Who here has added forced induction to a car?
 

Let's get this out of the way: No, I'm not going to sell my $3K BMW and buy an M3 or something else for $20k+.

Mission creep has snuck in and I want/need more power for my 2005 330ci track car. The suspension has been upgraded and is good to go. I'm installing headers with a Spec E46 exhaust this weekend. I'm not looking for tire shredding power, but maybe a safe 100 HP increase with 5-6-7 PSI boost with a supercharger. Kits range from $4,500 up to $10K. For my purposes, I want to keep it on the low end...$4.5k to $5.5k. I do all the wrenching on the car and will be installing the kit. The kits below say they can be installed in a weekend or less.

That said, has anyone added a supercharger to a car? With low boost, is an intercooler needed?


https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-397294-e46-supercharger-kit-level-1/

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-377830-vf-engineering-supercharger-kit-330hp-275-ft-lbs-torque/

I think it would depend on the egt's. Running no intercooler is a good way to melt some stuff. Been there. Done that.

I would piece together everything you need. Once you shop the major silicone boot suppliers, high quality aftermarket wastegates, turbo/super, and custom hoses made. It'll be cheaper.

Its not egts as much as cr and detonation levels. I think Turner has probably sorted their kits.
I did a 3.2 turbo using Protomotive parts on a 130k engine, and its fine at 150k, at .5 bar. Went to an intercooler now because they're cheap, but with a Bimmer there's a bunch of plumbing involved that likely will add some lag. For track use though I would certainly watch afr's with some sort of tuning tool and add methanol injection as its cheap, easy, and doesn't add to lag.

Those VF kits are nice. If you are happy with the HP/$ ratio then do it!

Methanol is on my list if I go FI. I was going to add it to my 930, but sold it before I did.

There are intercoolers for the SC’s but I’m not sure how efficient they are.

When I dyno’d my 930, I would place a bag of ice on my Kolken intercooler before the run and after the run, I could not put my hand on the intercooler, it heated the air up that much. That was at 1 bar, so I don’t know if six psi with methanol would be OK. I was told by either Turner or Bimmerworld, the intercooler wasn’t needed, because with 5-6 psi, it doesn’t produce the same amount of heat when compressed.

Turner has a pretty good rep.I doubt they're blowing cars up much, but I'd make it clear to whomever you talk to there that its a track car, as they don't account for that. Dyno runs aren't like real world runs, as I'm sure you know. Zero airflow.

I did it to a 944 you can look it up under my user name. The car didn’t last long.

That’s exactly why I asked him about using an intercooler, because on the track. The supercharger would be used multiple times per lap and session session, for an extended period of time.

My plan would be to add one.

I've done all the power adders years ago. The issue was always how to control fuel curve and timing relative to boost incrementally. Also depends on how 'modern' the engine design, specifically combustion chamber / valve angle/ layout.

As with anything you get what you pay for in 'kits'. I would research thoroughly who has already installed those, what problems with tuning or installation have occurred. I take the manufacturers claims like a grain of salt. Another good source are shops that have a wheel dyno that have experience in tuning BMW's that have superchargers installed. THEY are the best source as to who has the best kit.

I had a vortex kit on my 93 Saleen mustang. I ran it very conservatively and had no issues with detonation. When I sold it I saw a video of it being tuned and there was a lot more power that I left on the table.

just buy a corvette.

adding forced induction to a street car is maybe a thing you can do, doing it with a track car is a good way to blow things up. a great way to turn a fun tack day into a mess is having forced induction. look down the paddock at the next track day, and see whos having issues. and look at the end of the day, who is trying to cram in as many laps as possible ... its the guy in a junky, cheap, NA, track beater.

Nitrous...much cheaper for the same hp.

This. ^^ With used Z06 Corvettes being cheap, (with some miles, of course), it's a no-brainer, IMO. That's if you really enjoy going to the track. The performance is GT3 level and they are actually tough cars. I've always bought the 911 I wanted, (or that fell into my life), and taken it to the track occasionally for a DE. None of my cars were really track purposed.

From what I've seen at Willow Springs, a very high-speed track in desert heat, BMWs blow-up as much as Japanese cars that were never meant to be tracked. I like BMWs as street cars but I'd go the 'Vette route for a bargain track weapon.

How many laps can you get out of one bottle of nitrous?

Do I look like a Corvette owner?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1624490725.png

No doubt, a Corvette is a great bang for your buck. I did think about it before buying the BMW from a friend, I just couldn’t make that leap.

Also, my track buddy has an M3, so we’re able to help each other car wise.

Edit: last time at the track, the Corvettes were passing me at will. At least with 100 more ponies, I might be able to hear them a little longer and futilely trying to keep up.

Yep, +cool collar and you're good to go.

depends on the size of the bottle and how long you are in wot :)

Finding a tuner with a dyno to talk to is a good idea. Might have to go to a bigger town to find one. Thanks.

These guys have a good reputation amongst the local BMW crowd. Pretty sure they have a dyno on site. Just outside of Charlotte.

https://cesmotorsport.com/

Thanks. I looked at their website last night and it doesn’t say E46 non M’s for parts, but I’ll give them a call today. Surely they tune them though...

zero, cause no tech inspector would let you on track with one.

