Build thread - QLD Australia

Well firstly I'm way overdue for an update and I apologise for this.

Secondly the upgrades have transformed the car. Now that might sound obvious but to me the car wasn't bad before. These upgrades have shown just how much I was missing out on.

Improvements in order of effect:
1. Coilovers + front monoballs
I've put these together because they were installed together and I can't discern the individual benefit. The outcome together is astounding. I haven't been on track yet but the difference on backroads has transformed the car. The improved damping has made such a positive difference to the way the car handles that I cant help but wish I'd done it sooner. I encourage anyone on the fence about this to make the investment. My car is 14 years old but less than 100,000kms. The difference is night and day. Get it done.

2. CMP aluminium belly pan.
I no longer scrape! Such a simple thing but my god it makes a difference when you're getting around town at low speed and dealing with speed bumps. No more cringing as I drag over gradient changes and excessively large speed bumps. I just drive where I like with pleasure. It makes a difference.

3. The Harrop Supercharger
Well this is obvously the big one and its not without drawbacks. In the fashion of Harry Metcalfe I'll start with the negatives.

Negatives
A) Firstly the bloody whine. Damn it's annoying. I could deal with it whining when I'm on it. In fact I looked forward to this. But it's constant. It's like tinnitus. It's not cool. Its not fun. It's just there all the time whether you're pushing or not. Most annoying. I've had to tune it down to keep my sanity by one of the mods mentioned on the forum. Suffice to say if you've got the option to go with a non whine SC than you should consider it!
B) Heat. I live in QLD Australia. Its hot here. It doesn't take many pulls to substantially reduce the SC performance and the improvements it delivers. I'm not sure how this will translate to on track performance but I suspect it wont be great. If the system is overheating, I like that it pulls back rather than pushing closer to the breaking point. But as an Australian design product I think it’s fair to expect better.
C) Sometimes it seems to take a nap. If you’re motoring down the road awaiting the hallowed overtaking lane you must remember to give the SC a nudge in advance. Otherwise you may find it sleeping when asked to perform. Once roused it certainly makes you feel alive! But notice is needed.

Positives
It’s faster! My goal for the SC was to fill the low RPM torque hole and it does this in spades. Feels like an absolutely rocketship compared to the stock car. In the past I’d be trying to get the car into specific rev ranges to perform any acts of daring. No longer. It’s an absolutely powerhouse everywhere and its hard to imagine going back to a stock vehicle.
It’s cool. I know this is lame but the sound and the performance attracts other car nuts like you wouldn’t believe. As long as its not the cops I welcome this. I love talking about cars and my new toys!

4. Car Play
I dont want to play down this upgrade. It’s cheap. It transforms the car. I almost listed it before the SC. Get it done! Must have. No questions.

5. The other stuff
The gearbox shifter bush kit, clutch and NRW valve covers have all been nice upgrades but not life changing. The NRW valves have stopped the leaking and do look very nice but obviously the cost is stupendous. I consider this more of a maintenance item than an upgrade but I’m pleased the leaks are resolved. Hopefully a more cost effective solution exists by the time I have to do this again.

Dramas ?
Well there is a reason it’s taken me months to update the post. The Harrop SC was running super rich at low RPM which took about 6 weeks to get to the bottom of. Ultimately it was a pre existing problem with the throttle position sensor. Nobodies fault and I’m extremely grateful to my mechanic for his efforts but it just shows what a nightmare these cars can be when the computer isnt able to clearly identify the source of faults.

Outcome ?
Everything about the car is improved. Would I consider an M2, F or G series M3 ? No way. Not a chance. This platform delivers. Peak M3. All the trimmings. No shortcomings. Smiles for miles. This is the car.

Future ?
Brakes. Already ordered the Paragon Alcon kit mentioned above in this thread. Hopefully due for Pre Christmas delivery. 6 pistons 380mm front. 4 piston 380mm rears. Is it necessary ? Yes. Stock brakes are David vs Goliath now.
Solid rear subframe and monoball conversion. I’ve heard good things and after the transformation with the front end this is worth the investment.

Hi,

Thanks for the update.

Be interested in your feedback on the Alcon’s once you had them on for a bit and given them a good ‘test’ hehe.

I haven’t got them yet, despite my earlier post in this thread, as I have some other things financially I need to take care of first before I ‘indulge’ with a BBK unfortunately.

