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When I had the ESS Stage 1 on my e46 m3, it was a night and day difference. It made the car feel like what it should have been out of the box. While the power wasn't monstrous (360 ish whp), it was a blast to drive. For track applications it allowed me to keep up with the gutted and extremely weight reduced e46 m3's while keeping the car stock inside.
It will be a nice upgrade, you just have to tell yourself it's enough for whatever goal you have in mind.
Coming from a 911tt x50 back to an m3 (e92 in this case), I enjoy the drive of the m3 more. 6850 rev limit in the 996tt drove me nuts, but the turbos picked up so damn quick. It was so civilized I got bored. The m3, IMHO is better looking and much more practical. I'll be going the ESS route soon, likely the 535 as anything intercooled in Arizona summers heat soaks like a mofo.
If you're after straight line pulls, lots more power, go big or go home. If you want a nice boost over stock and want some road race / de track time, go 535.
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