Z4 Forced induction

[jmontello]

Does anyone know a company or tuner shop that manufactures turbo/supercharger kits for our cars? I am more interested at putting a turbo in her but i have been unsuccessful in my searches. Any advice?

[Femme]

ESS Tuning is offering a supercharger system for the 2.5i which increases power output to 315hp:

http://www.esstuning.com/default.asp...ubcat2=173&id=

[MaSt0RaS]

Originally Posted by Femme

ESS Tuning is offering a supercharger system for the 2.5i which increases power output to 315hp:

http://www.esstuning.com/default.asp...ubcat2=173&id=

For 2.5si?

[Feyd]

looks to be just the standard 2.5i

[epbrown]

There were some guys claiming to make a turbo kit for the Z4 over in Europe - I can't recall anyone getting a kit from them though. Total BMW magazine has a write-up this month about a former Z4um member's supercharged car (remember Graeme Watson?). It's the September 2007 issue with the car on the cover in the lower left corner, titled "DIY M Power" over a Sterling Gray Z4.

[ElicitZ4]

Doesn't BAV Auto Have Something?

[SCREWED_WITH_LSD]

I just installed May 2008 the ESS kit on my 2003 Z4 3.0i and would suggest that NO ONE ever purchase from ESS. I started in Jan 2008 with them, they billed my credit card for the full amount in Feb. 2008 and shipped it several months later. (May 2008) Before the purchase they returned my calls quickly, answered all my questions as well, Email was fast. After I took the plunge and placed the order I never once had them call me. It was just a chance that I could reach them on the phone as the same message stated "we are closed" regardless of the time of day. They never returned my calls to them that I could leave them a message. I had to call Norway directly week after week to find out the status of my order and when they thought it might ship....Took forever.... The Norway office was at least honest with me, the USA office only lied to me to get me off the phone. The USA office stated to me that it had shipped week after week. They DO NOT have a install manual for the Z4 and your are required to figure out all the differences from an E36 that the manual was written for. This "kit" required many trips to the autoparts store as NONE of the the hoses they shipped with it fit properly. Something as simple as the upper radiator hose was short at least 2 inches. It only got worse from this point. Yes your are required to get the dremel tool out and start cutting the radiator frame out as the new alternator bolts will never fit. Other bolts are way too long and you can break the brackets they install in with ease if your not careful. I have installed many supercharger kits through the years and this was the worst that I have ever seen. Yes, it does make more power. How much more is still not complete as I have not had the car on a dyno yet. It does not "feel" like what they have published. I have run a 13.20 in the 1/4 mile @ 105MPH. (on street tires) But I have also changed the differential gears from 3.07 to 3.46. I would have expected mid 12's with the HP ESS has published. The kit looks nice installed, does make more power, but they were just an awful company to work with. One lie after another.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by SCREWED_WITH_LSD

I just installed May 2008 the ESS kit on my 2003 Z4 3.0i and would suggest that NO ONE ever purchase from ESS. I started in Jan 2008 with them, they billed my credit card for the full amount in Feb. 2008 and shipped it several months later. (May 2008) Before the purchase they returned my calls quickly, answered all my questions as well, Email was fast. After I took the plunge and placed the order I never once had them call me. It was just a chance that I could reach them on the phone as the same message stated "we are closed" regardless of the time of day. They never returned my calls to them that I could leave them a message. I had to call Norway directly week after week to find out the status of my order and when they thought it might ship....Took forever.... The Norway office was at least honest with me, the USA office only lied to me to get me off the phone. The USA office stated to me that it had shipped week after week. They DO NOT have a install manual for the Z4 and your are required to figure out all the differences from an E36 that the manual was written for. This "kit" required many trips to the autoparts store as NONE of the the hoses they shipped with it fit properly. Something as simple as the upper radiator hose was short at least 2 inches. It only got worse from this point. Yes your are required to get the dremel tool out and start cutting the radiator frame out as the new alternator bolts will never fit. Other bolts are way too long and you can break the brackets they install in with ease if your not careful. I have installed many supercharger kits through the years and this was the worst that I have ever seen. Yes, it does make more power. How much more is still not complete as I have not had the car on a dyno yet. It does not "feel" like what they have published. I have run a 13.20 in the 1/4 mile @ 105MPH. (on street tires) But I have also changed the differential gears from 3.07 to 3.46. I would have expected mid 12's with the HP ESS has published. The kit looks nice installed, does make more power, but they were just an awful company to work with. One lie after another.

