcr_driver]

I did. And I still track it. ASA Stage 1 with Technik Engineering tuning. Check out my blog in the signature.

No need to strengthen the transmission. I have a 5HP19 and it's still running great. But I do recommend changing the transmission fluid yearly. Also install an extra transmission cooler if possible.

+1 as vince said i have a stage 2 on my 330i also with an auto tranny and have had no problems just be sure to flush the tranny fluid regularly

[03E40sick]

how exactly you strengthening your auto tranny?

[Novare330]

how exactly you strengthening your auto tranny?

there are companies that you can send your tranny to that will rebuild them and reinforce them, but the price tag is rival to that of doing a manual swap, so its not a very common thing

[03E40sick]

oh i see...maybe an e46 m3 6speed tranny

[Saintly]

I have one on order, and I will be posting up all info etc. once it has been installed and driven.

If you are afraid of destroying your trans, it's all in the way you drive. I have heard many stories of supercharged autos running fine, but I have also heard of them failing if you are constantly revving them high and stressing them on a daily basis.

For example, I have a friend also who SC'd their auto 330Ci, and their trans failed due to constant high revs and generally pushing the car to hard. I think he solved the problem by somehow strengthening the auto transmission, and since then he has not had any problems - the car has been running fine for a few years now.If you need any local help on the AA kit PM

[Miss325]

If you need any local help on the AA kit PM

I think Aaron already spoke to you about the tuning :str8pimpi

[mcr_driver]

there is a place out in the virginia carolina area that i got a quote of 3500 + shipping to reinforce my tranny up to 600 tq all in all it would have cost me over 7k to uninstall ship and reinstall it all...i have a quote for about 4-6k for a tranny swap depending on how much parts cost. so it all boils down to how much cash do you have to waste

[Saintly]

I think Aaron already spoke to you about the tuning :str8pimpiGotcha penny has dropped:) Let me know once you have installed it.

[demonspeed7]

Anyone get their car supercharged yet. There were a few folks on here who were in the process of doing it.

[demonspeed7]

Did yall forget about this thread already??? hahahahaha
A lil update wouldnt hurt fellas.:)

[Novare330]

my car is half way done with my C30 install

[kbok]

Wait, is that really true? a GM trans is STONGER than the ZF trans? Jeremy Clarkson has to hear about this. A german product was too weak, so it's issues were resolved with an american part. :lmao:


True, amazingly its an American designed tranny built across the Maginot Line, in France! :yikes:

[demonspeed7]

my car is half way done with my C30 install

Thats awesome. Once you get everything toghether take some good videos. There's a serious shortage of supercharged beemer videos let alone ones that are steptronic.

[Miss325]

Did yall forget about this thread already??? hahahahaha
A lil update wouldnt hurt fellas.:)

Mine was ordered today, long process but it is on it's way!

[demonspeed7]

Mine was ordered today, long process but it is on it's way!

Which supercharger kit did you decide to go with Miss 325? From the research I've done so far I think the vf kit is probably the safest for the auto trannies. It makes roughly 280 horses and 235 ft lbs of torque at the flywheel at 6psi.

[Novare330]

Thats awesome. Once you get everything toghether take some good videos. There's a serious shortage of supercharged beemer videos let alone ones that are steptronic.

im sure i'll take a few :)

[demonspeed7]

im sure i'll take a few :)

Glad to hear it. Much appreciated.:woot:

[Novare330]

Glad to hear it. Much appreciated.:woot:

when are you pulling the trigger?

[demonspeed7]

I'm not sure honestly. Im trying to see if theres a good place to get the tranny rebuilt and upgraded before supercharging. This of course would affect which supercharger kit I would go for. The VF kit seems like a safe bet for non upgraded tranny's. Anything else and youre playing with fire.
The active autowerke or the twin screw superchargers on the other hand seem like a safe bet only if you get your transmission built. They make a lot more torque.

[kaotek323i]

i installed a vf kit on my auto 323i and it blew the tranny a month into it.. im going 5speed now

[demonspeed7]

So much for VF being a safe bet for stock auto trannies. Did you drive the hell out of the car after you supercharged it??? Be honest now. I know I drive my cars hard.:excited::excited:

[kaotek323i]

yes.. but it also had 150k

[demonspeed7]

Ohh ok,
That kinda makes sense then. That was one tired tranny. Still sucks tho.

[demonspeed7]

I came across these folks. For those of us that are trying to keep the step trannies but need a little beefing up to handle the extra power.
http://www.ipttrans.com/bmwauto.shtml#main

[Miss325]

Which supercharger kit did you decide to go with Miss 325? From the research I've done so far I think the vf kit is probably the safest for the auto trannies. It makes roughly 280 horses and 235 ft lbs of torque at the flywheel at 6psi.

I was considdering ASA, but I ended up going with the AA kit as it had all the bits I needed and makes good power.

[lorenzeandmark]

Any updates from yous guys...?

[generic 330i]

Any updates?

[Penn]

I've replied to many threads like this.

I've had my 330ci AA charged for 2 years now (about 40k kms). And i have no problems with my gearbox. That doesn't mean there isn't a risk it going out tomorrow. If you supercharge you have to accept there's a risk it might happen. Heck the gearbox might not be the only thing blows up...

[triniboy18]

Very interesting i have a 323ci stepronic with about 114k and also want to supercharge it, but going through all this stuff seems to much now...

[sooper]

No need to strengthen the transmission. I have a 5HP19 and it's still running great. But I do recommend changing the transmission fluid yearly. Also install an extra transmission cooler if possible.


+1 tranny cooler is a cheap mod to put and wont do any harm. It's your right foot that will also affect your tranny life. Stay away from accelerating from a dead stop which will hurt your tranny.

There will also be other problems like vacum leaks (like me and i havent solved it yet!). Other parts what will break down so you should be prepared: fuel pump (so change your filter as you install), MAF (possible) and water pump. Speaking from a car that was SC'd at 150,000 kms. Good luck