Living With A Supercharger

[F16RCE]

Guys

Been thinking about getting a SC for my 2011 E92 for a while now and am close to just doing a deal. My major concern aside from the cost is whether or not this is just going to be a case of inviting a whole load of hassle and grief. My car is a daily driver and the fact its so reliable is exactly why i love it so much. Keen to understand from those of you with SC cars what your exoerience has been so far? Am i worrying needlessly?

Cheers
M

[j2m]

Originally Posted by F16RCE

Guys

Been thinking about getting a SC for my 2011 E92 for a while now and am close to just doing a deal. My major concern aside from the cost is whether or not this is just going to be a case of inviting a whole load of hassle and grief. My car is a daily driver and the fact its so reliable is exactly why i love it so much. Keen to understand from those of you with SC cars what your exoerience has been so far? Am i worrying needlessly?

Cheers
M

Yes

[Donbona]

Gay boy

[F16RCE]

Originally Posted by Donbona

Gay boy

Lol....

You are not allowed to have an opinion on this one Taz!!!

[e92livin]

Do it and don't look back .. I just got a Gintani Stage 2 ... And I was thinkig the same way you are.

[Viper3812]

As long as the install is done correctly there should be no worries. Only the 08 owners should worry about the rod bearings.

[klammer]

Would think application would have some bearing. Primarily track use and you may have issues. Street and DD duties should be of no concern.

[SouthShoreM3]

Many of us that have SC had contemplated at some point. I sure did. Bottom line I am glad I did it. Car drives completely normal for daily use and when you want to step on it it is balls out fast about 5500RPM.

I just drove 900+ miles from Boston SC and I average 26mpg with the blower.

However I did not buy this car for gas mileage. Frankly it's something that I have never thought about.

Worthwhile investment for your personal satisfaction.

[nevin]

I had the same issue and concerns as you. I pulled the trigger and decided to do it on my last M3. Three days after getting my car back i noticed a leak from the engine bay. The meth line wasn't installed properly. Finally got it installed right and was told that I could still drive the car but to take it easy. I then sold the car a month or so later afraid of the worst. Glad I did...I told the buyer about the issue i had he didn't mind and bought the car. Few days later he calls me and tells me all kind of shit that was wrong with it. If I never sold the car there was a possibility I would have blown my engine or at the least done damage I would have never been able to get the warranty to cover. It was reputable company, I won't mention because I don't want to start a war and everyone telling me I'm full of shit. PM for more info if you care to know.

Anyhow, I'm once again contemplating it but obviously scared of warranty issues and any problems I wont catch before it's to late. As far as a DD it was perfectly fine (for me alteast). I'm hoping if I pull the trigger again my chances of getting another F-ed up supercharger is slim to none.

[Chriskm3]

[Donbona]

Originally Posted by nevin

I had the same issue and concerns as you. I pulled the trigger and decided to do it on my last M3. Three days after getting my car back i noticed a leak from the engine bay. The meth line wasn't installed properly. Finally got it installed right and was told that I could still drive the car but to take it easy. I then sold the car a month or so later afraid of the worst. Glad I did...I told the buyer about the issue i had he didn't mind and bought the car. Few days later he calls me and tells me all kind of shit that was wrong with it. If I never sold the car there was a possibility I would have blown my engine or at the least done damage I would have never been able to get the warranty to cover. It was reputable company, I won't mention because I don't want to start a war and everyone telling me I'm full of shit. PM for more info if you care to know.

Anyhow, I'm once again contemplating it but obviously scared of warranty issues and any problems I wont catch before it's to late. As far as a DD it was perfectly fine (for me alteast). I'm hoping if I pull the trigger again my chances of getting another F-ed up supercharger is slim to none.

I take it if you do that you won't use the same company?
Also I think running meth didn't help.

[Chriskm3]

This is why you should only allow true experts to work on your car. A leaky meth line Is a sign of poor worksmanship period. My installer pressure tested all my fluid lines before the car was released for daily abuse

Originally Posted by nevin

I had the same issue and concerns as you. I pulled the trigger and decided to do it on my last M3. Three days after getting my car back i noticed a leak from the engine bay. The meth line wasn't installed properly. Finally got it installed right and was told that I could still drive the car but to take it easy. I then sold the car a month or so later afraid of the worst. Glad I did...I told the buyer about the issue i had he didn't mind and bought the car. Few days later he calls me and tells me all kind of shit that was wrong with it. If I never sold the car there was a possibility I would have blown my engine or at the least done damage I would have never been able to get the warranty to cover. It was reputable company, I won't mention because I don't want to start a war and everyone telling me I'm full of shit. PM for more info if you care to know.

Anyhow, I'm once again contemplating it but obviously scared of warranty issues and any problems I wont catch before it's to late. As far as a DD it was perfectly fine (for me alteast). I'm hoping if I pull the trigger again my chances of getting another F-ed up supercharger is slim to none.

[Ezio]

You want reliability, keep stock internals, and stay N/A. If you have to mod.

People have been Putting FI systems on cars for years, overall when done right its decently reliable. Although i would still worry. If you are going to do FI you have to not care if the engine fails. and just have fun.

