ESS Supercharger - 5 Gallon Water/Ice Tank Install

[Longboarder]

I have received a number of PM's regarding the 5 gallon water/ice tank that I purchased from Powerhaus Performance (member M33too) and installed by MRF Engineering.

The water tank enhances the existing 1 gallon system utilized by the ESS VT2 Supercharger system, which is generally efficient in normal driving but in harsh conditions (airstrip, drag strip, etc) and particularly when idling waiting to race, instead of the water circulating within the engine bay, the 5 gallon system circulates out of the engine bay under the car and into a small trunk-mounted tank. This generally keeps the water and therefore IAT's much cooler. The tank also has a large opening so ice can be added before a race to actually create IATs below ambient. Many of you saw my recent NoFlyZone Arizona airstrip event where I put a beat down on some cars that should have beat me or at least stayed close in 100 degree heat and high density altitude where supercharged cars usually suffer greatly. This kit does not add any power, but allows you to retain a lot more of your power that would have otherwise been lost from higher IATs. I did extensive dyno testing a few weeks ago at EAS by doing multiple-successive pulls with all the fans off in an attempt to heat up the water dramatically (and of course IATs) and so we know at what water temp timing begins to be pulled. Then we dropped in a bag of ice and voila...full power was restored.

I want to mention that the water tank install is not easy and it is not a DIY. It requires knowledge of the existing air to water intercooler system used by ESS and also requires working knowledge and prior experience installing water tanks and requires a lift and requires you to cut up pieces of the trunk of your beloved M3 so it's not for everyone.

I have attached some pictures of the install. I want to mention that the water flow is very strong with the existing pump supplied by ESS so there is absolutely no need for a secondary bilge-type pump in the tank. If you install it correctly, the water flow is very strong.

Pics:

[Beedub]

i love that!!!

[IMG]

Nice

[Patrón]

wow, they ran it under the car very nice. i'll have to post some of mine that are similar. at what ait does the ecu start pulling timing?

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by Patrón

wow, they ran it under the car very nice. i'll have to post some of mine that are similar. at what ait does the ecu start pulling timing?

I used a laser light beam to measure the temperature of the water coming back into the water tank. So it isn't IAT. It was probably 95 degrees inside the EAS shop for this test.

Power started getting pulled when the water was around 105 degrees F. IAT was presumably higher. We lost 35 HP when the water temp was in the 115-120 degrees F range.

EAS new dyno software could not log IATs. So that's why we used the water return line temperature.

[Weyne Masters]

Hello , this Nice but as fallow your you recommendation,I did the ice ice cooler,but I did I not drill any parts off car,in RH next to battery has a Flapper valves thee working when the truck is closing to avoid the air ,so it's pretty easy,by the way I be installed the water diagrams (flows up side Down,) after the Backup rule water pump a freezing water go direct to Water cooler(Manifold) in the same way wen the kit was OEM,after that the water exit from the front plain to radiator comes in to BOesh pump and return to Ice cooler in trunck.

[Weyne Masters]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

I used a laser light beam to measure the temperature of the water coming back into the water tank. So it isn't IAT. It was probably 95 degrees inside the EAS shop for this test.

Power started getting pulled when the water was around 105 degrees F. IAT was presumably higher. We lost 35 HP when the water temp was in the 115-120 degrees F range.

EAS new dyno software could not log IATs. So that's why we used the water return line temperature.

During my last air strip I get 66F or 19 C as IAT my car hás P3 Gauge so it's easy to see the temperature drop Down

[whats77inaname]

I'm curious as to the dimensions of the tank (L x W x H).

[8k3]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

I'm curious as to the dimensions of the tank (L x W x H).