Timely thread.

I have an '86 6-series BMW that I want to play around with and strap a turbo to. It currently has 200hp and feels lethargic, so it will be my new science project.

I am currently piecing together the turbo kit. For piece of mind, I will be pulling the head, adding a metal head gasket and ARP studs and it will require a full engine management system, which will be the most challenging part of the installation, but needed to add fuel and manage timing and of course detonation.

I am only looking for 8-10psi to prevent the engine from becoming a trajectory and keeping it reliable on pump gas.

I am hoping by the end of summer, it will be done.

I thought about a turbo, but haven’t seen (or found) much information for the E46. Also, it seems more complicated than a SC “kit” sold by Turner or Bimmerworld.

Buy a ls adapter put in a cammed 5.3 truck engine. Would be roughly the same costs

So yes it seems there are but a few centrifugal super charger kits out there, not much else for your application. Good news is they are very efficient when used with a properly sized, even oversized intercooler. Then it all comes down to fuel system upgrades and DME mapping.

I can sell you a drawing to get 2.9 additional Porsche 911 horsepower from a Home Depot weedeater!

You already know it is not just adding HP to the engine, it adds a lot of heat. More HP equals more heat always, it is a law of physics. You will need more cooling, and likely bigger brakes. Transmissions don't like the added HP and the bearing will often fail.

One of my buddies swapped in a Buick Turbo Grand National engine into his El Camino. That part was easy, but he had to build a bigger transmission cross member, change the transmission to a custom built unit to handle the HP, and then a Ford 9 inch rear end, and then box the chassis, and a much bigger radiator. When he was done he had spent more than just buying a turbo charged car. He could do 11 second 1/4 mile runs on slicks, but he had a car he had to basically give away for 1/10th what it cost him to build.

A different friend started with a Subaru WRX and turned it into a very uncomfortable track only car that almost always broke. With all the upgrades he admitted he could have bought a used 911 GT3 and just drive to the track, and drive home after a day of running in a faster car.

I know it is not just the money, it is the project itself that is the fun. Enjoy what your end up with and have fun.

I was amazed how many production 11 second 1/4 mile cars are sold.

https://www.autosnout.com/11-Seconds-Quarter-Mile-Production-Cars-List.php

Lots of those are totally out of reach money wise for most people.

Also think about the drive train. I know it’s not in the same league but my Series 2 Land Rover had its anemic 55hp engine replaced with a modern 200tdi turbo and it breaks halfshafts if driven by an idiot - me. Apparently, Land Rover deliberately made the shafts weak so they can be replaced in the field but something to consider.

I supercharged my old 944S2. It was a 'kit' consisting of an Eaton M90 supercharger, intake manifold, intake plumbing, bypass valve, and some crap electronics I threw away and installed a piggyback to adjust fuel & spark timing and convert to MAP. Being non-intercooled, I ran a larger pulley to reduce boost to 7psi.

It all cost me about $4k, 15 years ago. The power boost was OK, but a mildly tuned 951 was still faster. So, overall not worth it.

If I were in your shoes, I'd look at an LS swap. If that's absolutely out, then turbocharge with intercooler. I think both will get you a better torque curve than centrifugal blower.

The LS swap is the cheapest option on many occasions. Lots of torque and HP and parts are cheap and everywhere and the options pretty much unlimited. Even cheaper, go for an old school Chevy small block 350 with aluminum heads, and a decent cam and get 450 HP from a old carburetor.

If I went with any V8, I’d be looking at the cooling system, brakes, transmission, differential and axles. That’s obviously a lot more than I want to do. The two superchargers that I’ve been looking at, have low boost, maybe five or six psi. It comes with the modified tune, larger injectors., etc.

After the FI, I would be Methanol/water injection and or an intercooler.

I can buy something with a bigger motor and faster, but as mentioned, I’d like doing a project and researching what I can do. Keeps me busy on the weekends.

Careful what a sales team may have to say. They are owned by the same people that bought Pelican. They may say you "don't need an intercooler" because they don't have a system available.... :)

Or maybe they do....

Cheers

Back in about 1970 I fitted a supercharger kit to my Triumph Herald. The long stroke engine loved it, the bottom to mid range torque increase accelarated the car at about the same rate as my friend's Cortina GT, so I was a happy 21 year old.

Again, centrifugal supercharger kits have been used in BMW's over the years, with good success and W/O major upgrades to everything else. An intercooler is essential. It's a matter of whose kit to use.

Hm

I put a TRD supercharger on my wife’s Lexus LX450. Simple job.

I agree. Upon their recommendation, I bought a special transmission crossmember and motor/transmission mounts to accommodate the Magnaflow Spec E46 exhaust I installed with the Active Autowerkes headers. Neither one was needed. They are being returned.

I had a Paxton on a Dodge truck, 360 CI. Rajay on a Type I VW. OEM turbo on a Volvo. All went like stink.

Sammy put one on his SC.

Obligatory picture

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1068761951.jpg