buying m3 with supercharger

[Lee_Enfield]

There is a low km M3 with a VF super charger for sale that I am interested in. I would just be interested in the car since I don't have any interest in a supercharged m3, so if I bought it the supercharger would be removed and sold.

I am just wondering if there are any long term negative effects from having a supercharger? How much harder are they on engines? How difficult is it to return to stock tune or even csl tune? Anything to look for?

Lister didn't mention how many kms the superchargers been on, but said it was on since late 2000s.

It seems like a good deal but don't want someone's failed project that will never run right or have major issues prematurely. I'm down for a project just not a headache.

Thoughts?

[eacmen]

Properly installed, tuned, and maintained they are fine. Likely more stress on head gasket. Cooling system needs to be bulletproof due to the added HP.

Years ago I bought an E46 M3 that had a history of an ESS(?) supercharger on it. I didn't know it when I bought it but found out later. Car was fine, never had an issue with the engine.

But like any car its more dependent on the owner than the parts.

[bmw m3 s50]

I don't think you will have any problems. You need to remember all superchargers for the e46 m3 are centrifugal which make more boost the higher the rpms go. I don't believe that there are any roots type superchargers for the e46 m3. Max boost which is normally 8-9psi on most e46 m3 centrifugal supercharger kits is usually achieved at redline. That means when driving at lower RPMS the supercharger is making 1-3psi which is nothing. The s54 has been proven to handle low boost without any issues. That is the beauty of a centrifugal supercharger, they make your motor feel like it has higher displacement by moving the power band higher but keeping the same power curve and reliability.

I remember when the e46 m3 came out, everyone thought it would be impossible to add forced induction on a 11.5:1 compression motor. I honestly believe that is why all the companies turned to superchargers. The e36 m3 world was full of turbo cars at the time. It was only 10-15 years after the e46 m3 was released, is when you started seeing turbo e46 m3's. Skip almost 20 years later, the s54 has done fine with a supercharger and even turbos. There are many motors with 100,000 miles and supercharged doing fine.

Like with any car, I would test drive and do a PPI at a respectable shop to confirm there are no problems or that your not getting a failed project car. If it checks out and the car is 100% you could sell the supercharger to recoup some purchase cost or sell the supercharger to buy a CSL intake and tune. You may even love the supercharger after driving it for a while and decide to keep it. The supercharger most definitely transforms the car putting it in a higher hp class of cars without sacrificing the m3's driving feel. The m3 will just feel a lot faster.

So summing it all up, No, you should not be worried that the car has a supercharger.

[oceansize]

Agreed, been running my ESS SC for over four years now, all trouble free and with lots of grins along the way. The overall maintenance history with respect to fluids is far move important. I've also talked to people who had SCs and didn't realize it had oil that should be changed, yeesh.

Edit: I'm strongly considering placing a few bids on this one which is SC. I need a coupe.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-bmw-m3-coupe-182/

[tlow98]

All depends on the owner and the tune. If you can’t answer those questions then you have to be comfortable with the gamble.

[Lee_Enfield]

Ok that's good to know.

How difficult would removal be? I have read that the VF superchargers have an internal oil supply? So should not have to worry about capping likes then? How would tuning work?

Might go have a quick look this weekend.

[oceansize]

Removal is easy but u will need all the original parts. I’m sure the SC is alpha-n so either back to stock tune or custom would have to be done.

[eacmen]

If the original owner doesn’t have all the original parts you can probably get most of them from anyone who has recently upgraded to a csl airbox.


Or… if you think you’d want to do the csl airbox now would be the time to do it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lee_Enfield]

Apperenty the owner has most of the OEM parts. Assuming that includes the airbox. If I go check the car out I would definitely ask about that.

I am thinking about a csl box. Would definitely be the time to do it, but that would be a pretty big cost at this time.

How would I go about returning to stock tune? I have a laptop with BMW tools on it, as well as a dcan cable. Is that enough or would I need more?

Also, from what I have been reading on VF engineering's site the kit includes new injectors. Can I use the new ones, or will I have to hope the car comes with the old ones as OEM ones are not available at this time?

Thanks for the replys.

[oceansize]

Apperenty the owner has most of the OEM parts. Assuming that includes the airbox. If I go check the car out I would definitely ask about that.

I am thinking about a csl box. Would definitely be the time to do it, but that would be a pretty big cost at this time.

How would I go about returning to stock tune? I have a laptop with BMW tools on it, as well as a dcan cable. Is that enough or would I need more?

Also, from what I have been reading on VF engineering's site the kit includes new injectors. Can I use the new ones, or will I have to hope the car comes with the old ones as OEM ones are not available at this time?

Thanks for the replys.

Yep, you will need cable, pc, and software to reflash. Stock tunes can be pulled from various repos I believe.

You will need the original injectors or have to buy new OE ones. SC comes with injectors suited to their kit.

[9kracing]

Why remove the supercharger for a CSL airbox?

[Lee_Enfield]

Oh well, This conversation is now moot since the Car seems to have sold today, or at least is no longer listed. Maybe taken down to re list but it was actually a pretty good deal and surprised it lasted as long as it did.