[F16RCE]

cheers guys..... Seems like most have had positive experiences and are glad they went this route... My car is a daily driver and wont really see a track, I just want the extra power for street driving. I will probably never exploit it to its full potential but will be good knowing i have the power for those times when i do need it!

[pkimM3r]

Well OP you do realize whenever something goes wrong they are never posted on forums due to them having to sign a nondisclosure agreement in return of a refund / build / etc right?

[F16RCE]

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Well OP you do realize whenever something goes wrong they are never posted on forums due to them having to sign a nondisclosure agreement in return of a refund / build / etc right?

Good point.... Appreciate your point of view....

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by nevin

I had the same issue and concerns as you. I pulled the trigger and decided to do it on my last M3. Three days after getting my car back i noticed a leak from the engine bay. The meth line wasn't installed properly. Finally got it installed right and was told that I could still drive the car but to take it easy. I then sold the car a month or so later afraid of the worst. Glad I did...I told the buyer about the issue i had he didn't mind and bought the car. Few days later he calls me and tells me all kind of shit that was wrong with it.....I'm hoping if I pull the trigger again my chances of getting another F-ed up supercharger is slim to none.

Wait a sec....was the s/c the issue or the installer?

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Well OP you do realize whenever something goes wrong they are never posted on forums due to them having to sign a nondisclosure agreement in return of a refund / build / etc right?

Hmmmmmmmmm....can you specifically name companies that do this that you can substantiate with some sort of proof?

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by F16RCE

Guys

Been thinking about getting a SC for my 2011 E92 for a while now and am close to just doing a deal. My major concern aside from the cost is whether or not this is just going to be a case of inviting a whole load of hassle and grief. My car is a daily driver and the fact its so reliable is exactly why i love it so much. Keen to understand from those of you with SC cars what your exoerience has been so far? Am i worrying needlessly?

Cheers
M

I installed my ESS VT1-535 on my 08 M3 with 67000km 9months(12000km) ago with a friend of mind who's a mechanic at my local BMW dealership, I'm not a mechanic one bit but still I was very surprised how simple was the install! My car is my daily driver and my week-end beater(to not say my week-long beater ) and so far after A LOT of street races and passes on the drag strip, not a single issue! I even drive(drift) my car in the snow all winter long and it was'nt worst then when I was stock! I just changed the K&N filter that came with the kit because it was really dirty on the outside after 4 months of following cars on dirty winter roads(only 50$ for a new one, I thought it was easier then washing it) but on the inside the filter was like new so no problem there!

Overall, I could'nt be more happy with my purchase, the car has been performing flawlessly, even yesterday I was playing with a brand new M5 DCT on the highway, a $100k german muscle car and I was right beside him with my $40k M3(manual) so I can't ask for more except for pulling on him when I'll install my testpipes! Seriously, in the M3 price range I can't think of any other car that would be more fun to drive then this except for an M3 with VT2 or VT3!

At the end, there's is always a chance something might go wrong but if I look at the reliability sheet of ESS, the chances are pretty slim so to me it's all worth it! I say go for it, the power is addicting!

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by F16RCE

cheers guys..... Seems like most have had positive experiences and are glad they went this route... My car is a daily driver and wont really see a track, I just want the extra power for street driving. I will probably never exploit it to its full potential but will be good knowing i have the power for those times when i do need it!

Simply go with a low boost, non-intercooled kit like the ESS VT1-550.

Plenty of power, simple to install.

[BuckRodgers]

Originally Posted by nevin

I had the same issue and concerns as you. I pulled the trigger and decided to do it on my last M3. Three days after getting my car back i noticed a leak from the engine bay. The meth line wasn't installed properly. Finally got it installed right and was told that I could still drive the car but to take it easy. I then sold the car a month or so later afraid of the worst. Glad I did...I told the buyer about the issue i had he didn't mind and bought the car. Few days later he calls me and tells me all kind of shit that was wrong with it. If I never sold the car there was a possibility I would have blown my engine or at the least done damage I would have never been able to get the warranty to cover. It was reputable company, I won't mention because I don't want to start a war and everyone telling me I'm full of shit. PM for more info if you care to know.

Anyhow, I'm once again contemplating it but obviously scared of warranty issues and any problems I wont catch before it's to late. As far as a DD it was perfectly fine (for me alteast). I'm hoping if I pull the trigger again my chances of getting another F-ed up supercharger is slim to none.

Never buy a kit that depends on water/meth for safety. If a vendor tells you it's needed that means it is being used to keep the motor safe. Buy a kit that can run safe on the pump gas you use, buy a kit with a solid reputation, have a good tech do the work and you should be fine.

[VCMpower]

Pfft!

Originally Posted by BuckRodgers

"Never buy a kit that depends on water/meth for safety". If a vendor tells you it's needed that means it is being used to keep the motor safe. Buy a kit that can run safe on the pump gas you use, buy a kit with a solid reputation, have a good tech do the work and you should be fine.

[Nordstat]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Simply go with a low boost, non-intercooled kit like the ESS VT1-550.

Plenty of power, simple to install.

You would recommend a non-intercooled system for street use? Is it the lack of extra complexity?