supercharging my E46 m3

[M3NTIL 0]

i have a bit of money left over from buying my car and was thinking about supercharging my m3 so i could get at-least 500 hp from it to try and keep up with my mates R34 GTR .......

i was thinking of something along the line of this....(stage two supercharger)

http://www.mstyle.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_c...ngineering.html

i worked it out its gonna cost me 20k to get the kit to NZ but i have know idea how much it will cost to install or who could do it ???

any ideas???

[CamB 48]

If the instructions are good (and at the price, one would hope so), it should be in the realm of any competent specialist I would have thought?

Heaps more info at the company's website, and it says 14-16 hours for stage 1, so would imagine a little more.

http://www.vf-engineering.com/index.php?v=..._bmw_e46_m3.php

Reading some of the text, I reckon you need to think carefully about whether the extra 90hp is worth the $$$ and potential damage for stage 2 vs stage 1:

The E46 M3 Stage 2 kit [released Feb 08] offers even greater performance via extra boost from a smaller supercharger pulley, replacement stiffer serpentine belt tensioner and upgraded GIAC stage 2 software ECU flash with larger stage2 fuel injectors and MAF upgrade. This kit requires the use of high performance cats. The test car was setup with Supersprint headers and Euro M3 cats. Drag racing and aggresive back to back peak rpm shifting will likely require a clutch upgrade. 100 octane fuel recommended when used on the race track. A pre-cat wideband air/fuel ratio monitoring gauge is recommended.

[BM WORLD 1283]

http://www.vf-engineering.com/

maybe cheaper from the states.

pretty easy to fit

[fuzyfrog 0]

http://www.activeautowerke.com/

There products are supposed to be very very good and high quality from most the US based forums i have read.

http://www.activeautowerke.com/viewproduct.aspx?id=Product91

E46 Supercharger Kit

They are not cheap.

Would love there 325i Turbo Kit

[AN E30 Fan 1]

TURBO

- IMO the cars ugly but it goes hard

Then take your Dad for a spin -

[M3NTIL 0]

TURBO

- IMO the cars ugly but it goes hard

Then take your Dad for a spin -

haha i think 31 psi would be a bit much for me hahah

and my dad dose that now ..... my mums 10 times worse hahaha lets just say see's never getting in my car again ......

Edited March 6, 2010 by M3NTIL

[mr E34 11]

Have a look at these guru's in the UK, they race their vehicles.

http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/E46_M3_Power.shtml

I don't think i would supercharge etc, you change the car too much it's appeal dimishes & you open yourself up to lots of other issues.If you can afford it buy a set of their specially developed headers + remapp in NZ.

[Guest Ari Gold]

Active Autowerke http://www.activeautowerke.com/viewproduct.aspx?id=Product91

[hybrid 1043]

Dont piss around ...

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/performanc...rbos/Turbo_Kits

[CamB 48]

Doesn't that just offer the same (with Stage 2, 500hp ish) for more money?

Edited March 8, 2010 by CamB

[hybrid 1043]

Super charger HP and turbo HP are two completely different things. If your happy with a boring linear torque curve up to 8000rpm (ish) where youll finally get your HP then go for a SC.

If you want something thats going to kill some s***, get turbo.

youtube up the HPF stuff, youll see what I mean

Brendons cousin has a super charged e46 m3, and its ok .. not not rip your undies great. And for the money youll be outlaying .. I would go the extra mile and go for turbo.

That and strengthen your subframe/unibody to cope.

[Guest Ari Gold]

If your happy with a boring linear torque curve up to 8000rpm (ish) where youll finally get your HP then go for a SC.

If you want something thats going to kill some s***, get turbo.

Centrifugal yes, twin screw, definitely not!

[drifty325i 0]

Id go the with the HPF stuff as well, from what ive read and watched on the net its the best bang by far!

[M3NTIL 0]

i was thinking of that but you cant get a kit for right hand drive SMG they are all non-SMG kits

but the 2.5 would of been nice ....