I'll tell you when I get home, have the same one with a Rule2000 (please text me tonight to remind me )

Anybody attempting this as a DIY, you better know how to work on cars WELL. I come from a long line of certified auto technicians and this was a bitch to install

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by 8k3

Anybody attempting this as a DIY, you better know how to work on cars WELL. I come from a long line of certified auto technicians and this was a bitch to install

+1 exactly why it wasn't posted as a DIY with a bunch of pics. How is it working for you?

[M3sicko]

Absolute;y great upgrade and thanks for posting this for the general public!! That's what i am going to do for my next E92(3rd) since i've already started parting out my current car!

[W Cole]

Originally Posted by 8k3

I'll tell you when I get home, have the same one with a Rule2000 (please text me tonight to remind me )

Anybody attempting this as a DIY, you better know how to work on cars WELL. I come from a long line of certified auto technicians and this was a bitch to install

It does look like a pain.

I wonder if you could put a larger tank in the engine bay with a larger lid for ice and get similar results with less work.

[Facsombh]

Originally Posted by W Cole

It does look like a pain.

I wonder if you could put a larger tank in the engine bay with a larger lid for ice and get similar results with less work.

Put where ? Dont think so.. Engine bay is already too tight ..

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by W Cole

It does look like a pain.

I wonder if you could put a larger tank in the engine bay with a larger lid for ice and get similar results with less work.

Given that it would be in the engine bay, I would think that the heat generated by the engine would make the tank a lot warmer a lot faster, thereby reducing efficacy of the setup.

[W Cole]

Originally Posted by Facsombh

Put where ? Dont think so.. Engine bay is already too tight ..

Yeah definitely won't be 5 gallons but I think you could definitely go larger than current.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by W Cole

It does look like a pain.

I wonder if you could put a larger tank in the engine bay with a larger lid for ice and get similar results with less work.

Firstly you would never want it in the engine bay. A lot of the benefit is derived from the fact that the water now sits in a tank outside the engine bay so remains much cooler than just circulating within the hot motor. As far as space outside the engine bay but near the front of the vehicle, MRF tried the much smaller "killer chiller" unit (uses A/C Freon to cool the water) but could find nowhere to put it near or around the engine bay because the ESS hardware (intake, heat exchanger, pump, etc) take up all the remaining open space, so we had to return it.

[whats77inaname]

Drain, I assume?

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

Drain, I assume?

Yes! Drains pretty slow tho.

[E90_M3_Dubai]

NIce work !

I have a harrop SC , Can I install a similar kit in mine ? , Also I live in Dubai so is there any one who can prepare some sort of a kit with installation instructions to buy with all parts ?!

Help me fellas , its way too hot in dubai I could use this just for street driving !

[8k3]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Yes! Drains pretty slow tho.

open the vent plug, I have mine run to the exterior

Originally Posted by Longboarder

+1 exactly why it wasn't posted as a DIY with a bunch of pics. How is it working for you?

not sure I had an issue with someone who redid my headlights and I am waiting to get them back, fortunately why significant other got them for me in Houston. I'll be getting them from her in a couple weeks and have my car together then; tank abd all lines are done however

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by E90_M3_Dubai

NIce work !

I have a harrop SC , Can I install a similar kit in mine ? , Also I live in Dubai so is there any one who can prepare some sort of a kit with installation instructions to buy with all parts ?!

Help me fellas , its way too hot in dubai I could use this just for street driving !

Does your Harrop system use an air to water intercooler? If it does then a supplemental water tank will work but the parts of my kit may differ.

Most of the R&D on this kit came from the Mercedes AMG community because the ESS system uses an AMG E55 air to water intercooler and the AMG guys have been doing larger trunk-mount water tanks for years.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by 8k3

open the vent plug, I have mine run to the exterior

not sure I had an issue with someone who redid my headlights and I am waiting to get them back, fortunately why significant other got them for me in Houston. I'll be getting them from her in a couple weeks and have my car together then; tank abd all lines are done however

I don't even have a vent plug lol. Still pretty slow takes like 10 minutes to drain enough water to get a full bag of ice in there.