ESS VT3 Supercharged - Update after almost 2 years and 15K miles...

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

I agree. The manifold should utilize better clamps to prevent the lifting. Either a support bracket at the rear of the manifold, or weld on v-band flanges onto the factory throttle inlets and v-band flanges on the ESS manifold velocity stacks and secure them this way. It is a leak free and service free solution.

What clamps do you think would work? Did I not say I tried different clamps? Conventional wisdom would say one BOV would work I agree, but that's not the case here, AA and Evolve use more than one with less boost, and there's probably a reason for it don't you think? I'm running much more boost, one of the things I noticed at times when the manifold would lift, it would occur right after a shift or when I let off, indicating pressure was not releasing fast enough, this was only happening on high speed runs at the airstrip. Did you not recommend a second BOV at the first event, where you were helping me put the manifold back on? You could weld the manifold all you want, change the velocity stacks, clamps, etc. it might not lift, but something else will give way because of the pressure, this much boost on this particular car, setup, psi level, needs additional valves or possibly one big one, and again the ICV needs to see less pressure, so you'll need two in that case, but what do I know.

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

Congrats Drew. Glad she's running well. However, why is the 2nd bypass valve being plumbed back into the charged section of the intake? Why not just plumb back into the pre-charged intake tract along with the main Bypass valve.

Thanks, but do you really think I would route a bypass valve that way? The rear Forge bypass valve in the rear is plumed back into the intake pre supercharger just like the ESS vortech valve, the 2nd Forge bypass valve is open to air, but has a hose that is routed to the front and is open, the hose was added to kill the noise.

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

And Drew, the differential bushings in your car are on their way out. There is a lot of deflection occurring there last time I saw it. The car is making double the WHP of the stock M3. Certain drive train components are simply not going to last or do their job correctly.

I remember you saying all the bushings were fine on the car when you inspected it. Another BMW tech confirmed they were fine as well, but I agree it might be a good idea to upgrade those.

[tom @ eas]

Appreciate the mention, glad to be a part of this build.

With new rubber and clamps (5+ year old clamps under various builds), the manifold shouldn't be lifting anymore. There's still lots of room of improvement for the next airstrip event, but everything is going in the right direction.

Not to mention sounding much more quieter on the street. Sleeper is the way to go.

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

I remember you saying all the bushings were fine on the car when you inspected it. Another BMW tech confirmed they were fine as well, but I agree it might be a good idea to upgrade those.

Don't worry, we already have bushings covered. Wait until you see what we have in store for the track build we're doing.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

Congrats Drew. Glad she's running well. However, why is the 2nd bypass valve being plumbed back into the charged section of the intake? Why not just plumb back into the pre-charged intake tract along with the main Bypass valve.

It looks like it does? I think it's going from the charged coupling to the non charged intake. But the valve does look backwards.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

one of the things I noticed at times when the manifold would lift, it would occur right after a shift or when I let off, indicating pressure was not releasing fast enough, this was only happening on high speed runs at the airstrip.

Hey Drew, did you notice anything else that the car would do differently when lifting off the throttle fast? Like the RPMs not coming down quickly enough?

[OM VT3]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

Using the Autologic they re-calibrated the DCT clutches.

Is that like a dct tune?

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by SYZ

It looks like it does? I think it's going from the charged coupling to the non charged intake. But the valve does look backwards.

That's correct, but instead of recirculating back to the intake pre SC, it just vents to air, via a hose routed to the front, to eliminate the noise and actually you can install a Forge/Bosch type bypass valve in either direction and it will work fine, the one I installed in the rear is backwards, but it works perfectly fine, the one in front is installed in the right direction though.

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by leigh

Is that like a dct tune?

No, when new clutches or a new transmission is installed BMW or whoever has the proper equipment, needs to do a recalibration of the clutch engagement. I had a used transmission installed a few years back after my original one failed with the SSP clutches, at the time the dealer didn't even know how to do the recalibration, regardless it seems to have rectified the issue quite a bit.

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by SYZ

Hey Drew, did you notice anything else that the car would do differently when lifting off the throttle fast? Like the RPMs not coming down quickly enough?

Yes, but only on high speed runs, this was do to the pressure not being able to escape fast enough with 11+psi, it doesn't do it anymore now with the additional bypass valves.

[OM VT3]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

No, when new clutches or a new transmission is installed BMW or whoever has the proper equipment, needs to do a recalibration of the clutch engagement. I had a used transmission installed a few years back after my original one failed with the SSP clutches, at the time the dealer didn't even know how to do the recalibration, regardless it seems to have rectified the issue quite a bit.

Mine seems like it's starting to get slow do you think a dct tune will help it?

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by leigh

Mine seems like it's starting to get slow do you think a dct tune will help it?

It's hard to increase the speed of the DCT it shifts so fast, I'd have to drive in your car to see, does it feel slower than other DCT's you've been in?

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by M-powerMode

Awesome journey and write up man!

Raising the power bar is not an
easy task, it takes patience and support to achieve and it seems like you have a good group of friends and support from the ESS guy's!
Look forward to your progress & keep us posted !

Appreciate the kind words! I've had a lot of support from ESS, a lot of other shops and people too, been very lucky!

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Appreciate the mention, glad to be a part of this build.

With new rubber and clamps (5+ year old clamps under various builds), the manifold shouldn't be lifting anymore. There's still lots of room of improvement for the next airstrip event, but everything is going in the right direction.

Not to mention sounding much more quieter on the street. Sleeper is the way to go.



Don't worry, we already have bushings covered. Wait until you see what we have in store for the track build we're doing.

Appreciate all your help/support Tom, I'm loving the quieter exhaust/with the tips as well.

[TheKosherStogie]

Glad all is well drew!

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by DD GT3 RD

Glad all is well drew!

Russo! Thanks Brother.

[OM VT3]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

It's hard to increase the speed of the DCT it shifts so fast, I'd have to drive in your car to see, does it feel slower than other DCT's you've been in?

If feels slow when I compare it to how it was 12 months ago.....downshifts are no where near as good and up shifts don't bang in like they use to

I've been thinking about getting the GTS software and see how that goes

[JBiddy]

Awesome man! Car is deff a beast!

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by leigh

If feels slow when I compare it to how it was 12 months ago.....downshifts are no where near as good and up shifts don't bang in like they use to

I've been thinking about getting the GTS software and see how that goes

Might as well try the GTS.

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

What motor?

PGs motor

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by JEllis

PGs motor

Ah, his motor is fine, currently he's building a big power setup, much more elaborate than what I've done.

[L4ces]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

Ah, his motor is fine, currently he's building a big power setup, much more elaborate than what I've done.

I thought the pinnacle for this motor was reached! But it sounds like NOT :-)

[dvpouldar26]

Ever considered some headers? I know several threads have gone back and forth about this, but ACM recently showed gains on their FI car with the schmeidmann headers. I would think on a a higher boost setup like yours, that there could be gains there over the stock headers. Are the gains worth the money and the long install? That's subjective but the schmeidmann headers aren't too bad from a price point.

[OM VT3]

Originally Posted by dvpouldar26

Ever considered some headers? I know several threads have gone back and forth about this, but ACM recently showed gains on their FI car with the schmeidmann headers. I would think on a a higher boost setup like yours, that there could be gains there over the stock headers. Are the gains worth the money and the long install? That's subjective but the schmeidmann headers aren't too bad from a price point.

If you took the motor out I'd say it's a must