[CamB 48]

Given the massive cost differential, I still reckon SC is better. I mean, how much power do you need? (and yes, have seen the HPF videos).

[M3_Power 636]

There are 3 supercharged E46 M3s in NZ - one's in Wellington and the other two are up here in Auckland.

I've met the owner of both Auckland cars (Imola Red and Pheonix yellow Cab) and both have over 500whp (the Imola red one does at least, can't remember what the yellow one puts out) ..

The Imola red car was done by Dodsons Auto - give them a ring and I am sure they'd be more than happy to put you in touch with the owner - it's a beautiful looking car and a friendly fella to chat to.

Similarly with the Pheonix yellow car owner (he's over the shore, also a friendly fella to talk to) - I believe this one was fitted by Soichi Tate ... I think.

Supercharging is the way to go for the E46 M3 if you don't want to lose drivability - also lot more reliable than turbo charging.

Gearbox wise it'll handle the power (similarly with the stock bottom end), the clutch you'll need to upgrade as the stock unit won't handle anything more than 450hp ... and be prepared to rip the rear subframe floor to pieces once you've done it : P (I am serious).

And for a proven 7.22 around the Nurburgring .... here's the Loaded CSL full spec:

Engine: 3,2 L Supercharged engine, new low-comp pistons,10,5:1 compression,

Vortec V2 Super silent with water-cooling system, extra oil cooling system, new fuel system with catch tank and Bosch fuel pumps. Extra oilcoolersystem with Modified oilfilter housing, Carbon fibre enginecover. Carbon fibre airinduct. 55 degrees water thermostat.

RWHP: 532,71 / 0.85bar / 98 oktan fuel

Torque: 483,67 / 0.85bar / 98 oktan fuel

Suspension: KW 3-way adjustable race kit

Chassie:

adjustable front camber plates

front springs 120 mm + helper

rear springs 100 mm + helper

prepared front wishbones

excentric caster bearing kit

3-way adjustable anti-rollbar + uniball thrust-rods

stiffer rear frame, changed kinematic points

aluminium bushings (frame)

aluminium bushings (final drive cover)

excenter uniball bearings (camber)

center uniball bearings (tow)

center uniball bearings (top arm outside)

stiffer rubber bearing top arm inside

aluminium machined lower arm + uniball bearings

2-way adjustable anti-rollbar + thrust rods

prepaired drive shafts + vent system

Frontbrakes: AP 6 pot caliper, PFC 355 mm Ø disc, PFC 01 race pads

INOX brake line system, brake vent system 80 mm Ø.

Rearbrakes: AP 4 pot caliper, PFC 323 mm Ø disc, carbon race pads, INOX brake line system

Frontwheels: BBS GT split, F18"x10 ET 40, 15 mm spacerdiscs, Tiresize 265/35/18"

Rearwheels: BBS GT split R18"x11 ET 35, 12 mm spacerdiscs, Tiresize 295/30/18"

Tires: Michelin pilot Sport Cup R tires

Rims: BBS Racing 18" Sandmold magnesium center with forge aluminium lane

Exhaust: Supersprint lightweight racing all the way.

Spec: 100% Stainless exhaust system, Oversize 2x Ø 60 mm

-Manifold. (LHD)

-Front pipes kit.

-Replaces Kat.

-Centre exhaust. 76mm LIGHTWEIGHT RACING EXHAUST

-LIGHTWEIGHT RACING EXHAUST Rear exhaust OO 80 R. + OO 80 L

Drive train/clutch: 3:91 ratio differential, Sachs Sinterclutch kit.

Exterior: Carbon fibre roof, hood, trunk, fenders, front and diffusor.

Interior: bolted rollcage light version (25 kg), adjustable Recaro race seat system with 6 points harness. A lot of carbon fibre interior as standard CSL

Project Management: Anders Fransson, Sörman Bil

Carhandling development: Tom Schirmer, Schirmer Race Engineering

Engine & Transmission tuning: ESS Tuning & Sörman Bil

Driver: Richard Göransson

Bodywork: Sörman Bil

Checkmate!!

