330Ci supercharger

[lewis_330ci]

Alright Ive been toying with the idea of supercharging my 01 330ci for a while. and now i just found a used 7 or 8 psi ESS kit for a very good price that includes everything needed. the ecu would need to be sent in and mapped for an additional $400, but the end result would be around 100hp increase at the crank. the main reason im hesitant is that im concerned about long term engine damage and pretty much just screwing up the car. would you guys go for it or just enjoy the car for what it is?

[BMW_Stu]

:popcorn:

[wasp9166]

im pretty sure you get more than 100hp with a 7-8 psi kit

[tehsex]

ur not gonna mess up your engine... really! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!!!

[NOVAbimmer]

how much are You getting this kit for?

[Pir4t]

Alright Ive been toying with the idea of supercharging my 01 330ci for a while. and now i just found a used 7 or 8 psi ESS kit for a very good price that includes everything needed. the ecu would need to be sent in and mapped for an additional $400, but the end result would be around 100hp increase at the crank. the main reason im hesitant is that im concerned about long term engine damage and pretty much just screwing up the car. would you guys go for it or just enjoy the car for what it is?

Which of the kits is it , the LS (twinscrew) or the older one , if it's the older one (which kinda looks like a turbo) i wouldnt do it :)

[Bimmer^Hue]

:popcorn:

ur engine should be fine

[itzdylan24]

peer pressure peer pressure!!!

[Autobot325i]

doo iittt i just got the sponsor deal VF SC. only pushes 6 maybe it would be less wear on the engine :rofl:

7 or 8...just do, you only live once...and if for some reason the engine one day decides to say Goodnight..get another :P

[BMW_Stu]

doo iittt i just got the sponsor deal VF SC. only pushes 6 maybe it would be less wear on the engine :rofl:

7 or 8...just do, you only live once...and if for some reason the engine one day decides to say Goodnight..get another :P

i used 2 have that philosiphy, but i talked 2 someone on here who's engine got ruined cuz of something, he has a 330 coupe, it cost him 12,000 to get it replaced and installed.

[DiscoStu]

If the supercharger is a good deal, go for it. As far as engine life, there is someone on this forum with either the AA or ESS kit and 180k miles on the engine, it's still running fine.

[TxZHP04]

Those of us with superchargers tend to hang out in the FI forum. You'll get better feedback there. :)

[Acarder]

If the supercharger is a good deal, go for it. As far as engine life, there is someone on this forum with either the AA or ESS kit and 180k miles on the engine, it's still running fine.

108 seems rather low to be exclaiming about the long life the engine has with the kit :lmao: something like 200-300k miles would be impressive..

[neil1138]

108 seems rather low to be exclaiming about the long life the engine has with the kit :lmao: something like 200-300k miles would be impressive..

Are you dyslexic? He said 180k, that's impressive enough to me

[wasp9166]

108 on a charger super? wow

[Searich07]

Supercharged engines require better water pump, radiator, larger brakes, pads and set up. As you increase response, you also increase need for more baking power, i.e. larger rotors, matching pads, and ability to keep engine cool. Factory built supercharged cars include all mechanical aspects which match performance requirements, and it is tested at factory before put into production.

I would recommend you see results of product testing prior to jumping in. M3, M5, & M6 do well on track, but are way over built for going to food store for a gallon of milk, or commuting daily to work.

Richard

Richard

[lamaker]

Those of us with superchargers tend to hang out in the FI forum. You'll get better feedback there. :)

well...aren't you special....(really, I am jealous..lol...)

[russ330]

Supercharged engines require better water pump, radiator, larger brakes, pads and set up. As you increase response, you also increase need for more baking power, i.e. larger rotors, matching pads, and ability to keep engine cool. Factory built supercharged cars include all mechanical aspects which match performance requirements, and it is tested at factory before put into production.

Please explain to me how stopping from 45 MPH with a supercharger is any different than stopping from 45 MPH without a supercharger.

I'll ignore the rest of the comments, but that one in particular stood out.

/Moved to the correct forum.

[Autobot325i]

Please explain to me how stopping from 45 MPH with a supercharger is any different than stopping from 45 MPH without a supercharger.

