VF Engineering or Active Autowerke?

[tchavis1989]

hey guys, so lately i've been reading up on superchargers and am pretty interested in possibly doing such to my car come summer though am debating which company to go with ... i have a 330i ZHP and see that active autowerke makes a stage1 328/330i kit for $4,400 while vf engineering sells one for $5,000. what's the difference between the two from personal experience and with that said is there any need to really go for the TSS offered by AA? i'd be very much content with 330hp and 2xx lbs/torque. chime in please!

regards,
tyler

[akb4]

Vf

[MachRc]

for your 330, your better off with the ess twin screw..or you can opt to be one of the new turbo kits when they release it for the zhp.

AA had multiple stages for their centri kits

vf has only one stage with non other planned.

and you will never be content with a stage one without intercooling or after cooling of sort.

in your poll id go AA stage 2

[bluejeansonfire]

AA +1....
if you don't want to spend over 5k initially, AA
If you want turbo and more power, consider, Technique Tuning, their upper power levels, I feel, will top those of AA for the m54

[Novare330]

active :bow:

[Sean@VF-Engineering]

VF FTW :woot:

Ask me why.
-Sean

[Activ3]

AA.

As far as I know, VF has no cooling system at all on their non-m kit and is limited to their one power level, which was never really anything special... AAs C38 stage one will get you up to 300whp and allows you the option to later upgrade to stage 2, and even then you can add cams and meth to see 350+whp. As for the TS unit, ESSs kit makes awesome low end torque and hp, but they are not as strong up top. It all depends on what you're ultimately looking for.

[TxZHP04]

VF FTW :woot:

Ask me why.
-Sean

Ok, I'll bite. Why?

Your web site has indicated that stage 1 for the ZHP has been in development for what, 3 - 4 years. You've also indicated that there are no plans to actually develop a stage 2 for the non-M e46. What's cooking at VF these days... you actually have something for the OP's car?

[HPFMTRE]

Vf ftw +10000000

[JELBMW330I]

Active!!!!

[BimmerDude18]

Spend $6900 on a TT turbo, or get the AA C38, the limits you get stuck with on the VF kit suck.

[imapimp]

VF, as the most important part of the purchase is after the sale customer support. I have dealt with both VF and AA and the after sale service is far better with VF. They are also quick to email and call you back. Anytime I call or email Sean during business hours I get a reply within minutes. I have also contacted Nik numerous times afterhours and on Sat/Sun with a quick response as well.

[tchavis1989]

hm ... sure vf engineering is lacking when it comes to a stage2 kit etc but i'm only looking to push a little more than 300hp at the max, i'd kill myself with anything else as i'm nineteen and totaled my last car which was a 350z (though i was paying for it as i am with what i'm driving now so no flaming) ... plain and simple, i'm trying to re-create what i had with that car and feel the vf engineering supecharger kit will give me just that plus more and it's set at a reasonable price. though i am interested in all this intercooler talk, bare with me as i'm new to super/turbo charging and kpeng will probably tell me to "search" but i thought you only needed an intercooler with a turbo, am guessing i was wrong but you guys are saying with vf i won't have any metal box showing through my csl v1?! haha, only kidding but seriously, i'd like to know ...

by the way i also saw that kpeng has a nitrous setup, how much do they usually run? any reputeable vendors that sell them? and are they safe to use under normal conditions? (won't hurt your engine anymore than any other type of f/i etc)

like i said ... please bare with me as i'm VERY new to forced induction

regards,
tyler

[chivo328]

The VF kit for your car does not include an intercooler. From what I understand the boost seen is low enough that an intercooler is unnecessary.

I have found that there is alot less search/ego talk in this forum. The guys in here seem to be pretty tolerant of people new to the FI scene.

Good luck with your decision.

[Activ3]

hm ... sure vf engineering is lacking when it comes to a stage2 kit etc but i'm only looking to push a little more than 300hp at the max, i'd kill myself with anything else as i'm nineteen and totaled my last car which was a 350z (though i was paying for it as i am with what i'm driving now so no flaming) ... plain and simple, i'm trying to re-create what i had with that car and feel the vf engineering supecharger kit will give me just that plus more and it's set at a reasonable price. though i am interested in all this intercooler talk, bare with me as i'm new to super/turbo charging and kpeng will probably tell me to "search" but i thought you only needed an intercooler with a turbo, am guessing i was wrong but you guys are saying with vf i won't have any metal box showing through my csl v1?! haha, only kidding but seriously, i'd like to know ...

by the way i also saw that kpeng has a nitrous setup, how much do they usually run? any reputeable vendors that sell them? and are they safe to use under normal conditions? (won't hurt your engine anymore than any other type of f/i etc)

like i said ... please bare with me as i'm VERY new to forced induction

regards,
tyler
The design of the VF blower and the limited space in our bays doesn't really allow space for an intercooler setup on the non-m. I also doubt that 6psi would yield 330hp from a 330, and if even if that's true, that'd be about 270ish whp, which would still put you below an M3. Now that I think about it, I don't think they've even finished their ms45 tune for the 3.0 yet. A lot of these guys chiming in for VF have M3s, and have no experience with the non-m kit. I will say that VF has a solid M3 kit, but I can't say the same for the non-m, and many of the non-m fanatics will tell you the same.

