Active Autowerke Generation 2 Level 3 Dyno 586WHP 398WTQ SAE

[schnell325]

Originally Posted by m33

Good stuff !
I have that same gauge , best way to monitor it is take it to redline then let off the gas and let the car coast itself back down and then hit the recall button.
Otherwise you'll get a spiked reading...

Oh that's good to know!

[NikB316]

Great info, thanks!

BTW just to update everyone that I've done enough boost measurements with the vent guage to have some pretty concrete numbers. Had a couple times hitting 9.5 as the maximum but most of the times it was right around ~9. It has been really cold here in NJ so we will see what difference the warmer weather will have. I emailed Active a copy of my dyno and asked for their opinions on everything including some comments regarding the boost being dangerously high. I'm sure some of you guys interested in going with my setup may ask the same questions so here is some direct information from Active.

Zak, the software engineer over there, confirmed basically exactly what Andrew mentioned: "Your kit is running the intended boost level. You must understand that the boost level is not your most important factor in deciding reliability. Horsepower level is way more important than taking boost level in to account. There is no magic number that will instantly blow your car up. Also, you may notice how smooth your power graph is. That is an indicator of how well the engine is running. The shakier and more jagged the graph, the clearer it is the car is running near the ragged edge.

Karl, the technical director over there added: "the boost at highest will always show at redline when the throttles close, there is a spike. So the boost will always show high. Look at the dyno run it shows the spike, this happens on all the newer cars that control rev limit by closing the throttles. Boost is a measurement of back pressure in the intake manifold, if you see for example 10 psi of boost with a particular set up and then change the exhaust to something more restrictive, the same car will show a higher boost level."

Thanks to everyone at Active for the prompt and detailed reply. I have 100% confidence in them and this product. It's always nice to hear differing opinions but at the end of the day it is Active & MaximumPSI who know my car and my kit the best. The guys at Active have gone above and beyond to address any of my needs. Even when I first bought the car, I didn't have the name of the original owner as I was the 3rd (at only 13k miles...), and Active made me feel like I had just purchased the kit directly from them.

I know there are other awesome shops and tuners but any serious performance work for any BMWs I own (on my 3rd) will be handled by Active & MaximumPSI.

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

AA has a lot of experience with supercharger kits on BMW M3s over the years. Centrifugal boost gradually comes in, so it is only at the very top end that it gets up around 10 psi. It is not there for long and it is much safer to have 10 psi there than at 4000 rpm (where many of us might actually prefer to have it) since cylinder pressures are dropping due to diminishing engine VE. AA has years of experience running 11-12 psi (and maybe even in the 13 psi range peak) on E46M3 with 8000 rpm redlines and 11.5:1 CR. To peak in the 10 psi range on a 12.0 CR motor seems in line. I don't think you have to spend $10k to build the motor.

The Vortech Si Trim seems to be slightly higher flowing than the big Rotrex, so 10 psi from the Vortech would be riskier. In the supercharger world, people are not as informed about flow rates. If you spend some time in the turbo world, you quickly learn that 10 psi is 10 psi but that the analysis is much more complicated than that. You might get significantly different power and torque from 10 psi with one turbo than 10 psi with another turbo.

[VCMpower]

Exactly! Whoever does not understand this, do not comment. If you want to understand,go to school or spend all your time looking over the shoulder of engine builders and tuners.

Originally Posted by NikB316

Great info, thanks!

BTW just to update everyone that I've done enough boost measurements with the vent guage to have some pretty concrete numbers. Had a couple times hitting 9.5 as the maximum but most of the times it was right around ~9. It has been really cold here in NJ so we will see what difference the warmer weather will have. I emailed Active a copy of my dyno and asked for their opinions on everything including some comments regarding the boost being dangerously high. I'm sure some of you guys interested in going with my setup may ask the same questions so here is some direct information from Active.

Zak, the software engineer over there, confirmed basically exactly what Andrew mentioned: "Your kit is running the intended boost level. You must understand that the boost level is not your most important factor in deciding reliability. Horsepower level is way more important than taking boost level in to account. There is no magic number that will instantly blow your car up. Also, you may notice how smooth your power graph is. That is an indicator of how well the engine is running. The shakier and more jagged the graph, the clearer it is the car is running near the ragged edge.

