SUPERCHARGED 325i???

Dose anyone know or has any1 ever supercharged an e36,325i m50 engine? what are the benifits,downfalls?? Would really appricate any help i can get. THANX

Infinitas in Germany do a quality setup, and a full 3 years warranty if fitted by themselves. They give a 1 year warranty if you look after fitting yourself.

www.infinitas-gmbh.de

Am half considering it for my 328ci... the E36 kit isn't cheap though

@Killian - that 3rd one is a con! akin to the crowd on ebay suggesting you remove your air flow (mass?) meter and fit a resistor!!!

Anyhow M3AOR - why supercharging? Why not turbo? I've been seriously researching turboing an early e36 325i.

Some of my thoughts:
The supercharging route seems like a shopping list of problems and pitfalls - FOR LESS POWER!
A supercharger CAN provide turbo-like boosts but only at high RPM; as the boost is a function of rpm i.e. boost increases as you rev. Which means you have little if any low down power improvement, it may actually be worse as its using your engines torque to spin the compressor. Thats where a turbo hammers the supercharger - it uses your exhaust gasses to spin the compressor at much higher speeds MUCH sooner - so you have more boost (all of it if you like) at very low revs. Plus installation etc. seems alot easier.

What were you hoping for power-wise? Whats your budget?

Paul

In my opinion.....

Benefits: Superchargers give near-instant throttle response, where turbos give lag (as you put your foot down, this speeds the engine up, which produces more exhaust gas, which spins the turbo more etc etc).

My understanding is that the supercharger gives better low down response too due to less lag. That is why alot of systems have twin sequential turbos: one for low end that gets combined and eventually bled off as the 2nd unit comes on stream ... aka BMW 535D, which is the 530D engine, but with twin turbos, optimised for lower and higher revs . Ditto the new Golf GT (1.4 super & turbocharged - 160bhp and similar torque). toyota Soarers have twin turbos with ceramic turbines for less inertia so they spool up quicker. They can take less boost ultimately though, so as you up power, you need to change them for steel impellers.

As you say llatsni, more revs = more power, but that stands for either method and that'll also cause the engine to go 'boom', which is why there are dump valves and fuel cut defenders in forced induction cars to cap boost @ a maximum level. Some people up the blow-off point for bigger power, but this shortens engine life.

Superchargers can be a cleaner install, depending on what ancillary works are going into the turbo'd car such as intercoolers.

Drawbacks: There are BIG mechanical losses with a supercharger. Turbos run 'for free' to an extent. Superchargers are mechanically driven as llatsni mentioned, so the engine must produce more power to run the supercharger first, and then what ever excess goes to the wheels. For example, the Jag S-TypeR has a 4.0L engine with supercharger, producing circa 400bhp (their normally aspirated engine produces circa 340bhp). The TypeR has to produce an extra 70bhp to overcome the mechanical losses! That's a huge figure, & I believe the supercharged AMG engines only lose 30-40bhp to the 'charger.

At the end of the day, I think one of the big deciders would be how you like your power. they have very different characteristics. If you like that turbo bang and the wastegate whistling, fit a turbo! S'chargers drive more like an NA car, and have better throttle response & modulation which can come in handy if you'd be into your drifting etc..

@TJ: well said, chargers will sap engine power which will need to be overcome to see similar gains to a turbo... in contrast ANY mods to the N/A engine (porting & polishing, BB throttle bodies etc. etc.) will be reflected (and highlighted if done well) in the turbo'd engine - but you'd be doing them just to compensate for a charger!!!

I did try to provide figures where I could, & AMG are known for low losses and quality kit. 30-40bhp loss on what is a 470bhp engine isn't too bad. And Audi need twin turbos etc to produce similar driving characteristics in the RS6.

Personally, I think I'd err toward supercharging for simplicity and the engine characteristics, partic on track as being able to fine tune lines with the throttle is what I like doing and tis harder when turbo'd. There's a bigger hit to be taken at the pumps, but if you're retro fitting stuff for big power, I don't think it figures high on the list of concerns.

Keep us updated on how you get on, M3AOR

just a point on the resistor it does work gave my 316i a good power in the midrange only down fall is car would tick over great

T.J. wrote: Actually, personally I'd explore the NA route first, as while it makes the car a bit peakier in its delivery, you are retaining lightness and simplicity, and I'm a big exponent of light-weight. Was out in a maroon 4dr E36 325i with Giles of Branded Untouchable @ Silverstone BMW BDD. Lightened car, shrick cam, free flow exhaust, 15" wheels, decent discs, pads, hoses and fluid, coilovers, and camber plates on the front. It was lapping with most cars, lost around 12mph on the back straight (123mph), and matched the M3CSLs on cup tyres through the bends. It was an absolute giant slayer, and a great showcase for the lads work. So give them a shout: Giles on 01246 204669. They have a website too. Tell em the irish bloke who blagged a passenger ride with him near the end of the day sent ya!

I am myself really thinking on fitting a kit on my car (and trust me even as a reseller it's still a very expensive mod ). At the moment I am trying to get a GB going on various forums (e36coupe amoungst them) and if it goes ahead I think I'll take advange of it myself.

I was really thinking of going for a mad NA modded car but I don't think I want to live on a daily basis with a very peaky engine. For a bit more money, the SC gives you performance and great everyday driveability.

@enda - have you removed the air flow meter? if so you WILL wreck your engine. If your car is misfiring without the resistor then there is something wrong and you should get it sorted, the resistor is only masking a problem (and damaging your engine)

paul- Ive never heard of turbo'd cars being powerful from low revs! unless you have a small turbine or dual turbos (onme set small to spin up quickly) there will always be lag. Superchargers come in instantaneously but dont give as much as a turbo granted.  Thats why Audi used a supercharged turbo rally car (ie supercharger for low down rpm till the turbo kicked in)

Having seen supercharged vr6's (corados,golf,polos, golf vans etc) in various states of tune on the 1/4 mile there is nothing in real world they cant do compared with a turbo, unless you want to blast away past speed limits etc