[Ervin87]

I would go with the AA kit. AA kit gives you an option to upgrade your kit and most importantly, run an intercooler. Heat soak is no good and after a few runs you will probably notice that heat soak with a VF kit compared to an AA.

[///MIAM3]

Go AA. VF is overpriced!!

[tchavis1989]

what about nitrous?

regards,
tyler

[bluejeansonfire]

what about nitrous?

regards,
tyler

avoid overlapping nitrous and boost in an aluminum motor. If you want just nitrous, you'll be slow unless you're shooting a lot. We've seen the example of kpeng, he still hasn't run in the 13s, perhaps this will change shortly, with slicks. But cams and hedders alone will earn you better than that, without slicks. nitrous you have to refill. You can wire up a progressive or on/off switch to the gas pedal to make it feel more a permanent part of the package. Yet it is a functional very cheap solution to make your car a little faster. Cast ironed bmws have more fun with nitrous. You could try to make a bigger spray. Good luck not blowing shits up.

[kpeng]

avoid overlapping nitrous and boost in an aluminum motor. If you want just nitrous, you'll be slow unless you're shooting a lot. We've seen the example of kpeng, he still hasn't run in the 13s, perhaps this will change shortly, with slicks. But cams and hedders alone will earn you better than that, without slicks. nitrous you have to refill. You can wire up a progressive or on/off switch to the gas pedal to make it feel more a permanent part of the package. Yet it is a functional very cheap solution to make your car a little faster. Cast ironed bmws have more fun with nitrous. You could try to make a bigger spray. Good luck not blowing shits up.

The transmission has a lot to do with it. He has a 6 speed, he will be running in the mid to low 13's.

[tchavis1989]

hm ... how much do those setups usually run and no i'd be doing one or the other, nitrous if it could work out because of course it's cheaper but with that said how often would i need to be refilling my bottle and is it really that unsafe to use? also while every state is different what's the legal action taken if caught with such? you mentioned wiring it to my pedal too? i've heard of such but explain more ... please.

regards,
tyler

[kpeng]

hm ... how much do those setups usually run and no i'd be doing one or the other, nitrous if it could work out because of course it's cheaper but with that said how often would i need to be refilling my bottle and is it really that unsafe to use? also while every state is different what's the legal action taken if caught with such? you mentioned wiring it to my pedal too? i've heard of such but explain more ... please.

regards,
tyler

Dude, seriously...you need to search and read. This has all been covered.

It's not unsafe if you're running a 50 shot. How often you refill depends on how often you use it.

[boosted323]

hm ... how much do those setups usually run and no i'd be doing one or the other, nitrous if it could work out because of course it's cheaper but with that said how often would i need to be refilling my bottle and is it really that unsafe to use? also while every state is different what's the legal action taken if caught with such? you mentioned wiring it to my pedal too? i've heard of such but explain more ... please.

regards,
tyler

Cheaper? Yeah the kit itself might be cheaper, but you need a bottle warmer, opener, progressive controller, ect... and most importantly, a tune.

[kpeng]

Cheaper? Yeah the kit itself might be cheaper, but you need a bottle warmer, opener, progressive controller, ect... and most importantly, a tune.

No need for a tune if he's going to run a 50 shot or lower.

[boosted323]

No need for a tune if he's going to run a 50 shot or lower.

Yeah true but you will gain more power with a tune.

[Active Autowerke]

Hello Board Members,

I don't get to frequent here as often as I would like.

As members on these boards, you are smart consumers who know track records speak for themselves. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record but we take pride in being loyal to our customers and will continue to support all models from the E36 models to the E9X M3.

We will persist as innovators to provide customers with improved and expanded selections from our existing product line.

We welcome your feedback, along with any questions.

Thank you for your continued support.

[kpeng]

I can tell ya guys that Omar, Kirk, Jean, and the rest of the sales guys at AA are awesome. The entire Hugh family is great too, and are very knowledgeable/experienced people. They are certainly Kpeng-approved. If you go with a SC, go with them.

