ESS VT2 575 Review, Pics, and Dyno Charts

tinpot · 07-03-2011, 04:54 PM

Overview

I’ve had my ESS VT2 575 kit for almost a month now and thought it was time to write a review. I have nothing new to add about the ESS kit as the superlatives in other reviews are accurate: “OEM look”, “OEM feel”, “don’t notice it’s there”, “acceleration is smooth”, “car pulls hard”, etc., etc. However, below are some of my impressions of the kit.

After breaking in the kit my first pull resulted in my lip falling off! Impression #1: the car is very fast especially when accelerating at high speeds (I guess all cars are fast at high speeds but you get what I mean). If the RPMs are below 4,000 RPMs, the kit is not noticeable. At higher RPMs and higher speeds the car comes to life. The acceleration of the car is the same as stock. It’s just a lot faster.

Since getting the kit I’ve tracked my car and was pleasantly surprised that the engine didn’t overheat nor feel slower after 4+ hours at the track. Especially since the temperature was 95 and the humidity was 80%. Again, the car felt the same as stock at the track except on the straights where the car pulls hard. Unfortunately, the kit hasn’t helped improve my cornering speed or ability.

What is noticeable about the kit is the noise from both the engine and the exhaust. My car is louder than before and I can hear the whine of the blower (it’s faint but a keen ear can notice it). My car is definitely not as loud as my previous supercharged Camaro SS, but there is a jet engine like sound with all the air being sucked in by the blower (no sexual innuendo intended)

Dyno Results

Baseline: 347 whp, 243 wtq
VT2 575: 478 whp, 316 wtq

My baseline mods: AA pulley, MS filter, xpipe w/hfcs, RDSport exhaust, PC Tune. I’m now replacing my exhaust with the full Akra system so it’ll be interesting to see the power gains.

Dyno Links

Many thanks to PG for putting this together

Baseline SAE: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=351
Baseline: STD: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=352
Baseline Uncorrected: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=353
VT2 SAE: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=354
VT2 STD: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=355
VT2 Uncorrected: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=356

Pics

Manifold:

Blower:

After install:

Filter sock installed:

The ESS badge gave me 5whp:

pablo e92 · 07-03-2011, 06:25 PM

Awesome. Nice job.

Pencildik · 07-03-2011, 07:14 PM

Nice solid numbers,Congrats !!!

flipm3 · 07-03-2011, 09:42 PM

Definitely looking forward to see the difference, if any, with the Akrapovic Evolution.

Btw...I love the RAC RG63s!!

tha_good_life · 07-04-2011, 01:10 AM

Super clean!!!

spdy330 · 07-04-2011, 09:40 AM

Looks great, was it worth the price tag?

pablo e92 · 07-04-2011, 11:52 AM

Yea I wonder is the IC worth the extra 4k. If I understand correctly the difference between the 535 and the 575 is 35hp and 15 ft-lbs.

tinpot · 07-04-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdy330

Looks great, was it worth the price tag?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pablo e92

Yea I wonder is the IC worth the extra 4k. If I understand correctly the difference between the 535 and the 575 is 35hp and 15 ft-lbs.

Since it gets hot an humid in Houston getting the IC is essential (IMO). Without the IC, I'm not sure how well the SC would have held up at the track (or even in daily driving) without it i.e., overheating and loss of power.

E90///M3` · 07-04-2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinpot

Since it gets hot an humid in Houston getting the IC is essential (IMO). Without the IC, I'm not sure how well the SC would have held up at the track (or even in daily driving) without it i.e., overheating and loss of power.

i know Cali is nowhere near as hot as Texas so you could be right. Although, i've never had heating issues with my 535 kit.

congrats on the new power... enjoy it safely

tinpot · 07-04-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90///M3`

i know Cali is nowhere near as hot as Texas so you could be right. Although, i've never had heating issues with my 535 kit.

congrats on the new power... enjoy it safely

Looks like you're in the Bay Area so I wouldn't worry about heating issues. Thanks, I'm enjoying the new power

FVM3 · 07-04-2011, 04:08 PM

nice job

tinpot · 02-17-2012, 01:24 PM

...

kiln · 02-17-2012, 01:39 PM

man im so tempted to buy this

NYCM3ryder · 02-17-2012, 01:42 PM

with that intake filter out in the open like that. when it rains hard wont it get soaked? i had a similar setup in my 350z turbo kit. if i ever went through a deep puddle It got soaked. i eventually hydro locked my engine. :/

biglare · 02-18-2012, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCM3ryder

with that intake filter out in the open like that. when it rains hard wont it get soaked? i had a similar setup in my 350z turbo kit. if i ever went through a deep puddle It got soaked. i eventually hydro locked my engine. :/

No, just search the ESS threads on this. Also if you are driving in water that deep to submerge the filter you should not be allowed to own such a car. Just sayin!

