Reliability/driveability of a supercharged M3?

[StrifeM3]

I have ess 625 kit. 145k miles 75k on the ess kit.

[Nautik]

Originally Posted by StrifeM3

I have ess 625 kit. 145k miles 75k on the ess kit.

Wow that is awesome. I was just visiting this forum again for the first time in 4 or 5 years looking for someone running a SC with higher mileage.

Have had 2009 M3 for almost 10 years now with 104k miles. Got a new DCT transmission at 49.9k (thanks BMW!) and already had the vanos and throttle actuators go out. Did the rod bearings at 90k and was wondering if I was crazy to SC it now?

I will probably buy the next gen M4 once they release it with the new AWD system so thought I'd enjoy another year or two under SC power!

[gnjax]

Originally Posted by Nautik

Wow that is awesome. I was just visiting this forum again for the first time in 4 or 5 years looking for someone running a SC with higher mileage.

Have had 2009 M3 for almost 10 years now with 104k miles. Got a new DCT transmission at 49.9k (thanks BMW!) and already had the vanos and throttle actuators go out. Did the rod bearings at 90k and was wondering if I was crazy to SC it now?

I will probably buy the next gen M4 once they release it with the new AWD system so thought I'd enjoy another year or two under SC power!

If you don't mind throwing money away (I mean by that if you plan to sell the car to get a new one soon, it's essientally this), then it's the best bang for your bucks out there. I bought the car with a sc already installed (was only an ess vt1 at the time) and I had to take it off and drive the car stock for a while to get it registered in my country. Night and day, I stopped driving the car and took my 330d instead until I had the SC reinstalled.

Mine was on for 40k kms approximatively (Car currently at 105K kms), I did a rod bearing job recently and didn't had any additional wear compared to similar mileage without SC.
If you're afraid for your engine internals, just don't take the highest option, for example take ess 625 instead of 650. It's a pretty safe mod after all, the high level of boosts are near redline so unless you are going 8300 rpm all the way home on your daily commute, you should be fine

[SilverSlug]

Why do most people go for the SC route instead of the twin turbo route?

[astris]

What are people using for plugs? Just OEM spec every 10k ish miles?

My car goes in for an sc in a week or so. Debating if I should have them do plugs while it's in there or wait. Car has 45k miles and I only drive it maybe 2k miles a year.

[darkbmw]

New plugs and o2

[Redd]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Why do most people go for the SC route instead of the twin turbo route?

Because there are no turbo kits for S65 V8

[SilverSlug]

Originally Posted by Redd

Because there are no turbo kits for S65 V8

Actually there are...

https://www.gintani.com/products/gin...3-twin-turbo-1


However, this answers my own question... Price.

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Actually there are...

https://www.gintani.com/products/gin...3-twin-turbo-1


However, this answers my own question... Price.

Doubt gintani will still provide and support this product... platform's too old for this ball ache

[Redd]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Actually there are...

https://www.gintani.com/products/gin...3-twin-turbo-1


However, this answers my own question... Price.

It's not a kit. Can only be done at their facility.

[jayely1]

Does it make it handle any differently or worse??

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by jayely1

Does it make it handle any differently or worse??

Depends on the position of your right foot I suppose...

It does add a bit of weight to the front of the car. Not sure it is that much of a difference.

Cheers,

[kyrix1st]

There is one guy who races (10 lap race, 1.742mi tough-like circuit located in Hyogo) with ESS-625 in Kansai, and as far as I know he basically rebuilt the whole engine with new mains and higher clearance rod bearings to address the added stress.
I think you will still see main bearing wear of #1 cylinder for extended use because he swapped out the engine after two seasons for some bearing wear issues.

[rlmccarty2000]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Actually there are...

https://www.gintani.com/products/gin...3-twin-turbo-1


However, this answers my own question... Price.

I just checked with the vendor and the turbo is not available.

[gilberjj]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

There is one guy who races (10 lap race, 1.742mi tough-like circuit located in Hyogo) with ESS-625 in Kansai, and as far as I know he basically rebuilt the whole engine with new mains and higher clearance rod bearings to address the added stress.
I think you will still see main bearing wear of #1 cylinder for extended use because he swapped out the engine after two seasons for some bearing wear issues.

I haven't tracked mine, but here's a picture of my car on the Nurburgring circa 2012.
It now has 122k miles.