My Touring joins the FI club with VF's kit.

I finally got my VF kit installed in my 325i wagon with the help of 2M Automotive in Burlingame. I thought I share my experience as it certainly is one.. the whole process from choosing, buying and installing.

First about my decision with going with VF. There were only 2 kits I was considering, AA and VF's. I went with VF's kit for it's simplicity, reliability and the Vortech S/C. Oh, and the price! I spoke to Rotrex directly in regards to servicing their units and they told me they are NOT rebuild-able. You basically have to buy a new one if anything goes wrong. That didn't make any sense to me especially for when their impeller spins to over 100k! So far VF's support has been great and very responsive.

The kit was shipping out in about a week after I ordered it. Hubert was the saleman who helped me and kept me up to date. It arrived well packaged and only missed a few items. A silicone hose and clamp. The replacement should be arriving shortly. A good tip is to take a photo of the kit with all the parts we you received it. I was able to refer to the photo later to figure out exactly what was received.

The install wasn't as straight foward as I expected but after dealing with the issues, it's in and I'm in the process of breaking it in. So far 80 miles and very anxious to open rev it up. The adaptation stage is cleary making it's adjustments. Still working with VF to iron out a few minor things but it's running smoothly. It fired right up without any issues. Idle is smooth and no hunting as I've read other's experienced. 2M Automotive's experience got through many of the difficulties. The areas we ran into issues was the plenum to the throttle body, and interfence between HID housing and the MAF. There were other few things but those were the major ones.

Overall fit, tight, there isn't much room to work with. A lot of components are right up against each other. I want to try and get these resolved as it doesn't cause any issues. Hopefully dealing with it will have it's payoff. I already notice torque gains and that's just under the 3.5k rpm.

pics!

Nice, pics please ///

do you have an automatic?

Pics or it didn't happen =)

for you non believers.. lol.. if you can make it out. Better photos are on my Iphone.

It's a 5 speed, I wouldn't have bothered installing an S/C if it was an auto.. acutally, I wouldn't have even bought the car if it was an auto!

Here a few REAL photos. 150 miles left till I break-in is complete.

Still need to resolve a few issues, securing HID ballast, power steering reservoir mount height.

Are you getting a stage 2?

I only asked if it was auto because the non-m vf kits are stage 1 only as of three years ago.., which are perfect for automatics.


if you went with AA or ESS there is room for growth.. with non m vf kit..your stuck with a non-heat exchanged kit.

There will never be a stage 2, atleast that's my take.

enjoy it

I got the same kit, currently having some idle issues.
Make sure upper rad hose is not touching the belt. I had to develop a little bracket which lifts the hose up slightly

Edit: Here's the pic

Originally Posted by keith_m3-4

There will never be a stage 2, atleast that's my take.

how so?

becasue its been forever..they have teased a stage 2 manifold with air to water..but it seems like it was for the m not the non-m. At one time I was sure they would release it..but I hyavent seen it come to fruitation.. prob too expensive to design a manifold and sell it to limited number of stage one owners...

so far a friend of mine who parks right next to me @ work, has plans for a water/alcohol injection so he can run a smaller pulley..becasue hes been stuck with his setup for along long time..

Originally Posted by A55A55IN

how so?

Are you serious? How long has it been? I'll leave it to VF to chime in. I hope I am wrong.

Originally Posted by Hrvat

I got the same kit, currently having some idle issues.
Make sure upper rad hose is not touching the belt. I had to develop a little bracket which lifts the hose up slightly

Edit: Here's the pic

Thanks for the tip but I resolved it by slightly rotating hose. With that I have 1/2" of clearance. Mines idles perfect. It dropped from about 800 to 600. Very smooth.

Originally Posted by keith_m3-4

Thanks for the tip but I resolved it by slightly rotating hose. With that I have 1/2" of clearance. Mines idles perfect. It dropped from about 800 to 600. Very smooth.

Hmm, I tried rotating it but no dice. I must be one of the cases that they mention in the install guide.

Did you actually go for a drive? Cuz my idle is perfect every time I start up the car. It just goes to shitter after I drive the car. And when car is cold, it takes 2-3 minutes of driving for idle issue to occur

I wouldn't comment it's smooth unless I drove it.. I've been driving it for 260 miles now.. perfect idle.. did you have any luck getting support from VF?

Looking at your hose, that's probably the issue? Mines appears to it turns out(forward) earlier.. check out the photo. See the immediate bulg right off the fitting? That part is key to have the cleareance. I rotated it more to gain a little more. I assume you are using the one VF gave you right? It look very similar to stock one except for a light bulb at the fitting.

Did you have any issue install your duct that connects to your throttle body? I actually had to trim the master cyclinder cover/panel to gain enough clearance!

I'll take a look at the hose tomorrow but what I did did the trick
Yeah, I've been getting support from them.

Will be getting my adaptations reset along with getting smoke test done. Did you have to reset your adaptations?
As for installing discharge pipe (pipe from SC to throttle body), I didn't trim the cover but used heat gun to dent in that buldge.

no resetting.. just fired up and started break in.

Your bracket is a short term fix. I would get VF to get it corrected.

Keith, I work in San Carlos with a recently acquired 03 325it ZSP 5sp blue-grey. Give me a ride when you open 'er up! Is there a CARB issue with these units?