Bonus Day... ESS ordered.

[mac27040]

good look with the install, depending on the belt configuration and the additional pulleys, you may have to remove the front end of the car, not totally but bumper off, headlights off, radiator out and loosen slam panel to get some bolts in. My kit is different and required that.

Also i'm sure you will get uprated larger injectors, new spark plugs and you need a laptop to code the car with new software. My kit said you need uprated engine mount.

[Ducklakeview]

Not a bad price, TBH I was expecting closer to £5k...

Mine is costing me £3100 depending on the exchange rate.

Comes with new injectors, and the lead to download your engine map, which I believe you send off to them to be altered.

Am sure Mac said he DID have to remove the front end pretty much in it's entirety.

Mike

[mmm-five]

You'll probably end up with more torque than a Z4M too.

It always surprised me that the S54 kits offer about 100bhp min, but only about 50lb/ft.

Although the MStyle price on that looks keen too

[BMWZ4MC]

Significantly less than half the fitted price I was quoted for the ESS stage II kit for an ///M

[mmm-five]

Significantly less than half the fitted price I was quoted for the ESS stage II kit for an ///M

The stage II kit is quite a step up though

Looks like the 'entry level' kit is about £6.5k+fitting (£900) - and about another £k for each stage/50hp after that.

I keep considering the basic kit, then talking myself up to the full-fat kit, and then realise that I can't fully utilise the 340bhp I've got now, so what's the point. Even at the 'Ring, I'm not driving at 10/10ths, so more power will just mean I'm approaching the corners faster and still being overtaking by the stripped out 700bhp Team Schirmer M3s!

[R60BBA]

Significantly less than half the fitted price I was quoted for the ESS stage II kit for an ///M

The stage II kit is quite a step up though

Looks like the 'entry level' kit is about £6.5k+fitting (£900) - and about another £k for each stage/50hp after that.

I keep considering the basic kit, then talking myself up to the full-fat kit, and then realise that I can't fully utilise the 340bhp I've got now, so what's the point. Even at the 'Ring, I'm not driving at 10/10ths, so more power will just mean I'm approaching the corners faster and still being overtaking by the stripped out 700bhp Team Schirmer M3s!

Also bare in mind supercharging a 150,000 mileage engine probably isn’t the best of ideas...

[BMWZ4MC]

Significantly less than half the fitted price I was quoted for the ESS stage II kit for an ///M

The stage II kit is quite a step up though

Looks like the 'entry level' kit is about £6.5k+fitting (£900) - and about another £k for each stage/50hp after that.

I keep considering the basic kit, then talking myself up to the full-fat kit, and then realise that I can't fully utilise the 340bhp I've got now, so what's the point. Even at the 'Ring, I'm not driving at 10/10ths, so more power will just mean I'm approaching the corners faster and still being overtaking by the stripped out 700bhp Team Schirmer M3s!

I’m having quite a different problem - I keep talking myself into the stage II kit then my wife spends my supercharger fund on something else

[mmm-five]

Also bare in mind supercharging a 150,000 mileage engine probably isn’t the best of ideas...

It can only go 'BANG' once no matter how many miles are on it

...and who's to say mine wouldn't last any longer than a garage queen with a tight engine of only 20,000 miles.

At least mine would lose less value with a busted engine - and probably quite difficult to pick up a replacement 'used' one with more miles on

But you're starting to bring up some of the many reasons I've never done it.

[buzyg]

Significantly less than half the fitted price I was quoted for the ESS stage II kit for an ///M

The stage II kit is quite a step up though

Looks like the 'entry level' kit is about £6.5k+fitting (£900) - and about another £k for each stage/50hp after that.

I keep considering the basic kit, then talking myself up to the full-fat kit, and then realise that I can't fully utilise the 340bhp I've got now, so what's the point. Even at the 'Ring, I'm not driving at 10/10ths, so more power will just mean I'm approaching the corners faster and still being overtaking by the stripped out 700bhp Team Schirmer M3s!

I’m having quite a different problem - I keep talking myself into the stage II kit then my wife spends my supercharger fund on something else

Spend the money on the Westie.

[Monkeydonkeyratmagic]

Significantly less than half the fitted price I was quoted for the ESS stage II kit for an ///M

The stage II kit is quite a step up though

Looks like the 'entry level' kit is about £6.5k+fitting (£900) - and about another £k for each stage/50hp after that.

I keep considering the basic kit, then talking myself up to the full-fat kit, and then realise that I can't fully utilise the 340bhp I've got now, so what's the point. Even at the 'Ring, I'm not driving at 10/10ths, so more power will just mean I'm approaching the corners faster and still being overtaking by the stripped out 700bhp Team Schirmer M3s!

Also bare in mind supercharging a 150,000 mileage engine probably isn’t the best of ideas...

Realistically all that's likely to happen at that end of the scale is the engine to drop a valve or put a rod through the block.

Should be delivered in the next 10 days.

May have secured a 2nd hand quaife lsd too.

Another thing I'm debating is the Rieger front bumper. Anyone ever seen one or know what it's like to fit? Just wondering if it needs cutting etc.

[Behr]

I will be watching this with interest as I’m quite keen on doing this myself. Please make sure to share the experience.

[ScoobyR1]

whilst I have absolutely no idea what your on about, I hope it all goes well

[jpvd]

I once went down this route with an old car i had..but i went for a turbo...went like a rocket, but would i do it all again?...no...not worth the hassle, late nights, cut hands and thrown spanners....after all the work i could just of bought a faster car and spent time enjoying it...

Still i am interested to see how this turns out so good luck!

[Monkeydonkeyratmagic]

I once went down this route with an old car i had..but i went for a turbo...went like a rocket, but would i do it all again?...no...not worth the hassle, late nights, cut hands and thrown spanners....after all the work i could just of bought a faster car and spent time enjoying it...

Still i am interested to see how this turns out so good luck!

Yep I've been here before too. However it's hard to get a rapid roadster for sub 10k with some comforts. Could have got the likes of a lotus, vx220 turbo etc but they are death traps are shite for someone doing 20k a year.

Only other option really was a 4 seater like an s4 or a 335i but they are just big bucks to run and I didn't fancy a bargey convertible or a boxster.

Sure it's going to be painful. But I'm prepared for it to be and made peace with that. Plus I boosted a clio 182.. this should be easy compared to that thing.

[Machine monkey]

Well done buddy I am sure you will love it.

I very often think i maybe should have gone this route. But then I eventually come back to the fact it wasn’t what i wanted. But any S/C kit makes for a great upgrade and a fairly simple trouble free way of getting a good power increase.

I hope the fitting goes simply and well for you. And you fully enjoy it