Edited March 9, 2010 by M3_Power

[M3_Power 636]

Have a look at these guru's in the UK, they race their vehicles.

http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/E46_M3_Power.shtml

I don't think i would supercharge etc, you change the car too much it's appeal dimishes & you open yourself up to lots of other issues.If you can afford it buy a set of their specially developed headers + remapp in NZ.

John Thorney's a good guy - very knowledgeable and friendly - but honestly they are useless when it comes to buying stuff off them (this is even the consensus with a lot of the cslregister guys) - their pricings also aren't the sharpest for some reason. Great if you are located in the UK and can just rock up to his workshop, but I wouldn't waste time to be honest trying to buy stuff off them (I think they are simply way too busy to bother with single orders) - and yes I've tried.

Edited March 9, 2010 by M3_Power

[*Glenn* 854]

^^^ all of the above.. if it costs $10,000 to add 25% or more HP to a vehicle... multiply that by 4 in dollar terms to upgrade everthing else. ie: brakes, suspension, drive line, wheels, tyres etc... and then contend with the 50% unreliability you now have introduced. M3's can be tender in standard form, increase output and expect to have very shallow pockets. This is just an opinion .... not a fact... but I will tell you now....I'm right

BTW Tom ... your scareing them... like I do at times with real world facts... instead of dreaming

Edited March 9, 2010 by *Glenn*

[hybrid 1043]

Brendon's cousin owns the red m3 you talk about tom.

Its been plauged with problems and back to dodsons many times. All sorted now however.

[Lucan 196]

Speaking of the Loaded CSL

...May be a repost

Edited March 9, 2010 by Blackie

[M3NTIL 0]

Speaking of the Loaded CSL

...May be a repost

lol didnt see that one coming ..... hate to see the repair bill on that !

[pjay 8]

Speaking of the Loaded CSL

...May be a repost

I laughed so hard. That really does suck though!

[hybrid 1043]

Bugger, was one of the original modded CSLs ... its strange because the guy who use to drive this thing was a bit of a legend. And that looked like a bit of a noobie tank slapper

[M3_Power 636]

BTW Tom ... your scareing them... like I do at times with real world facts... instead of dreaming

I enjoy shattering dreams Glenn ... hehe ... kidding ... but the cold hard facts must be said sometimes.

But definitely an expensive exercise for a bit of gain - the aptly named supercharged CSL "LOADED" kinda of give it away I think

I say tell your friend to bring his GTR to the track and spend the money on some really awesome Nitron or Moton 4 way race adjustables with race springs, uprate your rear floor mounts and see who's quicker then (maybe a bit of money too on driver training)

Brendon's cousin owns the red m3 you talk about tom.

Its been plauged with problems and back to dodsons many times. All sorted now however.

Yes Warren told me about it when he was over at my place picking up that replica bumper - definitely didn't sound like a cheap build. I saw the car last weekend at Botany McDonalds (of all places) ... the car looked mint - loved the plate!!

Speaking of the Loaded CSL

...May be a repost

It has been "re-Loaded" - it's now a funky mustard yellow/green sort of colour - actually there's a video of it on the side bar of that link above.

There's photos of the rebuild process floating around on the net - I can't be bothered digging it out, but it was done pretty well and professionally. It's also running a slightly different aero package now (huge front end splitter moulded into the factory bumper - crazy looking thing)

Edited March 10, 2010 by M3_Power

[ecko_complex 3]

Supercharging is the way to go for the E46 M3 if you don't want to lose drivability - also lot more reliable than turbo charging.

Guess you better tell BMW to stop making these new turbo engines then .

Having had a FI M car for 18 months: get ready for some wallet hurt (especially since you're E46!). Glenn is 100% right. Budget about 50% more than what you think it will cost, and a second car would be advisable for the first 12 months. Saying that, I'd do it all again