I'll ignore the rest of the comments, but that one in particular stood out.

/Moved to the correct forum.

i guess its something like a heavy girl running at 5mph and a thin girl running at 5mph. the stop resistance is different for each

[evilstar]

i used 2 have that philosiphy, but i talked 2 someone on here who's engine got ruined cuz of something, he has a 330 coupe, it cost him 12,000 to get it replaced and installed.

Wow that guy got reamed. I payed much much ... much less and it was swap to a m54b30 from a m54b25. Which by the way no shops really like to do and is not that difficult.

as to stopping from 45 mph agreed the differences in mass are not really enough to make any really change to your stopping differences but the speed and how fast you get there is maybe this is what he was refering to???

[MachRc]

Alright Ive been toying with the idea of supercharging my 01 330ci for a while. and now i just found a used 7 or 8 psi ESS kit for a very good price that includes everything needed. the ecu would need to be sent in and mapped for an additional $400, but the end result would be around 100hp increase at the crank. the main reason im hesitant is that im concerned about long term engine damage and pretty much just screwing up the car. would you guys go for it or just enjoy the car for what it is?


Make sure you understand the different "generation" of supercharger the seller is selling you.

ESS's first entry 7-8 years ago was the vortechs, then they switched to ASA blowers and now twinscrew.

all three types of blowers have different characteristics, the first generation , the vortech was non-clutched type so it spins all the time and delivers nice power on top. Its not the most silent blower and the sound is quite different during idle when i compare it to the asa.(i park next to mr chuck's vortech 540) its not bad or anything, you just hear it..unlike the asa which is silent during idle..

the second one they made during the e46 cycle refresh, the ASA clutched blower, now id take this over the first gen, and it spools alot quicker and its basically more refined than the vortech and more efficient centrifugal charger in opionion per say..now if this is the one youre aquiring it would be a awesome deal.


and the new twinscrew avail now that maximize the whole FI witchcraft experience early in the power band like a turbo from the digg..

get familiar and feel free to express your concerns.

i have 170k on the dial and have been boosting my car since 120k or so..

sometimes im bad with oil changes and even substitute synthetic blends, but i take good care of her, and just make sure you go to the right recommend installer, because that is the most crucial part of the deal.

[Novare330]

i guess its something like a heavy girl running at 5mph and a thin girl running at 5mph. the stop resistance is different for each

how is that even relevant to needing added stopping power for a FI car? :facepalm:

adding a supercharger or turbo isnt going to considerably increase the mass of your car :lmao:

if youre traveling at the same speed with negligible difference in mass and on the same level surface, the amount of braking power needed to stop the car would be the same.

[TxZHP04]

Stock 330 brakes are plenty good enough for daily driving a SC'd car. Repeated heavy braking on the track with the higher corner entry speeds afforded by the extra power will overheat the brakes more quickly. Of course, even with a stock motor, track duty is a stretch for street oriented pads. Really depends on how you use the car. The cooling system really isn't an issue on these cars either.

Stick with a reliable vendor like ESS, VF, AA, etc and don't push their kits further than they were intended and you'll be fine. Believe it or not, they do test their kits. They're not fly-by-night operations that cobble some parts together and leave the customer to fend for themselves.

[stb5151]

DO IT.

No pressure though.

[BMW_Stu]

Wow that guy got reamed. I payed much much ... much less and it was swap to a m54b30 from a m54b25. Which by the way no shops really like to do and is not that difficult.

as to stopping from 45 mph agreed the differences in mass are not really enough to make any really change to your stopping differences but the speed and how fast you get there is maybe this is what he was refering to???

yeah i thought that sounded excessively high 2, but he wasnt makin it up. that kinda scared the sh!i outa me. how much did it cost you.

[Custom3]

lmaoooo great example...i guess that answered your question :lmao:
i guess its something like a heavy girl running at 5mph and a thin girl running at 5mph. the stop resistance is different for each

[russ330]

lmaoooo great example...i guess that answered your question :lmao:

Actually no. The analogy, while humorous is incorrect. This would only apply if adding a supercharger significantly increased the weight of the vehicle. Last I checked people don't upgrade their brakes when they have a passenger in the car, which adds more weight than a supercharger does.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

[Autobot325i]

yes joke intended.

