3.0si supercharger options

[rich48848]

I was looking at an ESS TS1 supercharger kit, available from CA International, Mstyle or Simpson Motorsport (not sure if they supply just a kit).

This should produce around 320hp without intercooling at 6psi boost.

Are there any other kits worth looking at? I'd prefer to buy from a UK dealer if possible.

I'm not sure the VF is available in the UK?

[markplant]

Of those 3 an going by reviews an comments I'd be talking with Simpson,
The Alpina in there projects section was a forum car

[GuidoK]

ESS TS1 (twinscrew setup) doesnt work on a n52 engine; its for m54.

for n52 the only ess option is the VT1 kit (centrifugal setup).

TBH if you're going without intercooling, centrifugal is the only way to go imho.
A twinscrew delivers very good torque down low etc but has a slightly lower efficiency, thus more heat. Als because its already working from down low, you'll use that torque (and thus heat) more often.
If I feel on my TS2+ how effective the watercooler is, its amaizing. The compressor can get pretty hot, but the watercooler (sandwitched between hot compressor and hot engine) is easily 20deg colder (estimate)

VF currently doesnt have a kit for the n52 engine I believe so you're stuck with ESS VT1 (with or without extra pulley upgrade)

If you're planning on installing it yourself, I'd buy directly from ess. They have excellent support.

[rich48848]

ESS TS1 (twinscrew setup) doesnt work on a n52 engine; its for m54.

for n52 the only ess option is the VT1 kit (centrifugal setup).

TBH if you're going without intercooling, centrifugal is the only way to go imho.
A twinscrew delivers very good torque down low etc but has a slightly lower efficiency, thus more heat. Als because its already working from down low, you'll use that torque (and thus heat) more often.
If I feel on my TS2+ how effective the watercooler is, its amaizing. The compressor can get pretty hot, but the watercooler (sandwitched between hot compressor and hot engine) is easily 20deg colder (estimate)

VF currently doesnt have a kit for the n52 engine I believe so you're stuck with ESS VT1 (with or without extra pulley upgrade)

If you're planning on installing it yourself, I'd buy directly from ess. They have excellent support.

Thanks for clearing that up! I was going slightly mad trying to figure out which kits were for which engines!

So ESS will sell directly rather than pointing me to a UK dealer?

[BMWZ4MC]

Of those 3 an going by reviews an comments I'd be talking with Simpson,
The Alpina in there projects section was a forum car

Agreed - from experience, I'd avoid CA!

[rich48848]

Just been reading some very long threads on e90post about a guy that turbo'd his n52 and got bonkers whp with it. It's his daily drive too... 500hp at 15psi.

but that's a whole other story...

[GuidoK]

So ESS will sell directly rather than pointing me to a UK dealer?

I bought my kit directly from ess (that was already 6 years ago).
Take in mind that the prices you see at their website are without VAT/import duty.
So it will be roughly 25% more expensive.

[rich48848]

So ESS will sell directly rather than pointing me to a UK dealer?

I bought my kit directly from ess (that was already 6 years ago).
Take in mind that the prices you see at their website are without VAT/import duty.
So it will be roughly 25% more expensive.

So looking at the dyno chart on the ESS site, the SC only gives you about 20hp at 4k rpm and you only get a 50hp gain at 6k rpm.

Does this mean that to feel any benefit, you have to thrash the arse off the motor all the time?

Anyone seen any figures for 0-60 or 1/4 mile time improvement?

[adam1985]

i think with a supercharger then main benifit is torque throughout the rev range. looking at the graph about 10% more torque at 3k, 15% at 4k and 25% more at 6k.

still a big outlay about £3700 (+Guidok's estimated 25% for taxes) for not massive gains

[Monaco84]

Hi,

there are two guys in Europe who have installed a ESS-supercharger to their 3.0si. On from norway and one from germany.

I am not familiar with your forum rules but I hope it's ok to post a link to other z4 forums in this case:

Norway: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1104227
(Supercharger installment starting on page

Germany: http://www.zroadster.com/forum/index.ph ... det.99835/
(Supercharger installment starting on page

Patrick

[Monaco84]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80727

Did not see that thread earlier today

[rich48848]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80727

Did not see that thread earlier today

Yes I read through that thread. Amazing work on the interior and exterior styling, not much info on how the SC performed in use on the road...

The dyno shows that things only get interesting past 5k...

Still working my way through the very interesting N52 turbo threads on e90post...

[GuidoK]

So looking at the dyno chart on the ESS site, the SC only gives you about 20hp at 4k rpm and you only get a 50hp gain at 6k rpm.

Does this mean that to feel any benefit, you have to thrash the arse off the motor all the time?

The dyno shows that things only get interesting past 5k...

Maximum gain is 70hp peak at the wheels. (if I read the ess graph correctly, which is not bad I think)
But torque wise the gain is in the higher rev range. Its the characteristic of any centrifugal compressor.
A centrifugal compressor has a reasonable high efficiency but the tradeoff is a narrow bandwith. So the peak gain is high but its usually at the top of the revrange. For the twinscrew its almost the opposite.
As far as pricewise goes, I usually consider €70,- per horsepower gain (thats incl vat, shipping etc) still a reasonable price for NA engines. This kit is more like € 80,- per horsepower, so a little over that.
But usually it doesnt end there. More hp (or more perfomance) also benefits from bigger brakes, and foremost an lsd. That also comes at a price

Strangely for the m54 the gain is higher which is strange.

Sell your car, buy a e89 35i with a manual and tune that to 500hp for a few pence

[rich48848]

Sell your car, buy a e89 35i with a manual and tune that to 500hp for a few pence

But e89 looks horrible compared to e86!

I know what you mean though!