[rc'Z]

Originally Posted by SCREWED_WITH_LSD

I just installed May 2008 the ESS kit on my 2003 Z4 3.0i and would suggest that NO ONE ever purchase from ESS. I started in Jan 2008 with them, they billed my credit card for the full amount in Feb. 2008 and shipped it several months later. (May 2008) Before the purchase they returned my calls quickly, answered all my questions as well, Email was fast. After I took the plunge and placed the order I never once had them call me. It was just a chance that I could reach them on the phone as the same message stated "we are closed" regardless of the time of day. They never returned my calls to them that I could leave them a message. I had to call Norway directly week after week to find out the status of my order and when they thought it might ship....Took forever.... The Norway office was at least honest with me, the USA office only lied to me to get me off the phone. The USA office stated to me that it had shipped week after week. They DO NOT have a install manual for the Z4 and your are required to figure out all the differences from an E36 that the manual was written for. This "kit" required many trips to the autoparts store as NONE of the the hoses they shipped with it fit properly. Something as simple as the upper radiator hose was short at least 2 inches. It only got worse from this point. Yes your are required to get the dremel tool out and start cutting the radiator frame out as the new alternator bolts will never fit. Other bolts are way too long and you can break the brackets they install in with ease if your not careful. I have installed many supercharger kits through the years and this was the worst that I have ever seen. Yes, it does make more power. How much more is still not complete as I have not had the car on a dyno yet. It does not "feel" like what they have published. I have run a 13.20 in the 1/4 mile @ 105MPH. (on street tires) But I have also changed the differential gears from 3.07 to 3.46. I would have expected mid 12's with the HP ESS has published. The kit looks nice installed, does make more power, but they were just an awful company to work with. One lie after another.

No offense here, but today is April 29 2008, how did you install a supercharger in May 2008?

[laidback]

HPF are planning to come out with their turbo kit soon...for the Z4M

[SDTopless]

ESS supercharger alternatives:

vortech
http://www.evosport.com/product/default.aspx?catid=539
http://www.lextaneuroauto.com/products.php?cat=422

or

asa turbomax
http://www.technikpower.com/site/pro..._id=8&sort_by=

[sales@ESSTuning]

Originally Posted by laidback

HPF are planning to come out with their turbo kit soon...for the Z4M

They said 2-3 years

[Burt Reynolds]

Originally Posted by SDTopless

ESS supercharger alternatives:

vortech
http://www.evosport.com/product/default.aspx?catid=539
http://www.lextaneuroauto.com/products.php?cat=422

or

asa turbomax
http://www.technikpower.com/site/pro..._id=8&sort_by=

Too bad no Z4M

[pbdm4k]

