Stroker Kit or Supercharger for e92 M3? Cost for installation?

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by Roman@ESS

What the M3 lacks is proper factory cooling components for heavy track use. This combined with added power can sometimes make keeping temps in check difficult under certain conditions and when used in ways that have been previously posted. The MSS60 will still make very good power with higher AIT's when the engine is heat soaked but you need oil / water cooling to keep up. Customers that track their M's older and newer models always get faster lap times and more consistant performance with upgraded factory cooling. My suggestion would be to invest in an oil cooler if you are going to track the car stock or supercharged, run race fuel which many people still avoid doing and limit power to what you feel you really need to compete. This will help keep temps in check and allow for better control of the car at the track. I have tracked all versions of our kits including the VT1 and I have never had issues with them but I also always run race gas at the track and I have had upgraded oil cooling on my last two M3's. This is why we have been working on upgrades for the stock cooling system and hope to release them soon for track customers.

A supercharger will not instantly make you faster around the track or make you faster than a better driver. I have seen stock M3's setup and driven properly embarrass SC M3's at the track. There is alot more to going around some tracks fast than just power.

Agreed.

I really had no issues with my M24 oil cooler and radiator installed. Dai Yoshihara drove iNDs Green Hell and kept commenting on how surprising the car handled the heat. INDs car had the M24 radiator only.

I am not "heat soak blind" but I think the VT1 kits with an upgraded radiator perform quite well, at least that was my experience.

I look forward to seeing your cooling solutions.

[PetrolFumes]

bringing this thread back to life! OK now after 4 years of SC's- particularly ESS and the few stroker motors out there. in the end which is most reliable is what matters. my fear in putting the ESS 625 kit on my car is that I will wear the engine much faster and only get say - 30k miles out of the engine. my car is a 13 with only 16k miles on it btw.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by PetrolFumes

bringing this thread back to life! OK now after 4 years of SC's- particularly ESS and the few stroker motors out there. in the end which is most reliable is what matters. my fear in putting the ESS 625 kit on my car is that I will wear the engine much faster and only get say - 30k miles out of the engine. my car is a 13 with only 16k miles on it btw.

We have plenty of users with supercharged M3s that run hard. None of them have worn out the engine in 30k miles.

I don't run a supercharger due to heat soak at the track and the loss of induction music.

There have been a few supercharged guys who have blown their engines due to failure in the main bearing. This seems to be due to the supercharger putting extra stress on the crank.

If I wanted to supercharger I would replace my rod bearings which can be done easily and that's it.

There are plenty of supercharged M3s that track. One guy in the E46 forum has over 100k miles with the supercharger and 200k miles total.

Up close and personal, a friend has a track only Z4MC with 525 ESS horses on it and it's fast as hell and works well. When it's hot outside the car will get too hot, but all the stock protections are still in there so it just reduces power.

A stroker engine is more reliable if built properly. Few people are able to work on BMW engines without having to look for bandaids like sleeving the block.

[PetrolFumes]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

We have plenty of users with supercharged M3s that run hard. None of them have worn out the engine in 30k miles.

I don't run a supercharger due to heat soak at the track and the loss of induction music.

There have been a few supercharged guys who have blown their engines due to failure in the main bearing. This seems to be due to the supercharger putting extra stress on the crank.

If I wanted to supercharger I would replace my rod bearings which can be done easily and that's it.

There are plenty of supercharged M3s that track. One guy in the E46 forum has over 100k miles with the supercharger and 200k miles total.

Up close and personal, a friend has a track only Z4MC with 525 ESS horses on it and it's fast as hell and works well. When it's hot outside the car will get too hot, but all the stock protections are still in there so it just reduces power.

