How many miles do you have on your supercharger?

[WickedE93]

I'm thinking about putting a supercharger on my car, It seems like all of the kits are pretty close in price and performance. The one thing I am unsure of is the reliability of the kits.

Can you guys help me out (everyone on the forum as well) and please post up the brand and level of the kit you have example: "ESS 550" or "VF 540" and post the amount of miles you have put on the kit and what maintenance you have performed to keep the kit going or if you had any problems with the kit.

Thank you

[Sered]

VF540, I bought it used with about 3k miles on it (looked new)

and I've put around 8k miles on it. No issues other than basic maintenance (vortech fluid change), though I'm currently experiencing a tuning issue with timing getting pulled in 3rd, so trying to track that down. I don't think that's an issue related to the blower though.

[BrewRifle]

ESS VT2-625 - 2500 miles without a single hiccup. It is by far the best upgrade you can add to this car. Feels stock when under 4k RPM's and a beast beyond that.
Note - from what I've read on these forums the tune has a HUGE impact on the overall experience. I'd only trust BPM and ESS to tune them.

[WickedE93]

Originally Posted by Sered

VF540, I bought it used with about 3k miles on it (looked new)

and I've put around 8k miles on it. No issues other than basic maintenance (vortech fluid change), though I'm currently experiencing a tuning issue with timing getting pulled in 3rd, so trying to track that down. I don't think that's an issue related to the blower though.

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

ESS VT2-625 - 2500 miles without a single hiccup. It is bar far the best upgrade you can add to this car. Feels stock when under 4k RPM's and a beast beyond that.
Note - from what I've read on these forums the tune has a HUGE impact on the overall experience. I'd only trust BPM and ESS to tune them.

Good info guys, thank you! Hopefully some more chime in

[Groundpilot]

ESS-550 kit here. My e92m3 had 30K miles when we installed it. Now 34K miles, no issues so far. I wish i did it sooner.

[Groundpilot]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

ESS VT2-625 - 2500 miles without a single hiccup. It is bar far the best upgrade you can add to this car. Feels stock when under 4k RPM's and a beast beyond that.
Note - from what I've read on these forums the tune has a HUGE impact on the overall experience. I'd only trust BPM and ESS to tune them.

Did you go with 625 kit right away, or did you upgrade from 550 kit?
If yes, do you feel the big difference?

[BrewRifle]

625 right away since I'm in Austin, Texas and the heat here is insane. No way I was going to get a non-intercooled setup. The price difference at the time made the jump for 75 more HP a pretty easy decision.

[squartus]

ESS vt2 625 supercharger here, been running it about 3,000 miles now. Did the first oil change on it at 2k other than that just driving it and enjoying the hell out of the power.
If your running a tight fit on your front tires keep in mind that on the drivers side the new air intake will press slightly against the wheel liner so if your super close you may rub a bit. That's with an ESS kit that is.

You will need to change oil/spark plugs/ rear tires much more often as well. Let my spark plugs go a bit too long and I was getting bad blow by/backfire and huge loss of power.

[THE-FN-MAN]

Gintani stage 2+ almost 30K on it now with a couple track days, cross country treks and lots of roll on races. No issues what so ever and I've only had to change the oil and plugs. Also one set of O2's though.

[WickedE93]

Originally Posted by squartus

ESS vt2 625 supercharger here, been running it about 3,000 miles now. Did the first oil change on it at 2k other than that just driving it and enjoying the hell out of the power.
If your running a tight fit on your front tires keep in mind that on the drivers side the new air intake will press slightly against the wheel liner so if your super close you may rub a bit. That's with an ESS kit that is.

You will need to change oil/spark plugs/ rear tires much more often as well. Let my spark plugs go a bit too long and I was getting bad blow by/backfire and huge loss of power.

Originally Posted by THE-FN-MAN

Gintani stage 2+ almost 30K on it now with a couple track days, cross country treks and lots of roll on races. No issues what so ever and I've only had to change the oil and plugs. Also one set of O2's though.

30k is very impressive! much longer than most on here, glad to hear that info!

as for the ESS kit pressing on the driver side liner, I had no idea about that, awesome information there so thank you for that.

[JEllis]

I installed my ESS VT2 550 at 800 Miles. I changed it back to a VT1 setup about 3000 miles ago. Getting close to 8000 miles now with no issues. I have changed the SC oil once in that time and I change my engine oil every 3000 miles. Plugs will need replacement in 2000 miles per ESS recommendations.

[THE-FN-MAN]

Supercharger and don't look back bud!

[WickedE93]

Originally Posted by JEllis

I installed my ESS VT2 550 at 800 Miles. I changed it back to a VT1 setup about 3000 miles ago. Getting close to 8000 miles now with no issues. I have changed the SC oil once in that time and I change my engine oil every 3000 miles. Plugs will need replacement in 2000 miles per ESS recommendations.

Originally Posted by THE-FN-MAN

Supercharger and don't look back bud!

Sounds like it's pretty straight forward JEllis! thanks for the input

THE-FN-MAN you're pretty darn convincing my friend! I may just have to!

