Talk me out of Supercharging the 325Ci without mentioning the M3

Peerzy · 23 May 2010 at 16:17

NVP said:
Will it really be worth that little because of the modifications?

Surely if it's a nice example then it would hold it's value for longer? Considering how much they are dropping in price these days I would have thought a nice performance version could retain some value.

"M3" is banned from this thread I understand what you are saying though, and that is always an option, but customising mine is more preferable to me, even with a loss in value.

EDIT: It's not to "turn it into a sleeper"... I don't see the point in sleepers.

It will lose value and 90% of people won't even bother looking at it, it's going to send insurance quotes sky high.

NVP · 23 May 2010 at 16:21

Intriguing input Fox, to be honest running costs and servicing increases do not really phase me too much as I would be happy to pay as long as I have the car I want, but from what you say it looks like the difference, if any, wouldn't be too significant.

TBH I have more qualms with fitting thousands of pounds worth of BBS alloys to my car then the equivalent amount for a supercharger.

cristi said:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-M6-V10-EN...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item25558480c9

Peerzy said:
It will lose value

Why would it lose value just because it's not stock? (Genuine question)

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2010 at 16:24

Peerzy said:
It will lose value

OH NO! You bought a Fiat, that lost value as well?

It probably wont lose value at all, actually, it simply wont gain much. I've seen a couple of supercharged M54's sell - a 530i Sport and a Z4 3.0i and both sold for only about 500 quid more than they otherwise would despite thousands spent.

Some people have trouble selling them but this is because they are morons and price them at value of car + money spent.

I'm not neccesarily saying this is a good idea, mind, I wouldnt do it to mine, but I dont think its as simple as OMG IT WILL BE WORTH 10P SIMPLY BUY AN M3!111111 either.

Peerzy · 23 May 2010 at 16:29

[TW]Fox;16608344 said:
OH NO! You bought a Fiat, that lost value as well?

Well done

and no my car hasn't lost a great deal in the 20 months I've owned it.

I wouldn't buy an M3 or S/C my 325i. I'd either keep the 325i as is and enjoy it for what it is or look at something different.

It all depends on how you value the car. IMO you would have to put it up for less than a stock example for it to sell because you alienate 90% of buyers having modded it.

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2010 at 16:32

Peerzy said:
It all depends on how you value the car. IMO you would have to put it up for less than a stock example for it to sell because you alienate 90% of buyers having modded it.

But you also increase its attractiveness to 10% of buyers who'd be interested in that sort of thing. Not enough to boost its value by any real margin, but enough that it wont be worth nothing. It's all easily removable anyway.

Sukh · 23 May 2010 at 16:32

Surely supercharging an engine not designed to run one will increase running costs as well.
So its not simply a case of comparing standard 325 Vs M3 costs.

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2010 at 16:33

Sukh said:
Surely supercharging an engine not designed to run one will increase running costs as well.
So its not simply a case of comparing standard 325 Vs M3 costs.

Yes, it will increase the fuel consumption and you may wish to change the oil a bit more frequently.

It wont, however, need the valve clearances adjusted at every Inspection service like an M3, for example. It's still a 325i at the end of the day, just one with a blower on the side.

Sukh · 23 May 2010 at 16:35

Fair enough, thought it would increase servicing costs somewhat.

Peerzy · 23 May 2010 at 16:36

[TW]Fox;16608384 said:
But you also increase its attractiveness to 10% of buyers who'd be interested in that sort of thing. Not enough to boost its value by any real margin, but enough that it wont be worth nothing. It's all easily removable anyway.

I wouldn't say removing a supercharger is 'easy', especially if it needs a remap removing.

Has the OP done any insurance quotes? Go to confused.com and type all the details in for your car and get a quote with it standard then click add mods and add a +25% power supercharger and all the other stuff and watch it sky rocket.

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2010 at 16:39

Peerzy said:
I wouldn't say removing a supercharger is 'easy', especially if it needs a remap removing.

Oh no, imagine if it needs a remap removing. You'd have to get the mapper to come out and remap the car to stock, something most of them would do for free.

Has the OP done any insurance quotes? Go to confused.com and type all the details in for your car and get a quote with it standard then click add mods and add a +25% power supercharger and all the other stuff and watch it sky rocket.