If increase HP
Then faster speed

ElseIf stop and go
= bbk (benefit)

Else street
= null

End if

[russ330]

^:lmao: You're such a nerd. :nerd:

[Silveraudi]

yes joke intended.

If increase HP
Then faster speed

ElseIf stop and go
= bbk (benefit)

Else street
= null

End if

Why on earth does more HP mean driving at higher speeds ?.. I drive my supercharged 330ci normally most of the time, sometimes probably slower then I would drive a less powerful car because I know I have all that power on tap. When I want to drive fast, I drive with either 200 or w/e horsepower, doesn´t really matter..
I can´t see the use of a BBK on a s/c 330ci, unless you track it (and then it would make sense either you are supercharged or not) or if the 330 had a poor brake system (which it doesn´t)

With that said, supercharge your 330, its really worth it !!

[vI6ious]

twas a joke

[lewis_330ci]

Wow...thanks for all the replies. I'm glad I stirred some interest. This s/c idea is really eatin at me now and I think i'm just gonna man up and do it. it is the older style though, not the new twin screw. i'll just attach the url so if i don't do it at least someone here can get themselves some forced induction for dirt cheap. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120405211544&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=
on another note, my car does have 121,xxx miles right now, and by the time i could install this (im on temporary military orders away from home without tools, time or facility) it would be more like 125-130k. this will be a crazy last second decision for me, i have to see what the price does at the end of the listing

[TxZHP04]

That kit was for a 323, check with ESS about compatibility with the 330. The 323 and 330 use different size MAFs and injectors, it might not end up being as cheap as you're expecting by the time you buy all the parts and software to make it work. That's also the really old Vortech kit, too bad it's not at least the ASA based kit. If I were you I'd just keep saving up.

[Chris@ESS]

If you're considering one of our kits on a higher mileage vehicle, we have never had any issues and don't require any out of the ordinary maintenance, we do recommend the following basic upgrades when considering F/I:

-New fuel filter
-New Fuel pump
-New spark plugs

In the event that any of these things are say well beyond their life expectancy. Usually changing your fuel pump around 80k miles is a good idea as it greatly effects top end power.

As great a deal as that kit looks, I would highly recommend saving up for one of our more recent generation kits. It would also ensure that you receive every part necessary for installation and guarantee the performance you're seeking.

[lewis_330ci]

alright. i think ill just wait for a newer kit to come up then. it sounds like it would be worth the wait

[330i ZHP]

good idea

[mm325]

My e36 was s/c'd w/ the very first ESS Gen1 kit, a Powerdyne unit ( a much maligned head unit that was perfect for my needs safely maximized at 8-9 psi). It was installed at 119k and was was running great when I sold it at >160k. All I did was follow an enthusiasts level of maintenance -basically the pre-free maintenance intervals BMW specified w/ synthetic fluids throughout. The clutch was even holding fine at 160k- I didn't abuse the car.
Centrifugals are very easy on the drivetrain, when you don't want the power , it's not there( this is also a drawback)
This car saw 5 autocrosses and 1 track day at HPT (w/ 156k on the clock)and performed flawlessly. I used a water/meth system f which I would recommend to minimize heat soak. No cooling mods were done. Suspension mods were basic, brake mods consisted of e46 calipers/vented rotors in the rear and Axis Metalmaster pads/better fluid/ss lines.
My zhp is being s/c'd as I type at a local shop w/ an AA c38 St. 1 I (used) setup I'll post dynos impressions etc. when it's done. Sorry for long post , pm if you have any ques.

[Safar]

While I agree better brakes can be a useful upgrade, I also subscribe to the question why more power equals higher speed.
Yes, with a supercharger you can get to higher speeds more easily, but we can already get our cars up to 100mph and more very easily. Does it mean we do, all the time?
By that rationale anyone with an M5 or similar 500hp+ car would have to drive it at 150mph all day long.

I'm getting boosted next week (yay!) as well although I have absolutely no intent to transform the newgained power into more speed. Acceleration? Hell yes. Top speed? No way.