ESS superchargers?
Discussion
It looks like they just sell the centrifugal stuff now? A bit crap given the positive displacement stuff they did for the M54.
Thinking about an E85 Z4 with a 340bhp kit rather than a Z4M, just because... but it looks like this is going to be nearly impossible now?
I think over the years I’ve only seen one kit for sale from a 330Ci.
Thinking about an E85 Z4 with a 340bhp kit rather than a Z4M, just because... but it looks like this is going to be nearly impossible now?
I think over the years I’ve only seen one kit for sale from a 330Ci.
Yeah it looks like a few places sell them used/reconditioned.
I'm not sure what happened at ESS but they seem to have gone all centrifugal and 'cheap' but still expensive these days.
The old TS kits for the M54 were seemingly a much more well developed and VFM kit considering what you got.
You mentioning the 330i and ESS kits had me looking again haha. Then suddenly I remembered the rear sub-frame issue again... and realised why it's just better to buy an M3 and then at least you can justify the cash you'll be throwing at that issue knowing it'll be residually sound.
I just need a house with a double garage now... then I can justify an older toy that won't go to crap in the open air.
I'm not sure what happened at ESS but they seem to have gone all centrifugal and 'cheap' but still expensive these days.
The old TS kits for the M54 were seemingly a much more well developed and VFM kit considering what you got.
You mentioning the 330i and ESS kits had me looking again haha. Then suddenly I remembered the rear sub-frame issue again... and realised why it's just better to buy an M3 and then at least you can justify the cash you'll be throwing at that issue knowing it'll be residually sound.
I just need a house with a double garage now... then I can justify an older toy that won't go to crap in the open air.
Mr Whippy said:
Yeah it looks like a few places sell them used/reconditioned.
I'm not sure what happened at ESS but they seem to have gone all centrifugal and 'cheap' but still expensive these days.
The old TS kits for the M54 were seemingly a much more well developed and VFM kit considering what you got.
You mentioning the 330i and ESS kits had me looking again haha. Then suddenly I remembered the rear sub-frame issue again... and realised why it's just better to buy an M3 and then at least you can justify the cash you'll be throwing at that issue knowing it'll be residually sound.
I just need a house with a double garage now... then I can justify an older toy that won't go to crap in the open air.
My pals an engineer; so he soon had the car stripped of everything, on a jig and he's seam welded all over the show and reinforced the rear end etc...I'm not sure what happened at ESS but they seem to have gone all centrifugal and 'cheap' but still expensive these days.
The old TS kits for the M54 were seemingly a much more well developed and VFM kit considering what you got.
You mentioning the 330i and ESS kits had me looking again haha. Then suddenly I remembered the rear sub-frame issue again... and realised why it's just better to buy an M3 and then at least you can justify the cash you'll be throwing at that issue knowing it'll be residually sound.
I just need a house with a double garage now... then I can justify an older toy that won't go to crap in the open air.
He got the car free from a family friend as it hadn't moved for years and they thought the HG had failed; it was a missing CCV and stuck lifters that were the issue, that soon got sorted...
Lots of rust though!
Just seen this.
Back in 2007 I fitted the ESS twinscrew supercharger to my 2003 E85 Z4 30i, in fact it was the first kit in the UK. At the time, Z4M's were too new and expensive, so it make sense to spend the £5k on a supercharger, rather than £25k+ for a new Z4M.
When it was running well, it was great. It had so much grunt, if I recall correctly it made full boost just below 2000rpm. Much quicker than a Z4M (I had a mate who had one at the time and I then owned one many years later). I had the stage 2 kit with the intercooler. At the time, they claimed 370bhp, but only made around 330bhp. Believe they revised this figure since, but not looked at it for many years. In fact ESS flew a tech over from Norway to uninstall\reinstall and test. Didn't make a difference. They applied many many software updates but the idle was awful, through up warning lights now and again. I just couldn't rely on it. Sounded amazing and pulled like a train, very smooth power delivery.
Z4M had more character for sure, but I really didn't gel with it, despite some choice modifications. In fact, it was a bit of a disappointment and sold it to buy back my old S2000.
With prices as they are now, think you'd have to be mad to not invest in a Z4M, you'd get 80-100% of the money back in 2 or 3 years time. You'll take a much bigger hit on a supercharged car, or the hassle and cost of splitting. That said, if like you me you fancy doing things a little differently and want a project, then go for it.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Back in 2007 I fitted the ESS twinscrew supercharger to my 2003 E85 Z4 30i, in fact it was the first kit in the UK. At the time, Z4M's were too new and expensive, so it make sense to spend the £5k on a supercharger, rather than £25k+ for a new Z4M.
When it was running well, it was great. It had so much grunt, if I recall correctly it made full boost just below 2000rpm. Much quicker than a Z4M (I had a mate who had one at the time and I then owned one many years later). I had the stage 2 kit with the intercooler. At the time, they claimed 370bhp, but only made around 330bhp. Believe they revised this figure since, but not looked at it for many years. In fact ESS flew a tech over from Norway to uninstall\reinstall and test. Didn't make a difference. They applied many many software updates but the idle was awful, through up warning lights now and again. I just couldn't rely on it. Sounded amazing and pulled like a train, very smooth power delivery.
Z4M had more character for sure, but I really didn't gel with it, despite some choice modifications. In fact, it was a bit of a disappointment and sold it to buy back my old S2000.
With prices as they are now, think you'd have to be mad to not invest in a Z4M, you'd get 80-100% of the money back in 2 or 3 years time. You'll take a much bigger hit on a supercharged car, or the hassle and cost of splitting. That said, if like you me you fancy doing things a little differently and want a project, then go for it.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Have you seen the G-Power/Infinitas S54 and M54 group buy that's about to close?
It's about 50% off RRP.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t...
If you live in either the EU or Northern Ireland (me)
You will pay the standard German 19% VAT, which works out to
You will pay 2% import duty (if the government site isn't lying to me) then 20% on top, which works out to
It's about 50% off RRP.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t...
If you live in either the EU or Northern Ireland (me)
You will pay the standard German 19% VAT, which works out to
- 3.0i = €2398/£2050
- Z4M = €4575/£3914
You will pay 2% import duty (if the government site isn't lying to me) then 20% on top, which works out to
- 3.0i = £2109
- Z4M = £4026
That G power kit looks pretty good for a centrifugal, lots of low down torque, and a very good price!
Until I figure out if I can find a garage or storage near my new house, I might just hold fire on anything Z4 related.
For now I think my 130i is going to have to be my fun second car with some money thrown at it. Thankfully they're keeping their value ok now including the rare BMWP mods, so it's not money down the drain so to speak.
I still rekon an ESS Z4 3.0 with LSD and BBK and stuff would be a bit amazing.
Then again, for just three times more I could buy a Tamora...
Until I figure out if I can find a garage or storage near my new house, I might just hold fire on anything Z4 related.
For now I think my 130i is going to have to be my fun second car with some money thrown at it. Thankfully they're keeping their value ok now including the rare BMWP mods, so it's not money down the drain so to speak.
I still rekon an ESS Z4 3.0 with LSD and BBK and stuff would be a bit amazing.
Then again, for just three times more I could buy a Tamora...
Orders have gone in, and we're hoping to receive them before the end of September...just in time for a few running in jaunts before the bad weather hits.
Really wanted to to do a VMAX run in Germany before the year's end, but I don't think that's going to happen as the only trips I've got booked require something with space for more than 2 people.
Really wanted to to do a VMAX run in Germany before the year's end, but I don't think that's going to happen as the only trips I've got booked require something with space for more than 2 people.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff