Gintani Supercharger Review

[THE-FN-MAN]

Howdy folks, just wanted to share my thoughts on my Gintani stage 2+ kit now that I have thoroughly put it through its paces. First and foremost though I'd like to give a big thanks to Arno, Alex, Brian and the rest of the Gintani team as they really are a great group of guys and a class act. They answered all of my questions and always made themselves available to me regardless if it was after shop hours or weekends or whatever. All I can say about the kit they have put together is WOW!! It totally transforms the car, but only when you want it to. As a daily driver the car is unchanged except for the smoothness of the power delivery and shifts (I had them install new transmission software as well) but when you want to play just goose the throttle a little and HOT DAMN does the car get up and go now! And I can't say enough about the sweet sounds the car makes when you want it too as well. The way they use the blow off valve is music to my ears On the track (big willow) the car just pulls and pulls! I'm talking freight train like, lap after lap which really impressed me. Now for my recent trek from Long Beach CA to Wichita KS. I originally told the guys at Gintani that I would be driving this car all of the country and I had concerns about it seeing all sorts of weather and I just didn't want to have any worries when I was out on the open road and they assured me the car would be just as good as it was when it rolled off the show room floor. Boy am I glad I listened because open back roads with a supercharged M3 equals heaven! But I did see my fair share of terrible weather and the car performed flawlessly. Anything from unreal thunder storms in New Mexico to 111 degrees in Kansas the car never waivered once! The one thing I was expecting to see was terrible gas mileage but after nearly a 3000 mile round trip the car said I averaged almost 26 MPG. Not sure how accurate the cars computer is but I'm pretty impressed with that if it's true. Any who, I just wanted to share my impressions of their product and let the M community know of another great kit available to those looking to go the forced induction route. Thanks again to the Gintani team for giving me the power I was craving!

[Alex07M3]

what were your reasons to choose Gintani instead of any other supercharger kit!?

[THE-FN-MAN]

A buddy of mine had their kit on his car and I loved the way it sounded and how it looked. After speaking to them as well as two other well known companies I decided to go with Gintani because of how personable they were. Nothing against their competitors with whom I spoke to but I felt like I was almost talking to an automated teller instead of someone who was super passionate about what they do. I don't want to sound like I'm swinging from their nuts but they were just a lot easier to speak to and I got the sense they just loved what they did and could talk cars all day. I was just able to really connect with that.

[schnell325]

If your car acts like my AA sc'r kit, your fuel economy is no where accurate! Best thing to do is check your fuel used and miles driven and calculate from there.

[THE-FN-MAN]

Good call on calculating it that way, if I get the time I guess I could go
Back through my gas receipts and figure it out. I am curious how far off it is but let's be honest. Having a car with this much power who really cares about fuel economy lol. You gotta pay to play right?

[rjd598]

Nice review and congrats on your new power. I used to wonder why someone would choose anything but ess just because they are a great company and so many people have their products. However I realize now that it doesn't really matter who you choose because they all achieve the same goal...gobs of power in a safe manner. It's like asking why choose iPhone over android or vica versa. Same goal different ways of getting there

[erm324]

Great review, congrats! What year is your car? Do you have any concerns about your main/rod bearings with this setup (especially at what I'm assuming is 8-9psi)?

[THE-FN-MAN]

Thanks fellas! My car is a 2010. I heard on this forum actually that the 2008 model year cars were "weaker" and I actually posted a comment on that awhile ago on a different post and some people said that it wasn't true. My buddies car who I heard this kit on originally is a 2008 dct and he hasn't had any problems yet so I guess it's really luck of the draw? I believe my car peaks at 8 psi and so far so good

[m33]

Congrats on your new found power !
It's always good to be different

[Let It Rein]

Dyno plots?

[THE-FN-MAN]

I'll try an up load some pics and dynos when I actually get to sit down. I always view or post on this site from my phone and I don't have a clue on how to post pics or anything from here (if its even possible)

[m33]

What it put down ?