A stroker engine is more reliable if built properly. Few people are able to work on BMW engines without having to look for bandaids like sleeving the block.

good points. my main reason for wanting to be in this for the long haul when either going stroker or ESS 625 kit is because I have a limited E92 with frozen paint. I want to keep this car pretty much forever. I will likely only put 5k miles a year or so BTW. also ACM is a very reputable shop that can do the Dinan engine install. or a certified Dinan dealer local to me so that is not not a worry for me

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by PetrolFumes

good points. my main reason for wanting to be in this for the long haul when either going stroker or ESS 625 kit is because I have a limited E92 with frozen paint. I want to keep this car pretty much forever. I will likely only put 5k miles a year or so BTW. also ACM is a very reputable shop that can do the Dinan engine install. or a certified Dinan dealer local to me so that is not not a worry for me

In that case, I would contact regular guy and have a stroker built for you

I have an individual montecarlo blue 2013... I know the feeling

[squartus]

Originally Posted by PetrolFumes

bringing this thread back to life! OK now after 4 years of SC's- particularly ESS and the few stroker motors out there. in the end which is most reliable is what matters. my fear in putting the ESS 625 kit on my car is that I will wear the engine much faster and only get say - 30k miles out of the engine. my car is a 13 with only 16k miles on it btw.

Funny you should say that, my Main bearing spun after 30k miles supercharged. Was only 60k on the engine, block was toast etc. Had to have VAC build me a LC stroker with a spanking new block, had head gone through by another shop. Then the cost of having it all put back together in the car, seals, labor, extra parts etc.
Also ate 4 of my vanos when the bearing bits floated around, was another 4800 bucks.

So if your going for a engine thats going to last the test of time? Boosting this one adds extra pressure on the crank, and the main bearings. Course Building a stroker is well over 20k for parts, building it, then installing it.

[PetrolFumes]

Originally Posted by squartus

Funny you should say that, my Main bearing spun after 30k miles supercharged. Was only 60k on the engine, block was toast etc. Had to have VAC build me a LC stroker with a spanking new block, had head gone through by another shop. Then the cost of having it all put back together in the car, seals, labor, extra parts etc.
Also ate 4 of my vanos when the bearing bits floated around, was another 4800 bucks.

So if your going for a engine thats going to last the test of time? Boosting this one adds extra pressure on the crank, and the main bearings. Course Building a stroker is well over 20k for parts, building it, then installing it.

interesting. how hard were you pushing it with the supercharger?

I was thinking Dinan was the most reputable stoker motor out there no?

[PetrolFumes]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

In that case, I would contact regular guy and have a stroker built for you

I have an individual montecarlo blue 2013... I know the feeling

nice color. mine is frozen blue. who is regular guy?

open to hearing who everyone uses or knows of that is reputable for stoker motor builds

[squartus]

Originally Posted by PetrolFumes

interesting. how hard were you pushing it with the supercharger?

I was thinking Dinan was the most reputable stoker motor out there no?

Never tracked it but I did run it with spirit, gave out doing 40mph in 4th gear on a city street.
Dinan does a good job, your going to pay more for it though. Would of done a stroker to begin with but was not enouf power to keep me intrested in the car, so blower was only option. As fate would have it now I have both lol, sad and happy about it at same time.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by PetrolFumes

nice color. mine is frozen blue. who is regular guy?

open to hearing who everyone uses or knows of that is reputable for stoker motor builds

A forum guy. He has aided the build of several strokers here including the most powerful stage 3 supercharged M3 that actually functions

[M3AN_S65]

I've read enough posts regarding FI and NA motors. It was a tough decision but I ended up going with the stroker because I already have a supercharged car and wanted to keep the 2013 M3 NA for various reasons. This will be my track car and not driven daily. I took mine to SD Autotech in San Jose which is owned by Steve Dinan and I was able to meet the guy when I dropped off my car. It's good to know that the shop I took it to is still ran by Steve Dinan himself. Plus they gave me a deal on parts and labor. It took me awhile to find a 2013 white with fox red interior that's also a manual so that's why I went with the stroker to keep it NA. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone's budget is different.

[PetrolFumes]

Originally Posted by LASTS65

I've read enough posts regarding FI and NA motors. It was a tough decision but I ended up going with the stroker because I already have a supercharged car and wanted to keep the 2013 M3 NA for various reasons. This will be my track car and not driven daily. I took mine to SD Autotech in San Jose which is owned by Steve Dinan and I was able to meet the guy when I dropped off my car. It's good to know that the shop I took it to is still ran by Steve Dinan himself. Plus they gave me a deal on parts and labor. It took me awhile to find a 2013 white with fox red interior that's also a manual so that's why I went with the stroker to keep it NA. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone's budget is different.

Nice - who did your motor?