ESS SC Kits G1 Supercharger Upgrade

[Jiaim]

would love to hear more ! interested for my 3.0si !

[CRE]

Originally Posted by bvrider1

Can you offer feedback from your previous setup to now?

Nothing to compare. My car was completely stock.

Originally Posted by Jiaim

would love to hear more ! interested for my 3.0si !

What would you like to know? I haven't really pushed it yet, need to log a couple hundred miles first. When just driving casually you barely notice it. The acceleration curve is so smooth. Depending on what gear you're in the the thing really wakes up around 2500-3000RPM. The power increase is very linear so when you're steadily accelerating you feel it but it's a "wow" moment. When you're driving a little harder, down shift and stomp on it...well, you can't help but giggle a little. Naturally, the car is louder while driving, there's constantly more air moving through the engine.

I'm going to use ISTA and delete all the adaptations for fuel quality/octane, Valvetronic, Vanos, DISA and throttle. After bringing it up with one of the guys at ESS I think it might be better to let it learn the new characteristics based solely on the base trim values versus trim values which are no longer remotely valid.



The supercharger makes a lot of rattling/gear lash noise at idle. I'm told it's normal by both ESS and Vortech owners and that it should lessen a bit as it wears in but that there will always be some chatter at idle.it goes away at just under 1krpm. It makes me cringe and panic a little. I'm used to turbos and their quirks, I suppose I'll get used to this.

[Richsocal12]

subbed

[CRE]

I spoke with ESS's tuner who very strongly recommended that I run 93 octane. At my altitude 91 is what you get due to the thinner air. 91 would be fine with the regular pulley that ships with the kit but as I'm running a smaller pulley (see: higher boost) I needed to figure something out as mixing 91 and 100 octane was getting EXPENSIVE, the latter costing $9.50 per gallon. The new injectors have a fair amount more room up top so I'm running a couple gallons of E85 with each tank which will put me around 94 or 95.

I may put the original pulley on until the supercharger has broken in and until I'm feeling more comfortable that nothing is going to explode.

The gravel chewing noises these superchargers (all centirfugal except for rotrex) is cringe worthy.

I'll get to the Dyno sooner or later.

[Properstyle]

Originally Posted by CRE

I spoke with ESS's tuner who very strongly recommended that I run 93 octane. At my altitude 91 is what you get due to the thinner air. 91 would be fine with the regular pulley that ships with the kit but as I'm running a smaller pulley (see: higher boost) I needed to figure something out as mixing 91 and 100 octane was getting EXPENSIVE, the latter costing $9.50 per gallon. The new injectors have a fair amount more room up top so I'm running a couple gallons of E85 with each tank which will put me around 94 or 95.

I may put the original pulley on until the supercharger has broken in and until I'm feeling more comfortable that nothing is going to explode.

The gravel chewing noises these superchargers (all centirfugal except for rotrex) is cringe worthy.

I'll get to the Dyno sooner or later.

You could just mix 2 gallons of e85 with every full tank. That will bump your octane up

[CRE]

Originally Posted by Properstyle

You could just mix 2 gallons of e85 with every full tank. That will bump your octane up

Lol, I just said that's what I'm doing.

[Adriano917]

Subbed

[CRE]

There's another Z4 owner who is presently installing this kit. He hit me up with a couple questions last night. Hopefully, he'll chime in with his experience and his opinions on it.

[Jiaim]

Is your break in done now ?

How is the chatter now ?

Since the G1 seems more compact than the vortech, do you think the 330 intake would fit now ? I donc like the rear intake on the z4 setup, would be better with a front intake no ?

[CRE]

Without a 330 intake to try it's not possible for me to say. I haven't seen the vortech installed in a Z4 to know just how much more room there is. If I had to guess, I'd say you have an additional 10 to 20mm of room. I think there is room for a custom intake pipe though. I'll post a picture of the area between the SC and the strut tower.

The chatter is better, but still pretty obnoxious. But, I am running a smaller pulley and I have an inconsistent idle which I believe is due to my altitude and may need some custom tuning to smooth out. When the idle sits steady between the upper 600's and lower 700's it's no louder than the Vortechs that I've found videos of on YouTube.


EDIT: Sorry about the size, I'm posting from my phone.