Cheers

WOW! Fantastic thread. I'm living vicariously through it since I sold my Harrop SC two years ago. I also want the Alcon's and some of the other stuff such as the Ohlins. Thanks for the updates, photos and extensive write ups. Well done. Are you aware of the "Tracking with Harrop Experience" thread? It describes some heat mitigation strategies for the Harrop SC. https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841505

DBE Can you share a bit more detail about the throttle position sensor causing the rich condition with the Harrop? The Harrop SC already runs rich, so yours must've been running super rich (AFRs?). Good job by your mechanic to find and solve the issue. I would've thought it was the "tune" - but apparently not. PS: I also moved from a MKIV TT Supra to the E92 M3 (but that was 16 years ago and I still own the M3).

Johnny E92 wrote

Hi,

Thanks for the update.

Be interested in your feedback on the Alcon’s once you had them on for a bit and given them a good ‘test’ hehe.

I haven’t got them yet, despite my earlier post in this thread, as I have some other things financially I need to take care of first before I ‘indulge’ with a BBK unfortunately.

Cheers

Yeah I get it. I did plenty of thinking before making the plunge. The cost of mods vs the cost of the vehicle is getting loopy

DrFerry wrote

WOW! Fantastic thread. I'm living vicariously through it since I sold my Harrop SC two years ago. I also want the Alcon's and some of the other stuff such as the Ohlins. Thanks for the updates, photos and extensive write ups. Well done. Are you aware of the "Tracking with Harrop Experience" thread? It describes some heat mitigation strategies for the Harrop SC. https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841505

DBE Can you share a bit more detail about the throttle position sensor causing the rich condition with the Harrop? The Harrop SC already runs rich, so yours must've been running super rich (AFRs?). Good job by your mechanic to find and solve the issue. I would've thought it was the "tune" - but apparently not. PS: I also moved from a MKIV TT Supra to the E92 M3 (but that was 16 years ago and I still own the M3).

I'm lucky my mechanic persisted. I kept asking him to give up and we’d go back to NA, but he finally nailed it. The consistent issue helped. Every time the car would hesitate or misfire up to 4000 rpm when enough throttle was applied sufficiently to engage the SC. At 4k rpm it would suddenly pull smoothly and go hard all the way to redline.

The difference now is night and day but TBH I still dont completely trust it. Sometimes it'll pull hard other times not. For example if I'm driving sedately behind traffic and I pull out to overtake and give it full beans it'll often give me reduced power ~75% power. If I prep the SC by bringing it onto boost in advance I'll get the full 100%. I'm still getting used to it.

DBE wrote

I'm lucky my mechanic persisted. I kept asking him to give up and we’d go back to NA, but he finally nailed it. The consistent issue helped. Every time the car would hesitate or misfire up to 4000 rpm when enough throttle was applied sufficiently to engage the SC. At 4k rpm it would suddenly pull smoothly and go hard all the way to redline.

The difference now is night and day but TBH I still dont completely trust it. Sometimes it'll pull hard other times not. For example if I'm driving sedately behind traffic and I pull out to overtake and give it full beans it'll often give me reduced power ~75% power. If I prep the SC by bringing it onto boost in advance I'll get the full 100%. I'm still getting used to it.

I had my Harrop SC installed on my E92 M3 for almost 7 years and 55,000 miles. Consequently, I learned a lot about it. The "Official Harrop TVS1740 Super Charger" thread (https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1070943) has a some information about the issue you described above i.e. a sort of hesitation or stumble when going WOT around 3500 - 4000 RPM. This 3.5-4K RPM zone is known as a 'transition zone' where the Bypass Valve Actuator is closing the bypass valve and allowing full boost (~6.2psi) from the SC to enter the plenum.

In dyno charts the zone is seen as a small plateau in the power trace and it is in this zone where the 'tune' causes the Air Fuel Ratio (AFR) to become quite rich. Also, IF the DME senses any knock (pre-ignition) it will immediately pull timing. IF the DSC senses any wheel spin due to lack of traction it will also immediately reduce power. Various Harrop SC owners on the thread linked above discuss the hesitation as an issue with the tune, but there are some mitigation strategies as described below.