[MachRc]

I have to give credit to vf though for entering the market with the first payment plan for their stage one 2-3 years ago for the non-ms. If money was tight, you were still able to squeeze out a blower under 6 grand (the cheapest then for a offshelf) with low monthly payments thru jlev the vendor. And for me, I see them as people who have came in the bmw scene and properly tuned and picked up where the best of the hardware people left off.. from a vw/porche background, so more kudos for them in competing their great selling m3 kits. Its also nice to see their logo on the forza 2 game..

who know, they may have a design for a water after cooler they mentioned before. But its unlikely.. if you think you dont need an intercooler fior low 6.5 psi boost,

go ESS ts1,

and upgrade to a ts2 with the heat exchanger and upped fuel/boost and you will be in heaven, no regrets or anything..

[_Calle_]

AA is not bad but in your position would reach to ESS TS2 or Nick's Turbo Kit.
Then you know what you have!!!

[bluejeansonfire]

AA is not bad but in your position would reach to ESS TS2 or Nick's Turbo Kit.
Then you know what you have!!!

I wouldn't consider twin screw for its lack of top end. I would prefer and consider centrifugals as better. AA or TT, IMHO.......
A C38 kit, is pretty much guaranteed to walk a twin screw at similar boost levels.

[parad0x]

Hands down, go turbo.. superchargers are a thing of the past now that nickG is currently selling a turbo kit for your vehicle, you would be nuts to not get it. Whatever supercharger kit you get will have worse resale then a turbo kit, and even if you decide to keep whatever kit you get on the car when you sell the vehicle it would probably sell a lot better with a turbo kit.

people very often upgrade from supercharger kits to turbo kits, you rarely ever see a case when somebody moves down from a turbo kit to a supercharger kit, and that sir is a very powerful statement in itself.. think about it before you make the call. If you want cheap cheap power, go nitrous.. if you want constant power, if I had a 330 my first preference would be a turbo kit and the only one available is through nickG at Technique Tuning.. The upgradeable options are a lot more obvious down the road as he plans to release a few stages of his turbo kit (first stage is like +300whp +310wtq, and following stages will probably be around +400whp to +500whp).. you also can adjust boost settings from inside the car with a turbo kit, as well as you wont be having problems with having to replace supercharger belts or dealing with a slipping belt.

If you are truly persistant in getting a supercharger kit, go with the twinscrew one.. but in my honest opinion given the prices you would be very sillly in not getting technique tunings turbo kit and my guess is you would highly be regretting the decision down the road.

[e46Bermann]

AA
I am very happy with the kit that sells AA, you have many possibilities to increase the HP, if the level 1 is small, AA offers more, otherwise they are always a problem for you, since I bought this kit I had ever met welcome.

[TaZaM3]

AA !!!!

Been in the game a long time. Experience!

[Stylin76er]

From what i have heard is that most AA s/c have problems as for mine when i had my 05 330 i had no problem with it but now that i have my 01 330 i am going to be putting on a VF so ill post to see which is better for me.

[Activ3]

From what i have heard is that most AA s/c have problems as for mine when i had my 05 330 i had no problem with it but now that i have my 01 330 i am going to be putting on a VF so ill post to see which is better for me.
no cooling or upgrades FTL

[kpeng]

no cooling or upgrades ftl

+1

[BimmerDude18]

From what i have heard is that most AA s/c have problems as for mine when i had my 05 330 i had no problem with it but now that i have my 01 330 i am going to be putting on a VF so ill post to see which is better for me.Either grab a C38 setup (stage 2 would be better) or get a TT turbo. The extra power and room for upgrades really just completely outshines a stage I VF kit.

[mtran850]

AA +1:thumbsup:

[rkneeshaw]

Ok, I'll bite. Why?

Your web site has indicated that stage 1 for the ZHP has been in development for what, 3 - 4 years. You've also indicated that there are no plans to actually develop a stage 2 for the non-M e46. What's cooking at VF these days... you actually have something for the OP's car?

He never did answer :tsk:

[BimmerDude18]

He never did answer :tsk:

Honestly, AA has a lot going for the M54's, and Nick G has a lot coming up for them.

I can testify to the awesomeness of the turbo kit. It is a ridiculously fast kit.

[illfx]

If you want an AA kit, Ill sell you my car. I wish I never had to deal with AA. Good parts, bad everything else like customer care, support, respect, honesty...

[BMW_Matt]

If you want an AA kit, Ill sell you my car. I wish I never had to deal with AA. Good parts, bad everything else like customer care, support, respect, honesty...

I'll take your supercharger lol

[rushman]

I have a VF kit and if I could choose again I'd have a turbo, AA's kit, or ESS or anybody's kit but not VF's. I dont get answered when I ask why they told me on the phone they were bringing a stage 2/3 kit to market....... and didnt and don't plan to. So I ended up with a kit I can't upgrade and no one wants to explain or even have the courtesy to apologise.

They claim to be developing a stage 1/2/3 kits for the 330 ZHP on their website but have basically admitted on this forum that these kits are most unlikely to ever come to market. So should the stage 1 ZHP kit ever be released...any poor sap that buys it will be stuck at stage 1.

Buy anything but a VF kit is my advice.