Crash course in turbo/SC?

[AB]

I literally know nothing and want to embark down the interesting route of making the Z4 a bit more fun/track orientated.

Talk to me about supercharging it, I am led to believe that a bolt on will work fine and is easy to do compared to turbo? Eventually wanting to keep pushing the boundaries...

Given it is becoming my 2nd/3rd car.

[Fox-]

To be honest I'd sell it. You don't really need a 2.5 litre Z4 *and* a 635d Cabrio. If you crave a track weapon then great - the money you get for your Z4 will buy you a far, far more suited car for track use.

It makes no sense as a 3rd car when your main car is a 6 Series Cab.

[LuS1fer]

Get insurance quotes first as inevitably the insurance goes through the roof and you have to drop to limited mileage to keep it realistic. I have a blower on the Mustang and it is the cheapest way to a 50% increase in power. Don't know anything about blowers for the Z4 or cost though.

[bazking69]

Save your money. Supercharging a straight 6 non M engine is thousands of pounds and the power gained isn't a massive difference given the outlay.

[frosted]

You can try it with 5k down and 442 a month apparently

[Mr Darcy]

SCs are usaully cheaper to do than a turbo though a turbo will give you a bigger boost. Obviously you know the differences between the two.

if you do go down the turbo route there is a lot to consider.

1) Air flow. Can you get enough over the engine to keep things cool
2) Boost levels. There is no 'safe' boost level on a NA engine.
You will need your engine built to Low compression.
3) Choose your turbo carefully. A nice GT2871RS will spool up at about 3.5K and prioduce up to 370bhp so pick your weapon of choice carefully.
4) Cooling. Air to Air intercooler, Water/Meth, charge cooling?
How far will your budget stretch?
5) ECU and mapping. Do change your ECU? Will your stock ECU be able to handle the boost control and other assorted turbo needs?


HTH

Edited by Mr Darcy on Thursday 1st April 12:46

[AB]

frosted said:

You can try it with 5k down and 442 a month apparently

Thanks for your help.

Plonkers and their digs aside, it was just an idea really. I still want a petrol chuckable car so if I don't keep the Z (nightmare to sell as I have discovered) then maybe a TVR. Or Lotus?

Ah, decisions.

[Fox-]

This is an opportunity for you. You can buy something completely impractical.

Having 3 cars is a tad strange anyway but having 3 fundamentally similar cars is madness - 3 2 door BMW's? Why? Whats the point?

Bin the Z4. Get a Caterham or something.

It does seem a bit odd you'd take on another car when you've already got more than most people!

[stigmundfreud]

supercharging/turbo wont make it more track fun. Improve handling, braking, that will improve track fun. Change steering for manual power steering etc

[davepoth]

It'll be much easier to swap the engine for a bigger straight 6, since it'll bolt right in.

[pugwash4x4]

frosted said:

You can try it with 5k down and 442 a month apparently

This is the sort of comment that pulls PH down- its unfriendly, immature and reeks of petty minded jealousies.

If you aren't any of the aforementioned then maybe you might have a think before posting comments as above- cheap shots that don't add anything to the site apart from degrade yourself.

[tangent police]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Automotive-Supercharging-T...

This book, no other. Don't ask questions, buy it and read.

Then you need to probably get another head and perhaps look at getting a decompression plate made. My mate can do a one off. Look at David Vizard books to do heads. If it's a 4v/cyl, you probably can't get much more out of the head. So it'll either be pistons, getting a set of rods offset ground or a decompression plate.

It will be great, do it!

[Chris_w666]

You could probably get a good S1 elise for what your Z4 is worth. Running it as a fun/track day car you will keep the miles low and it could actually appreciate in the time you own it.

To turbocharge an NA car is generally expensive for decent boost due to needing new ecus etc. I suppose an interesting project could be a Z4 with a BMW 3.0 Turbo transplanted in but it would probably cost you more than the 635d is going to, unless you do the work yourself.

[frosted]

pugwash4x4 said:

frosted said:

You can try it with 5k down and 442 a month apparently

This is the sort of comment that pulls PH down- its unfriendly, immature and reeks of petty minded jealousies.

If you aren't any of the aforementioned then maybe you might have a think before posting comments as above- cheap shots that don't add anything to the site apart from degrade yourself.

Maybe it's because I'm starting to think AB is only 15 years old

[Chris_w666]

frosted said:

pugwash4x4 said:

frosted said:

You can try it with 5k down and 442 a month apparently

This is the sort of comment that pulls PH down- its unfriendly, immature and reeks of petty minded jealousies.

If you aren't any of the aforementioned then maybe you might have a think before posting comments as above- cheap shots that don't add anything to the site apart from degrade yourself.

Maybe it's because I'm starting to think AB is only 15 years old

Why make nothing but purile borderline abusive posts in a thread about upgrading a car when you don't even know they bloke? I don't get this internet need to attack people all the time. It isn't just you that does it but it is unpleasant all the same.

[Fox-]

frosted said:

Maybe it's because I'm starting to think AB is only 15 years old

Is there really any need for that? There is no reason to think that at all, its blatantly untrue and suggesting that serves only to cause arguments.

[nsmith1180]

If you already have 2 decent cars, ditch the Z and go for something like an Elise, or Caterham as said above. If you want to get your hands dirty, why not do a kit?

[frosted]

Fox- said:

frosted said:

Maybe it's because I'm starting to think AB is only 15 years old

Is there really any need for that? There is no reason to think that at all, its blatantly untrue and suggesting that serves only to cause arguments.

look , there's too many dreamers on here , I mean 2 months ago he couldn't afford petrol for his z4 and wanted to get rid if it ( can't find the thread but I can remeber it ) and now he wants to spend 5k on 635 and supercharge his z4 (probably the worst engine to sc )

Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I see it , if I offended anywone then seriously I take it all back and my sincere appologies to AB

[Waugh-terfall]

Here you are Alex, this may be of some interest to you

http://www.petrolheadnirvana.com/torque/showthread...

[EssexHSV]

AB said:

frosted said:

You can try it with 5k down and 442 a month apparently

Thanks for your help.

Plonkers and their digs aside, it was just an idea really. I still want a petrol chuckable car so if I don't keep the Z (nightmare to sell as I have discovered) then maybe a TVR. Or Lotus?

Ah, decisions.

Hi AB,
Id got a but a Evo 6 or something like that and strip the interior out and it will go like a rocket and will be a wicked Track day car.
I did it to a Evo 5 lol Happy days of 4 wheel drive drifting is so much fun But not for the tyres lol

But going back to your first question, id SC and Z4 as they run lower boost from 6psi upwards unlike a turbo at from about 15psi up depending on the turbo.

Im only running 9psi on my standard engine

Edited by EssexHSV on Sunday 11th April 10:22