Karl, the technical director over there added: "the boost at highest will always show at redline when the throttles close, there is a spike. So the boost will always show high. Look at the dyno run it shows the spike, this happens on all the newer cars that control rev limit by closing the throttles. Boost is a measurement of back pressure in the intake manifold, if you see for example 10 psi of boost with a particular set up and then change the exhaust to something more restrictive, the same car will show a higher boost level."

Thanks to everyone at Active for the prompt and detailed reply. I have 100% confidence in them and this product. It's always nice to hear differing opinions but at the end of the day it is Active & MaximumPSI who know my car and my kit the best. The guys at Active have gone above and beyond to address any of my needs. Even when I first bought the car, I didn't have the name of the original owner as I was the 3rd (at only 13k miles...), and Active made me feel like I had just purchased the kit directly from them.

I know there are other awesome shops and tuners but any serious performance work for any BMWs I own (on my 3rd) will be handled by Active & MaximumPSI.

[NikB316]

VCM,
Facebook tells me your Level 3 is on/in progress!? updates?

[schnell325]

Originally Posted by NikB316

VCM,
Facebook tells me your Level 3 is on/in progress!? updates?

Bah!! He's just a bloody tease.

[VCMpower]

Done 30 minutes ago my man!! Running fantastic. I will post some updates for all to scrap over soon LOL

Originally Posted by NikB316

VCM,
Facebook tells me your Level 3 is on/in progress!? updates?

[VCMpower]

You bugger Your ride will get special attention in May now my friend

Originally Posted by schnell325

Bah!! He's just a bloody tease.

[NikB316]

VCM,
Sweet! Looking forward to seeing some dynos and detailed impressions. Man every time I get on the gas I have a huge grin on my face. Been destroying any car that has come my way (high HP stock cars though...). Looking forward to some friendly 650 runs as my buddy is just about done with getting his car back up!

Schnell,
You going Level 3 too my Active brotha!?

[VCMpower]

[NikB316]

Sweet video! Glad to see the kits going global . If I'm not mistaken the first one sold is in Europe? Enjoy!

[VCMpower]

Thanks buddy! Yep Europe it was. I remember the day Karl told me they were sending it over there. Then my wallet got a lot lighter

Originally Posted by NikB316

Sweet video! Glad to see the kits going global . If I'm not mistaken the first one sold is in Europe? Enjoy!

[NikB316]

Man I know that feeling. Bought my car with most of the mods already done and thought to myself I won't need to spend more than $1k. 6 months later have managed to spend over $10k on s/c upgrade, side skirts, mirrors, other cf bits, headlights and a few things I'm probably forgetting. Expensive hobby but welllllll worth it

[VCMpower]

Originally Posted by NikB316

Man I know that feeling. Bought my car with most of the mods already done and thought to myself I won't need to spend more than $1k. 6 months later have managed to spend over $10k on s/c upgrade, side skirts, mirrors, other cf bits, headlights and a few things I'm probably forgetting. Expensive hobby but welllllll worth it

Indeed

[schnell325]

Originally Posted by VCMpower

You bugger Your ride will get special attention in May now my friend

Perhaps. Perhaps.


Send me the numbers.

[BPMSport]

AA: Please stop posting pics!

You're making it hard for me to resist.

[NikB316]

Dooo it! Come on, all the cool kids are doing it. it's just one hit, whoops I mean kit

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by NikB316

Dooo it! Come on, all the cool kids are doing it. it's just one hit, whoops I mean kit

Modding this car is like a drug addiction.

Even when I say no more I eventually reach for the pipe again

[NikB316]

Very soon we will all be attending MA meetings...M-aholic anonymous

[VCMpower]

:

Nik, got out and put a couple hundred kilometers on yesterday! Wow!!!

[NikB316]

VCM,
Nice!!! Man you must love the kit although even your previous Gen 1 Level 2 was putting down 500whp. This is still on another level . Can't wait to see some dynos. Just saw another users signature that said "Active Level 3" I think from somewhere in the Mid West but I could be wrong. Good to see more people jumping on these.

AA Level 3 + Defiv Rear Diff Brace = success!

[GabeS]

did you do the bearings on this?