Originally Posted by SCREWED_WITH_LSD

I just installed May 2008 the ESS kit on my 2003 Z4 3.0i and would suggest that NO ONE ever purchase from ESS. I started in Jan 2008 with them, they billed my credit card for the full amount in Feb. 2008 and shipped it several months later. (May 2008) Before the purchase they returned my calls quickly, answered all my questions as well, Email was fast. After I took the plunge and placed the order I never once had them call me. It was just a chance that I could reach them on the phone as the same message stated "we are closed" regardless of the time of day. They never returned my calls to them that I could leave them a message. I had to call Norway directly week after week to find out the status of my order and when they thought it might ship....Took forever.... The Norway office was at least honest with me, the USA office only lied to me to get me off the phone. The USA office stated to me that it had shipped week after week. They DO NOT have a install manual for the Z4 and your are required to figure out all the differences from an E36 that the manual was written for. This "kit" required many trips to the autoparts store as NONE of the the hoses they shipped with it fit properly. Something as simple as the upper radiator hose was short at least 2 inches. It only got worse from this point. Yes your are required to get the dremel tool out and start cutting the radiator frame out as the new alternator bolts will never fit. Other bolts are way too long and you can break the brackets they install in with ease if your not careful. I have installed many supercharger kits through the years and this was the worst that I have ever seen. Yes, it does make more power. How much more is still not complete as I have not had the car on a dyno yet. It does not "feel" like what they have published. I have run a 13.20 in the 1/4 mile @ 105MPH. (on street tires) But I have also changed the differential gears from 3.07 to 3.46. I would have expected mid 12's with the HP ESS has published. The kit looks nice installed, does make more power, but they were just an awful company to work with. One lie after another.

How did the ECU install go?

Will you be getting a dyno anytime soon to verify their HP claims?

ESS was a really strong candidate for a future purchase for me, but you make me wonder.

[laidback]

+1 i am considering ESS aswell...too bad

Originally Posted by pbdm4k

How did the ECU install go?

Will you be getting a dyno anytime soon to verify their HP claims?

ESS was a really strong candidate for a future purchase for me, but you make me wonder.

[laidback]

2-3 yrs ...09 is what Chris posted on the e46fanatics...I just hope that i can hold on to the Coupe till then, I test drove the new M3 Stick and it was ok (still loved the Raw power of the Mcoupe) but i am waiting for the DSG and see if it's good as they say...we'll see

Originally Posted by Rom3n

They said 2-3 years

[Reach]

Whoa... how long has VF had their Z4 package for the M54 3.0? WHY DOES NO ONE SEEM TO HAVE THESE?

I wish we had some more active FI members. Rom3n aside.

Seriously, anyone have more info or can cross link me to other posts on the VF kit? The only thing holding me back from the ESS kit was that no one in the US has it, and international reports are far between and unreliable. Posts like the above don't make me feel good either.

Where are all the happy FI owners?

PS> Isn't Active saying they'll have a Z4 kit soon too?

[epbrown]

The market for FI on the standard cars was gutted when BMW released the Z4M. The market for FI on the Z4M will be gutted by the fact that there are only about 3200 Ms and they'll be lucky if 1% of them add a supercharger.

[Reach]

By your own argument, I don't see how the Z4M kills a market for performance parts for the standard Z4. With the high number of Z4s out, and the relative performance possible, the Z4 should still have some market, especially the M54 ones.

[epbrown]

The percentage of people that add superchargers to their BMWs is comparatively small - how many supercharged E46s are there, compared to the amount sold during its entire run? I doubt it's at 1%.

Simply upgrading has all sort f benefits over supercharging. ESS has had kits for the 2003-2005 cars for about 4 years. The only person I know of that fitted one was Graeme Watson in the UK, who recently sold his. If you've got a standard Z4 and want more performance, the Z4M makes more sense than supercharging, because you get the entire package.

[Reach]

I agree with your first paragraph, and must disagree with the second. Just today I had a conversation with a fellow owner about the latter. A upgraded standard Zed has the possibility of more power than the M, but also brings to the table better mileage, daily-drive-ability (suspension, ride), and lower insurance premiums. Your sig says it all, $0.90 / mile is a lot!

I have been polling some people about the ESS kit lately and have received less than favorable results. There have been some hiccups with the 330i kit, and the Z4 kit, well, outside Graeme, similarly I don't know anyone who is running it! The lack of real owners disturbs me. I do look forward to finding out more about the VF kit. And of course, if Active Autowerkes comes out with theirs as well.

[BimmerZealot]

Saw Rom3n's ESS S/C Z4M Coupe at BimmerFest today, wow, looked great, wish I could see it run