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by rjd598

Nice review and congrats on your new power. I used to wonder why someone would choose anything but ess just because they are a great company and so many people have their products. However I realize now that it doesn't really matter who you choose because they all achieve the same goal...gobs of power in a safe manner. It's like asking why choose iPhone over android or vica versa. Same goal different ways of getting there

I could understand why you would feel confortable buying an android vs an Iphone since millions of androids have been sold but in the case of putting a supercharger kit on a 25k engine, I would prefere to go with a company that has sold hundreds of kits witout issues instead of just a couple, just my opinion but I don't think your comparaison was so good!

I have nothing against Gintani or any other companys that make supercharger kits but with my car, my priority is reliability and I think ESS has a more solid proof of it then the others just because they have sold many many more and that without any issues!

Edit: Oh and also, I don't see why one would choose anything else then Iphone!

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

I could understand why you would feel confortable buying an android vs an Iphone since millions of androids have been sold but in the case of putting a supercharger kit on a 25k engine, I would prefere to go with a company that has sold hundreds of kits witout issues instead of just a couple, just my opinion but I don't think your comparaison was so good!

I have nothing against Gintani or any other companys that make supercharger kits but with my car, my priority is reliability and I think ESS has a more solid proof of it then the others just because they have sold many many more and that without any issues!

valid point! my analogy wasn't meant to be take very seriously or closely to the supercharger issue just a general idea of what i was trying to say. i like the point you bring up and for the record i would choose ess for the same reasons as well. as long as people are happy with their choice that's all that matters

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by THE-FN-MAN

Having a car with this much power who really cares about fuel economy lol.

Bingo!

[Groundpilot]

Congrats on your supercharger. I see you track your car. How is it with that much power? Do you keep MDM on if you have it or turn TC off?

[alpine335i]

Why do people always find it necessary to come into someones SC kit review if its not an ESS review and bring up ESS. The OP wanted to share his thoughts on the kit HE decided to go with. This forum is ridiculous. Congrats OP, have fun and be safe with all that power.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by alpine335i

Why do people always find it necessary to come into someones SC kit review if its not an ESS review and bring up ESS. The OP wanted to share his thoughts on the kit HE decided to go with. This forum is ridiculous. Congrats OP, have fun and be safe with all that power.

Just wanted to know if he knew something I don't about Gintanis kit that would make it a better buy then ESS!

[IMG]

Originally Posted by THE-FN-MAN

Thanks fellas! My car is a 2010. I heard on this forum actually that the 2008 model year cars were "weaker" and I actually posted a comment on that awhile ago on a different post and some people said that it wasn't true. My buddies car who I heard this kit on originally is a 2008 dct and he hasn't had any problems yet so I guess it's really luck of the draw? I believe my car peaks at 8 psi and so far so good

Congrats man !

There is no issues with the 2008 bearings based on my 2008 motor that i tore down after 50000 miles.

[THE-FN-MAN]

Thanks again for the kind words fellas. I've only ever tracked or race the car with MDM on. I openly admit that I'm not a good enough driver nor have the balls to turn it all off completely hahaha. I'm running 295 nitto NT05's and they are no trouble to light up all the way into 3rd gear. I'm working on the driving skills and slowly but surely I'm learning how to harness all the ponies. My car put down either 511 or 515 on a dyno dynamics (it's been awhile and I got to dig up the graph to be exact lol) and I've read those dynos read the lowest out of all dynos. My buddy with a modded C6 Z06 thinks I'm
Full of it though and he swears I got to be putting out close to 600 at the tires

[biglare]

Congrats on your newly found power and be safe out there!

[VCMpower]

Originally Posted by THE-FN-MAN

Good call on calculating it that way, if I get the time I guess I could go
Back through my gas receipts and figure it out. I am curious how far off it is but let's be honest. Having a car with this much power who really cares about fuel economy lol. You gotta pay to play right?

Well put sir!