▀▄ eas | ESS VT1-550 Dyno Results

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by flipm3

Great post!

Which makes me wonder if this VT1-550 could repeat that ~500whp after a handful of consecutive runs, the same way an ESS VT2 does. Or more importantly, if that ~500whp will be consistent when beaten on continuously on the track or drag strip.

I know people have posted threads in the past showing "heat soak" tests on the VT1-535. I just find it challenging to really believe that that 505whp 330wtq is realistic in this example, especially when EAS just dyno'd a VT2-580 with the same numbers.

I'm not trying to knock EAS or ESS, just trying to be realistic with the performance of the really great bang-for-your-buck VT1-550.

What's up flip! I think a good test for these non-intercooled kits would be to drive the snot out of one and then let it sit in the sun on a warm day like what happens on a track and then dyno without letting it cool down. That would conclusively demonstrate how much power, if any, is being reduced from these conditions. Probably won't happen though.

[AlteredBe4st]

Originally Posted by Chriskm3

Correct me if I'm mistaken but I was under the impression that the 550/540 kits are street dedicated kits and the bigger kits are for both street and track?
For street purposes consistency between pulls is not as important as the track. Real life situations rarely call for wot springs. Occasional one here and there

My thoughts exact.

[BuckRodgers]

[QUOTE=Chriskm3;13552778]

Originally Posted by BuckRodgers

Have my VT1-550 scheduled for installation next
Give it a week of driving and let us know what u think. ESS said around 500 for the ecu adjustments but we found it that longer is better.
My friends who has the ESS kit first words were .. Wow wtf... M3 should come like this from the factory.

I am lucky in that a local guy who attends several of the same track events I did last year let me drive his car which has the older VT1 535 kit. The car ran pretty flawless all day at the track and I got a lot of feedback from him so im pretty confident the new 550 will exceed my expectations.

You and your buddy both are supercharged? Sounds like you guys get to have some fun when you go for drives

[Chriskm3]

[QUOTE=BuckRodgers;13565673]

Originally Posted by Chriskm3

I am lucky in that a local guy who attends several of the same track events I did last year let me drive his car which has the older VT1 535 kit. The car ran pretty flawless all day at the track and I got a lot of feedback from him so im pretty confident the new 550 will exceed my expectations.

You and your buddy both are supercharged? Sounds like you guys get to have some fun when you go for drives

yes and No. its hard to drive the m3 to its fullest on the streets.
my friend just sold his ess550 kit.

[rjd598]

wow seriously the best bang for your buck right there. 550 kit is beast and added with some test pipes and you are almost at 600hp at the crank!!! that's ridiculous

[AlteredBe4st]

Love my 550 kit especially with the added power of the test pipe. Great bang for the buck. I don't track my car, just street driven, I've also heard from others running the 535/550 kit that they have had no issues with the kit, Roman@ESS was one of them.

[Evtron]

Wealth of information!

I'm on the fence with the VT1 and VT2. I live in the south and temperatures can play a factor. How much they play a factor is the real question though when it comes to heat soak! 585 kit is a good alternative but the 625 isn't that much more expensive - although then I'd be looking at changing out the rod bearings.

[BuckRodgers]

Originally Posted by Evtron

Wealth of information!

I'm on the fence with the VT1 and VT2. I live in the south and temperatures can play a factor. How much they play a factor is the real question though when it comes to heat soak! 585 kit is a good alternative but the 625 isn't that much more expensive - although then I'd be looking at changing out the rod bearings.

The only downside to heat soak on a properly tuned car running proper boost levels is that you will lose some power. This can happen with intercooled / non intercooled superchargers and also NA motors. Intercooled kits have charge cooling but they also generate more heat than non intercooled kits do as they run higher boost levels so a good portion of that cooling is just removing the added temps from the higher level of boost. Intercooled setups also restrict air flow to the factory cooling hardware to some degree so there are always things to consider depending on how you use the car. As far as reliability over time running lower boost is a much safer option for the motor IMO. I would choose going intercooled if i wanted the added power but I have never viewed it as a safer option than lower boost non-intercooled as it can actually be the opposite depending on design.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Evtron

Wealth of information!

I'm on the fence with the VT1 and VT2. I live in the south and temperatures can play a factor. How much they play a factor is the real question though when it comes to heat soak! 585 kit is a good alternative but the 625 isn't that much more expensive - although then I'd be looking at changing out the rod bearings.

why change out the rod bearings? is your car an 08 or 09?

[NikB316]

Good value and they seem to be holding up quite well. I would personally go for a kit with an intercooler but obviously more $. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Dyno's are one thing...it's another to be out on a track pushing the limits, staging on a dragstrip or a runway in warm conditions waiting for your turn and having your engine bay heat up dramatically from just sitting around. That's when the 30-50HP delta turns into a 100+ HP delta. The VT2 is worth it unless you want to run a dedicated water/meth setup with a VT1.

