Supercharger Or Turbo - BMW Forum

cardinals125 · 10-06-2004, 10:02 PM

I have a 318is and I want to either put a turbo or supercharger in it I was wondering what you guys would suggest would be the best for it, or maybe a engine swap.

sabbath130 · 10-06-2004, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cardinals125@Oct 6 2004, 08:02 PM
I have a 318is and I want to either put a turbo or supercharger in it I was wondering what you guys would suggest would be the best for it, or maybe a engine swap.

[snapback]206472[/snapback]

if you can wait a couple of months.. i am going to be installing the downing atlanta supercharger with the recirculator... so i will give u a copy of my dyno sheet when it is done...

bitcore · 10-06-2004, 10:10 PM

This has been debated over a lot. The difference between a super and turbo is apparently just a matter of preference. I like the physics side of a supercharger over a turbo but whatever. To each his\her own.
Well, of the 3 options you sugested, turbo or super is at least $5,000, usually much more to do it right. Engine swap can run you upwards from $10,000, which, your better off just saving up for an old M3 or 328 and buying that.
The 318 dosn't have a really *preformance* oriented engine, and it's going to take a good deal of work to turn it into a really good preformance engine.
If your gonna swap, you might as well get the M3 engine and call it a day, it's not too much more to get one of those over a 325. What kills your wallet are the extra parts that you have to have to get the thing at least moving, wiring harnesses, electronics, new transmission, new driveshaft, new differential if your going from automatic to manual, and labor to install that motha...

Honestly, youre better off saving up some cash, selling your 318 and getting a 325 or 328 if you want some more juice under the hood. I've looked into getting more power out of my 323is, I could do an ODBII to ODBI mod, but thats a few thousand bucks to get the parts and it's not really worth it to me.

In the end, to steal a tagline from someone else's sig, "There's no replacement for displacement"

cardinals125 · 10-06-2004, 10:14 PM

That would be great if you could sabbath, I porbably wont be getting it too soon anyway. How much does the supercharger cost that your buying?

cardinals125 · 10-06-2004, 10:20 PM

Hey bitcore how much hp would $5000 supercharger give me?

sabbath130 · 10-06-2004, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cardinals125@Oct 6 2004, 08:20 PM
Hey bitcore how much hp would $5000 supercharger give me?

[snapback]206490[/snapback]

a member on this forum said he works for the company and he can get it shipped for $3400.. (member: autotechnica) but that is without installation...

it provides 210 horses and approx. 200 ft. lbs. torque

eskiasu · 10-07-2004, 04:13 PM

Supercharger for automatics and turbo for manual. Guessing you know why. My $.02.

97M3/4 · 10-07-2004, 04:40 PM

Hands down i would go the RMS supercharger. the fit and finish is amazing. Its nice to have the power there when you need it, instead of having to wait for the turbo to spool(SP?) You don't want to find your self in a corner on a rainy day, and hit boost and spin out. With a supercharger, you have more contorl over your power.

Autotechnica · 10-07-2004, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by eskiasu@Oct 7 2004, 02:13 PM
Supercharger for automatics and turbo for manual. Guessing you know why. My $.02.

[snapback]207038[/snapback]

I know what you mean, but what's wrong with using a Supercharger for a 5 speed?

For those of you who don't understand, larger turbo's have turbo lag which means the turbo only spools up at higher RPMS. RPM's that won't usually be reached on an automatic tranny car since it automatically shifts before the turbo spools. But the driver could easily shift gear whenever he/she would want to.

Superchargers usually run with lower boost, which means less or next to no lag, you'll have low and high end power gains. I like superchargers better as the power gains seem to be more linear. Turbo lag sucks :P

bigred318 · 10-07-2004, 05:27 PM

use the search feature there are mad posts on this subject! but for the i6 people aatuning s/c all the way end of story!

David

Kevin325i · 10-07-2004, 06:06 PM

My vote is for supercharging only because of the linear torque curves. MMM so sexy to make your peak tq from 3500 all the way up.

Turbos are cool for huge gains, but they ussually end up being the type of car that runs well once a month because they go for so much power. Not saying a turbo car can't work well every single day and make tons of power, but that all takes time and money and many headaches.

bigred318 · 10-07-2004, 06:19 PM

unless you got say a wrx that comes factory turbo!

David

92_325i · 10-07-2004, 06:50 PM

honestly, i believe that you guys are off on the whole turbocharger idea. i may be new to BMW's, but i'm not new to cars by any means. with all of the new technology these days, there is almost no such thing is turbo lag. the only way you'll get lag is if you are going for like 800hp or something ridiculous. and no one does that for street use. honestly tho, my vote is for M3 power, built from the bottom up before being dropped in.

bigred318 · 10-07-2004, 06:52 PM

are you seroius when you say there is no such thing as turbo lag?! go for a ride in any year wrx for example, then upgrade to something bigger than the vf34 and tell me theres no lag?

DAvid

Autotechnica · 10-07-2004, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 92_325i@Oct 7 2004, 04:50 PM
honestly, i believe that you guys are off on the whole turbocharger idea. i may be new to BMW's, but i'm not new to cars by any means. with all of the new technology these days, there is almost no such thing is turbo lag. the only way you'll get lag is if you are going for like 800hp or something ridiculous. and no one does that for street use. honestly tho, my vote is for M3 power, built from the bottom up before being dropped in.

[snapback]207156[/snapback]

Wow, you need 800 HP just to see some lag? With a statement like that, I'm pretty sure you've never been in a properly tuned turbocharged car. What new technology will eliminate turbo lag? What's the point in running a really expensive and unreliable turbo setup if you're not going for huge gains? I don't get it. The only turbo's with virtually no lag is what you see stock with something like a KKK turbocharger in a 1.8T, and that's a REALLY puny turbo. Sorry, but you set yourself up for that thinking you knew a lot about turbos

Bry