[Longboarder]

Installed ESS 625 when car had 800 miles. Have 23,000 miles now. Many track days, and hundreds of airstrip pulls beyond 150mph. Upgraded to ESS 650 somewhere along the way I don't remember exact mileage, but it was simple just a new tune, pulley system and injector upgrade.

Not one issue with my car. Nothing. Runs perfect all the time. It's my daily driver but it still gets out to stretch its legs occasionally.

[mj89h]

bought my car with a VF620 kit already installed on it. The kit had seen about 10k miles of of usage before I got the car and I've put on 7k miles since without any issues.

I will mention that the sound of the gears clacking in the supercharger housing at idle is pretty loud... to the point where I thought there was an issue with the unit. It prompted me to send in the charger unit to vortec (the makers of the v3 charger in most of these s/c kits i.e. ess vf etc ) for inspection and they said everything was fine. FYI this inspection / service that includes replacing of the bearings/seals runs about $400

I'd also like to point out that software is very important like others have mentioned. I ran the VF tune for about 800 miles before I decided it was just too rough for the street. The idle was too high and the timing was very advanced. I was willing to sacrifice slightly in performance but gain reliability going with a retune. If anyone wants information on who I had tune the car feel free to PM me.

[BobS]

Evolve E600 kit. 3500 miles on it so far, 51k miles on the car. 2 roll race events with it so far. Its been flawless...no issues, lots of fun. Get a supercharger, it makes the m3 even better.

[TommyLights]

VF540 with BPM tune for 7k miles, zero issues. I was able to pull on a stock M4 today with this setup.

[CBS]

ESS VT-1 550. Originally 535 but upgraded to 550 when it was available.

Installed SC when M3 had 6K miles, now has 30K. No problems ever including over 40+ track days.

Replace Engine Oil and SC Oil every 3K miles. Blackstone Report trending on both, no issues.

4 years later and now I am replacing the rubber hoses/belt as preventive maint.

SC and don't look back!

[Antonio1988]

Originally Posted by THE-FN-MAN

Gintani stage 2+ almost 30K on it now with a couple track days, cross country treks and lots of roll on races. No issues what so ever and I've only had to change the oil and plugs. Also one set of O2's though.

Originally Posted by CBS

ESS VT-1 550. Originally 535 but upgraded to 550 when it was available.

Installed SC when M3 had 6K miles, now has 30K. No problems ever including over 40+ track days.

Replace Engine Oil and SC Oil every 3K miles. Blackstone Report trending on both, no issues.

4 years later and now I am replacing the rubber hoses/belt as preventive maint.

SC and don't look back!

By far the two most impressive posts! I guess I will be supercharging after all once the warranty is up

[WickedE93]

Originally Posted by mj89h

bought my car with a VF620 kit already installed on it. The kit had seen about 10k miles of of usage before I got the car and I've put on 7k miles since without any issues.

I will mention that the sound of the gears clacking in the supercharger housing at idle is pretty loud... to the point where I thought there was an issue with the unit. It prompted me to send in the charger unit to vortec (the makers of the v3 charger in most of these s/c kits i.e. ess vf etc ) for inspection and they said everything was fine. FYI this inspection / service that includes replacing of the bearings/seals runs about $400

I'd also like to point out that software is very important like others have mentioned. I ran the VF tune for about 800 miles before I decided it was just too rough for the street. The idle was too high and the timing was very advanced. I was willing to sacrifice slightly in performance but gain reliability going with a retune. If anyone wants information on who I had tune the car feel free to PM me.

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Installed ESS 625 when car had 800 miles. Have 23,000 miles now. Many track days, and hundreds of airstrip pulls beyond 150mph. Upgraded to ESS 650 somewhere along the way I don't remember exact mileage, but it was simple just a new tune, pulley system and injector upgrade.

Not one issue with my car. Nothing. Runs perfect all the time. It's my daily driver but it still gets out to stretch its legs occasionally.

Originally Posted by BobS

Evolve E600 kit. 3500 miles on it so far, 51k miles on the car. 2 roll race events with it so far. Its been flawless...no issues, lots of fun. Get a supercharger, it makes the m3 even better.

Originally Posted by Tomz_M3

VF540 with BPM tune for 7k miles, zero issues. I was able to pull on a stock M4 today with this setup.

Originally Posted by CBS

ESS VT-1 550. Originally 535 but upgraded to 550 when it was available.

Installed SC when M3 had 6K miles, now has 30K. No problems ever including over 40+ track days.

Replace Engine Oil and SC Oil every 3K miles. Blackstone Report trending on both, no issues.

4 years later and now I am replacing the rubber hoses/belt as preventive maint.

SC and don't look back!

Awesome info guys! Proves supercharging is pretty much the best thing you can do for these cars!

[neech]

Have any of you SC'd guys ever gotten an oil analysis done on any of the engine oil changes? Would be interested on the results.

[jeff@autocouture]

i had around 25k on my first e92, the car itself had around 80k

the second m3 had about 35 on the kit, no issues,

the 3rd had 12k

only way id drive the car