However, the way to find out exactly what's happening is to make some near WOT runs with traction control turned off. Obviously only do this testing in an area devoid of traffic and with reasonable run off room - such as deserted road, large empty parking lot, or a dedicated track (circuit or dragway) to understand IF the DSC is limiting power due to traction issues, or if the DME is pulling timing due to pre-ignition or even the over rich condition (AFR) described earlier. Seat of the pants testing will let you know what works (buttometer).

The Harrop SC 'taxes' all of the car's stock systems - especially the fuel pump IMO and the spark plugs / coils. Ensure your car's fuel pressure sensor is operating properly (it's cheap and easy to replace). Ensure the spark plugs are fairly new (the OEM change interval is every 30K miles) because they will need replacing every 15K to 20K miles with the Harrop installed. Weak coils can also cause hesitation under boost.

The Harrop SC on the S65 is sensitive to octane. For this reason some of us would run 3 to 4 gallons of E85 (105 RON) with the rest of the tank being 93 Octane E10 gas. This fuel blend yields an effective RON of 97 Octane. The Harrop on the S65 is also sensitive to barometric pressure (elevation above sea level) because it's a positive displacement blower as well as ambient temperatures. Mine would lose about ~30 RWHP in the high 95+F when compared to 40F.

I hope this information is helpful for you. Consider posting in the Official Harrop SC thread. It's pretty quiet in that thread nowadays but there are some very knowledgeable people still subscribing to it and still running their Harrop SC equipped M3's on the street or track. Have fun.

DBE wrote

Yeah I get it. I did plenty of thinking before making the plunge. The cost of mods vs the cost of the vehicle is getting loopy

Hi any feedback on the Alcon BBK yet?

Cheers

Fitted just going through the bedding in process and ironing out some teething issues with the handbrake. Should know more after this weekend.

I’ve got the same BBK going on my E90 on Monday. It’s been a long wait as the supplier sent the wrong parts to my workshop in the first place. I’m looking forward to them finally being fitted.

DBE wrote

Fitted just going through the bedding in process and ironing out some teething issues with the handbrake. Should know more after this weekend.

Thanks for the update. It's coming together really well.

Smithynigel wrote

I’ve got the same BBK going on my E90 on Monday. It’s been a long wait as the supplier sent the wrong parts to my workshop in the first place. I’m looking forward to them finally being fitted.

Who’d you order through?

Next mod for the 220M. Some Yoko AD09

Trying to squeeze
255/35/19 on the front
275/35/19 rear

DBE wrote

Who’d you order through?

German Motor Werks do all the work on my car and I believe they use COORE for the Alcon kits.

DBE wrote

Fitted just going through the bedding in process and ironing out some teething issues with the handbrake. Should know more after this weekend.

Had mine fitted during the week along with the GAS monoballs. Matching shoes!

With pics…

Sweeeeeeeeet. They look great! My paragon pads have gotten allot more bitey now they’re bedded in which is taking some getting used to.
Have you had any handbrake noises? Mine is still being a pita

DBE wrote

Sweeeeeeeeet. They look great! My paragon pads have gotten allot more bitey now they’re bedded in which is taking some getting used to.
Have you had any handbrake noises? Mine is still being a pita

I get a squeaking noise at very slow speeds, not sure where it’s coming from.

They have been good for me out of the gates. The workshop offered to do the bedding in for me. I have Winmax pads and they showed me the instructions, it’s a very specific procedure to follow- glad they did it for me!

As far as the looks go, I’m really happy with how they turned out. I was pumped when I saw the pics you posted because they looked great.

DBE wrote

Sweeeeeeeeet. They look great! My paragon pads have gotten allot more bitey now they’re bedded in which is taking some getting used to.
Have you had any handbrake noises? Mine is still being a pita

Good to hear the pads are getting good, hopefully you get the handbrake sorted.

I finally just ordered the 380mm all round kit from Paragon too.

Cheers

Seeet! Which pads are you going with?

DBE wrote

Seeet! Which pads are you going with?

Just the Red P2 Sport Comfort pads, they will be more than adequate and the whole package will be an improvement on the std brakes anyway.

The only thing that disappointed me was I would have really liked black calipers, not the std silver, but they wanted USD700 extra to paint the 4 calipers black, for that sort of coin I will live with the silver, will look ok with silver calipers on a white car with satin black rims, better than red or yellow calipers in my personal opinion.

Oh I did get the darker black rotor hats too.