Good post

As a 1m owner who tracks their car, trust me when I tell you heat management is critical for FI motors

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

Good post

As a 1m owner who tracks their car, trust me when I tell you heat management is critical for FI motors

Interesting that you got the 1M. I remember debating some things with you when you had an M3 and I had an n54 335i.

I also tracked my 335i. I ran 19psi on stock turbos but I never had heat issues on the track as I ran 50/50 water/meth. That stuff is phenominal at keeping both IATs and oil temperatures down the track. On my last track event on a 90+ degree day I went 15+ laps per session and by lap 8-9 I was passing 600 and 700 HP cars on the straights as they were heat soaking and I wasn't I'm sure the 1M is a bit better than the 335i on the track re cooling but I'd still recommend water/meth to anyone with a turbo car on the track.

[Jremmy]

damnit...haven't even installed my NA ESS tune yet, but now I'm jonesing for a VT-550 kit...lol

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Jremmy

damnit...haven't even installed my NA ESS tune yet, but now I'm jonesing for a VT-550 kit...lol

How about we make that happen?

[Superfly_M3]

Good info. ESS 550 is a solid kit. Paired up with Akra Evo, the kit puts down over 500whp.

[AlteredBe4st]

This kit is insane and continues to impress me. I had mine out and hit 187MPH I know I could have done more but decided to slow down. Power delivery was smooth, consistent and kept pulling hard, after I came to a stop the car purred like it was only doing 35mph and temps were at normal range, I can't imagine what the VT2-625 and VT3 kits feel like if this kit runs this hard. Props to the ESS VT1 great bang for the buck. (187mph run done on closed road). I do agree that for the track one should go with an intercooled unit but for street and daily, this kit can't be beat.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by BuckRodgers

The only downside to heat soak on a properly tuned car running proper boost levels is that you will lose some power. This can happen with intercooled / non intercooled superchargers and also NA motors. Intercooled kits have charge cooling but they also generate more heat than non intercooled kits do as they run higher boost levels so a good portion of that cooling is just removing the added temps from the higher level of boost. Intercooled setups also restrict air flow to the factory cooling hardware to some degree so there are always things to consider depending on how you use the car. As far as reliability over time running lower boost is a much safer option for the motor IMO. I would choose going intercooled if i wanted the added power but I have never viewed it as a safer option than lower boost non-intercooled as it can actually be the opposite depending on design.

Exactly the way I see things! If I'm ever to upgrade my VT1-535 I'll go for the safest kit(cause my car's an 08) which is probably the VT2-585! But for now I'll wait and see if the test pipes I just ordered feel my need for speed!

[AlteredBe4st]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

Exactly the way I see things! If I'm ever to upgrade my VT1-535 I'll go for the safest kit(cause my car's an 08) which is probably the VT2-585! But for now I'll wait and see if the test pipes I just ordered feel my need for speed!

Is there not alot of 08 out there running 600 and 625 kits with no issues? I am thinking of upgrading to the 625 kit at some point but don't want to have any issues, just not sure if upgrading to 585 kit adds any notable power vs the 550 kit. The only plus to the 585 I see is the added intercooler for track use but I don't track my vehicle.

[Superfly_M3]

Intercooler blocks factory radiator ... something to keep in mind

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by lenzm3edan

Is there not alot of 08 out there running 600 and 625 kits with no issues? I am thinking of upgrading to the 625 kit at some point but don't want to have any issues, just not sure if upgrading to 585 kit adds any notable power vs the 550 kit. The only plus to the 585 I see is the added intercooler for track use but I don't track my vehicle.

When I ask ESS about the bearing issue before I bought the kit, they told me that I should'nt be worried if I go with the lower boost kits(535 and 575 at that time), I did'nt ask anymore questions. As for upgrading to the 585, in my case it would surely be notable since I'm already .5psi behind you as I'm running the VT1-535. So for me 50hp for 2500$ is all worthy but for now I think I'll be happy with the 30+hp I just bought for 400$!!

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Superfly_M3

Intercooler blocks factory radiator ... something to keep in mind

It is positioned in front of the factory oil cooler, but there is still sufficient airflow.

Those seeing extended track sessions can benefit from a larger oil cooler such as the M24 unit or the upcoming Oil Cooler from ESS.

[AlteredBe4st]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

When I ask ESS about the bearing issue before I bought the kit, they told me that I should'nt be worried if I go with the lower boost kits(535 and 575 at that time), I did'nt ask anymore questions. As for upgrading to the 585, in my case it would surely be notable since I'm already .5psi behind you as I'm running the VT1-535. So for me 50hp for 2500$ is all worthy but for now I think I'll be happy with the 30+hp I just bought for 400$!!

True, the test pipes make a difference, I already had them on before my surpercharger install. I spoke to Roman earlier about upgrading to the 625 kit later down the road. Who said modding was easy, it's an addiction.