[bvrider1]

When is this coming out for the S65 motor?

[CRE]

Originally Posted by bvrider1

When is this coming out for the S65 motor?

I'll ask. Not sure if I'll get an answer though... I guess I kind of bullied my way into getting my kit and I don't think they're advertising it for any model yet, just replacing this kit with back orders for their old one. I was just persistent and annoying (there may have also been a significant amount of whining and begging). I'm not the only one with it. I helped another N52 Z4 owner install his recently, but he's got oil leak issues to take care of before he starts showing off.

I'm eager to get my car on a dyno. A good acquaintance just bought one but it'll be a week or two before he gets it up and running.

[Jiaim]

Originally Posted by CRE

Without a 330 intake to try it's not possible for me to say. I haven't seen the vortech installed in a Z4 to know just how much more room there is. If I had to guess, I'd say you have an additional 10 to 20mm of room. I think there is room for a custom intake pipe though. I'll post a picture of the area between the SC and the strut tower.

The chatter is better, but still pretty obnoxious. But, I am running a smaller pulley and I have an inconsistent idle which I believe is due to my altitude and may need some custom tuning to smooth out. When the idle sits steady between the upper 600's and lower 700's it's no louder than the Vortechs that I've found videos of on YouTube.


EDIT: Sorry about the size, I'm posting from my phone.
Attachment 2100100
Attachment 2100101

it may fit, maybe a heatgun would help too ! They should send you a unit for test fitting since it's included in every other n52 platform kit.

[CRE]

Originally Posted by Jiaim

Is your break in done now ?

How is the chatter now ?

Since the G1 seems more compact than the vortech, do you think the 330 intake would fit now ? I donc like the rear intake on the z4 setup, would be better with a front intake no?

I'm looking at my car and starting to sculpt a front intake for the Z4. I can see right away that while the 330 intake may clear the strut tower there is nowhere for it to run easily. Our coolant lines and frame rails prevent any easy routing once past the strut tower. I'm going to have a go at building an alternative intake but I'll also have to contend with clearing the SC pulley and placing the air filter behind front grill... Not easily serviceable.

I see no way at all of routing for an IC. Meth injection may be the best solution for the Z4. Perhaps adding a fan (such as one of those stupid electric superchargers) in the former intake opening to force cool air toward the SC intake may be worthwhile.

[Tiago]

Is the new G series also repairable like vortech? Self contained oil system or share engine oil?

I'm curious to see the retrofit price and if they discount vortech unit and connection parts as exchange. But having the highest stage for stock engine, i think that would be cheaper to install a set of lower CR pistons and turn boost up on vortech.

[CRE]

Originally Posted by Tiago

Is the new G series also repairable like vortech? Self contained oil system or share engine oil?

I'm curious to see the retrofit price and if they discount vortech unit and connection parts as exchange. But having the highest stage for stock engine, i think that would be cheaper to install a set of lower CR pistons and turn boost up on vortech.

I don't have any info about serviceability. I'm sure they're going to be the only option for repairs for a while, until they decide to release service manuals and a parts catalog. I kind of doubt it though. You could try emailing them, but I don't think they're ready to start supplying all the specs and pricing yet. This isn't available on their website yet or through their distributors. Those of us who have them either received it as fulfillment of a backordered Vortech kit or because they begged, pleaded, whined and threw a childish tantrum to get one (note: I wasn't one of the people waiting on a backorder).

As far as I know, all of the G series are self oiling.

[CRE]

Originally Posted by bvrider1

When is this coming out for the S65 motor?

I asked but haven't received any info.

[Tellmee]

Following

[Aries326]

Originally Posted by Jiaim

would love to hear more ! interested for my 3.0si !

You and me both! I'd love to get this new kit for my 3.0si and my M3. Exciting!!!

[nycplumber]

It's supposed to come out in September but their main tuner is on holiday and that could add a couple weeks to the release date. Figure November to be safe.

[Deebo]

Originally Posted by nycplumber

It's supposed to come out in September but their main tuner is on holiday and that could add a couple weeks to the release date. Figure November to be safe.

Did you hear that direct from ESS?

[Real]

I want this so hard.
Almost pulled the trigger on buying a Harrop but I'll wait until we get more info.