tinpot · 02-18-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiln

man im so tempted to buy this

PM me if you have any questions

CJR926 · 02-23-2012, 04:34 PM

5 HP for the badges? That's it?!

tinpot · 02-23-2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJR926

5 HP for the badges? That's it?!

At the wheels

07-03-2011, 04:54 PM	#1
tinpot Captain 74 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 2015 F82 M4 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (3)	ESS VT2 575 Review, Pics, and Dyno Charts Overview I’ve had my ESS VT2 575 kit for almost a month now and thought it was time to write a review. I have nothing new to add about the ESS kit as the superlatives in other reviews are accurate: “OEM look”, “OEM feel”, “don’t notice it’s there”, “acceleration is smooth”, “car pulls hard”, etc., etc. However, below are some of my impressions of the kit. After breaking in the kit my first pull resulted in my lip falling off! Impression #1: the car is very fast especially when accelerating at high speeds (I guess all cars are fast at high speeds but you get what I mean). If the RPMs are below 4,000 RPMs, the kit is not noticeable. At higher RPMs and higher speeds the car comes to life. The acceleration of the car is the same as stock. It’s just a lot faster. Since getting the kit I’ve tracked my car and was pleasantly surprised that the engine didn’t overheat nor feel slower after 4+ hours at the track. Especially since the temperature was 95 and the humidity was 80%. Again, the car felt the same as stock at the track except on the straights where the car pulls hard. Unfortunately, the kit hasn’t helped improve my cornering speed or ability. What is noticeable about the kit is the noise from both the engine and the exhaust. My car is louder than before and I can hear the whine of the blower (it’s faint but a keen ear can notice it). My car is definitely not as loud as my previous supercharged Camaro SS, but there is a jet engine like sound with all the air being sucked in by the blower (no sexual innuendo intended) Dyno Results Baseline: 347 whp, 243 wtq VT2 575: 478 whp, 316 wtq My baseline mods: AA pulley, MS filter, xpipe w/hfcs, RDSport exhaust, PC Tune. I’m now replacing my exhaust with the full Akra system so it’ll be interesting to see the power gains. Dyno Links Many thanks to PG for putting this together Baseline SAE: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=351 Baseline: STD: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=352 Baseline Uncorrected: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=353 VT2 SAE: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=354 VT2 STD: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=355 VT2 Uncorrected: http://bmw.pencilgeek.org/showDyno.php?recID=356 Pics Manifold: Blower: After install: Filter sock installed: The ESS badge gave me 5whp: Last edited by tinpot; 03-08-2012 at 03:29 PM.. Reason: ESS Kit for Sale!
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07-03-2011, 06:25 PM	#2
pablo e92 Private 0 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 13 335i MSport, 18 Corvette GS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Great Southwest iTrader: (0)	Awesome. Nice job.
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07-03-2011, 07:14 PM	#3
Pencildik Banned 1 Rep 14 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Nice solid numbers,Congrats !!!
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07-03-2011, 09:42 PM	#4
flipm3 E46 + E90 + F80 192 Rep 2,894 Posts Drives: E46 + E90 + F80 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Illinois iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW M3 [0.00] 2002 BMW M3 [0.00]	Definitely looking forward to see the difference, if any, with the Akrapovic Evolution. Btw...I love the RAC RG63s!! __________________ F80 M3 DCT\|Alpine White . Black Leather \| My Build Thread E90 M3 DCT\|Melbourne Red . Speed Cloth \| My Build Thread E46 M3 6MT\|Jet Black . Black Nappa Leather \| My Build Thread
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07-04-2011, 01:10 AM	#5
tha_good_life Brigadier General 376 Rep 4,089 Posts Drives: 21 X6MC Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (22) Garage List 2021 BMW X6MC [10.00] 2010 BMW M3 [8.68]	Super clean!!!
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07-04-2011, 09:40 AM	#6
spdy330 Major General 530 Rep 6,149 Posts Drives: 05 Tundra, 15 FIT, 17 CRV Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA iTrader: (163)	Looks great, was it worth the price tag? __________________ If you will be purchasing ANY AT&T services online or in store could you mention that you were referred by me? My Employee Referral ID is eo4489. This would be a great help and it costs you nothing, thank you!
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07-04-2011, 11:52 AM	#7
pablo e92 Private 0 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 13 335i MSport, 18 Corvette GS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Great Southwest iTrader: (0)	Yea I wonder is the IC worth the extra 4k. If I understand correctly the difference between the 535 and the 575 is 35hp and 15 ft-lbs.
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07-04-2011, 04:08 PM	#11
FVM3 Major General 270 Rep 5,751 Posts Drives: e92 m3, f30 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	nice job
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02-17-2012, 01:24 PM	#12
tinpot Captain 74 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 2015 F82 M4 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (3)	... Last edited by tinpot; 03-08-2012 at 03:29 PM..
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02-17-2012, 01:39 PM	#13
kiln Lieutenant 53 Rep 545 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Orleans, LA iTrader: (7)	man im so tempted to buy this
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02-17-2012, 01:42 PM	#14
NYCM3ryder Razzor 28 Rep 517 Posts Drives: JB E90 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	with that intake filter out in the open like that. when it rains hard wont it get soaked? i had a similar setup in my 350z turbo kit. if i ever went through a deep puddle It got soaked. i eventually hydro locked my engine. :/ __________________ 2011 E90, 6 speed, technology package, black 220 rims , EDC, moon roof, matt black grills, matte side grills, 15% carbon tints, carbon fiber M pedals, ACS roof wing, IND painted reflectors, mfest black gloss m3badges, Mfest side window stickers, Tuner MS 15mm spacers, Carbon fiber M foot pedals, MS air filter, RPI air scoops, euro switch mod
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02-23-2012, 04:34 PM	#17
CJR926 Private 16 Rep 81 Posts Drives: E82 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: So-cal iTrader: (0)	5 HP for the badges? That's it?!
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