I think the fact you've suggested he uses Confused.com to guage insurance prices for a specialist modified vehicle should explain how much credibility he should give your opinion on this matter

Peerzy · 23 May 2010 at 16:43

[TW]Fox;16608421 said:
Oh no, imagine if it needs a remap removing. You'd have to get the mapper to come out and remap the car to stock, something most of them would do for free.

I think the fact you've suggested he uses Confused.com to guage insurance prices for a specialist modified vehicle should explain how much credibility he should give your opinion on this matter

It's not as simple as just unplug S/C, right lets put it on PH.

confused.com was an example, by all means he should phone up BMW OC insurance places (for discounts etc) and mod friendly insurers but I'm willing to bet he hasn't considered it doubling his insurance premium.

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2010 at 16:44

Peerzy said:
It's not as simple as just unplug S/C, right lets put it on PH.

No but neither is as complicated as performing open heart surgery either.

s0ck · 23 May 2010 at 16:46

If you can't find a UK 'dealer' with a reputaton for fitting them I would seriously reconsider.

At the moment, you are in love with the idea of your current car, which you're happy with being a bit faster. At the opposite end of the scale, your car may never run right again, need frequent trips to a specialist and you may, ultimately, get so ****ed off with it you sell it as a 'project'.

Or it could all go swimmingly and we shall all be truly envious of your facelift monstah!

NVP · 23 May 2010 at 16:49

LOL Fox you're funny!

From a little research maintenance and running cost increases should be minimal BUT engines have been known to blow when they are not good condition in the first place. Mine, however, is in great nick with low mileage so should cope fine. The supercharger makers say the BMW headgasket is strong enough to withstand the increase in psi and is preferable to many "performance upgraded" ones.

Insurance costs shouldn't be too much through a specialist but it is something I should consider as if it jumps to a few grand a year then that would be a serious deterent.

EDIT: Thanks for scaring me s0ck! From what I've read the problems come from modding an already old and fragile engine, or from cowboys not fitting it properly and not having a proper remap done... but still, I appreciate it could all go horribly wrong which is why it is an "idea" at the moment.

hurfdurf · 23 May 2010 at 16:49

Muncher said:
You're an idiot for even thinking of it.

Indeed

Morba · 23 May 2010 at 16:55

Peerzy said:
I wouldn't say removing a supercharger is 'easy', especially if it needs a remap removing.

Has the OP done any insurance quotes? Go to confused.com and type all the details in for your car and get a quote with it standard then click add mods and add a +25% power supercharger and all the other stuff and watch it sky rocket.

Because confused is the best place for modified insurance....

Peerzy · 23 May 2010 at 17:05

Morba said:
Because confused is the best place for modified insurance....

No not at all, when I was looking at getting my remap done it came pretty close though. Phoning special companies, using discounts with OC's and playing companies off each other only saved me another £100 in the end, it gave me a rough idea of the cost.

I'd be amazed if doing all of those mods to a car that already has a high-ish IG wouldn't make a quote silly.

Morba · 23 May 2010 at 17:08

But even doubling the price for some people won't make it silly price.
If you are 17 then yes, but some one with experience and no claims will not get bent over.
A doubling for me would make it £800 on a 330. Hardly an issue is it?

Berger · 23 May 2010 at 18:20

I just bought a Xsara VTS that had been supercharged.

I did a bit of research first, found out what was involved, the costs etc. Amongst the rest of the bills from the previous owner, the supercharger conversion cost him a flat £5000 last year. I paid £4000 for the whole car, ended up costing me around double a good VTS normally would.

However it can be returned completely to standard if required, leaving me with a supercharger kit that is suitable for the engine, which is used in the 306 GTI and the Xsara VTS, and commonly used in the 205 GTI as an engine transplant. Id estimate to market the kit as a whole for ~£3000, leaving me with a car at market value of ~£2000.

Personally I would say go for it, but be prepared to have to return the car to standard to sell it, or take a huge hit on the money you have put into the car.

NVP · 23 May 2010 at 19:06

The "easy" portability of a supercharger is also appealing, but with the combination of any aesthetical modifications removing it would probably reduce its appeal in the after-market err.. market. But it is a plus point

So far the only criticisms appear to be towards financial implications. If we place those aside for now, what other negative (or positive) opinions would people like to share?

Are there better options for customisation which I have not thought of? Not just performance enhancing but also visually appealing modifications?