There are quite a few supercharged E46 M3's with pretty much bolt on kits available for them. The engine layouts and ancilliaries are fairly common between models and ESS seem to have some experience, since they do the E46 M3 kits..
Supercharging. Should I?
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There are quite a few supercharged E46 M3's with pretty much bolt on kits available for them. The engine layouts and ancilliaries are fairly common between models and ESS seem to have some experience, since they do the E46 M3 kits..
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Why would it be? Both would be incredibly similar - 3 litre engines with forced induction developing 300bhp. Why would the supercharged one be more fun than the twin turbocharged one?
Don't forget that it is fairly easy to get a 335i to 400HP~ with a JB4 or something too.
This is really a big part of the reason I'd personally just sell up and make the move to the 335i.
Costs will be similar between getting a 330i to 300 BHP and buying a 335i already at 300 BHP. But it is relatively simple and cost effective to get, at least closer to, 400 BHP if you are starting with the 335i in the first place. Which will then make the 335i the much more transformed car in all reality.
Of course, strapping a supercharger to an E46 M3 is another option, albeit the most expensive route. And I'd always be worried that doing such things would "ruin" an M3.
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[TW]Fox;30047888 said:
Modified vs standard. Modified is always going to feel more fun at similar power levels due to noise, power delivery etc.
Just an opinion of course
Well the ess kit I've looked at is bolt on. I can do it all myself as I have the tools. They also supply an unlimited mileage and 2 year warranty. Also a life time support of the maps which you can download onto a device they give, so you download the current map of your car and send it to them. They make adjustments and send it back.
It would have been a grand cheaper if brexit didn't happen and the pound was strong. Still reading all the comments and seeing the for and against points I'm tempted to go through with it. Though £4k could be better spent elsewhere but people spend that much on extreme gaming systems. I'm more sat on the fence with it the more I think about it.
I would love a 335i but if something goes wrong I won't be able to do the work myself. If the charger goes on this for whatever reason I can still use the car. If the turbo blows up on the 335 then I'm not so sure. It would be a fun laugh for a once in a life time stint of modding a car to that level. I'm still young and would like to get it out of my system but again I think once I've done it, I'll get bored and the novelty will wear off. It's a weird feeling that I can't get my head around lol.
It would have been a grand cheaper if brexit didn't happen and the pound was strong. Still reading all the comments and seeing the for and against points I'm tempted to go through with it. Though £4k could be better spent elsewhere but people spend that much on extreme gaming systems. I'm more sat on the fence with it the more I think about it.
I would love a 335i but if something goes wrong I won't be able to do the work myself. If the charger goes on this for whatever reason I can still use the car. If the turbo blows up on the 335 then I'm not so sure. It would be a fun laugh for a once in a life time stint of modding a car to that level. I'm still young and would like to get it out of my system but again I think once I've done it, I'll get bored and the novelty will wear off. It's a weird feeling that I can't get my head around lol.
I'm not going to say don't do it, but modifying is a very slippery slope. I took my Nissan from 150 to 350hp. Blown up more stuff than I care to remember, upgraded basically every single part of the car except for the lump itself, the cost has long since spiralled out of control and it is STILL a complete pain in the rear.
On the flip side though, get it on a good day and it's brilliant, there's nothing I'd rather have.
I've considered different cars many times, ones which are technically better etc etc but just can't muster the enthusiasm for it. End of the day you spend money on a performance car because you want it, because it elicits an emotional response. If you don't want a 335i and they leave you cold then there's no point buying it regardless how competent it is.
On the flip side though, get it on a good day and it's brilliant, there's nothing I'd rather have.
I've considered different cars many times, ones which are technically better etc etc but just can't muster the enthusiasm for it. End of the day you spend money on a performance car because you want it, because it elicits an emotional response. If you don't want a 335i and they leave you cold then there's no point buying it regardless how competent it is.
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I'd buy a better car. I looked at doing this to my E46 330ci sport back in the day when it was new, when the kits where nearer 12-14k. In the end once I'd priced up better brakes, suspension etc I decided to buy an E46 M3. Much better decision.
Granted 4k won't buy you a great M3, but I think the point still stands. Find something that was designed for the power in the first place and has the upgraded brakes, gearbox etc already fitted.
Spending 4k plus on a 2k car just seems... a bad decision. Sorry.
Granted 4k won't buy you a great M3, but I think the point still stands. Find something that was designed for the power in the first place and has the upgraded brakes, gearbox etc already fitted.
Spending 4k plus on a 2k car just seems... a bad decision. Sorry.
Not an M3 then?
The kind of car notorious for it's weak brakes, weak body that literally tears itself apart, fancy gearboxes which fail..£4k wont buy a decent M3 or 335i for sure. But £4k + the original cars £2k value, plus the ~£2k on brakes / suspension and whatever else might be needed to support the 'charger. Well that's £8k, which is a LOT closer to an M3 with 340 BHP or thereabouts. Or I would imagine, somewhere near a 335i too.
Not an M3 then?
It wasn't like that back in 2003
Agreed, you could get something pretty decent with around 8k.
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With regards to the brakes and suspension. I don't plan to take it on the track anytime soon. I have Zimmerman discs and meyle pads which stop it very well. Would 80bhp extra really make it so I should change them. Sorry I'm not that clued up on the subject.
£550 in parts (New clutch & flywheel, injector nozzles, second hand PD130 intercooler + hoses and PD150 turbo + new stock shocks, vogtland springs and OEM top mounts) + the cost of fitting a clutch and flywheel and the cost of mapping. So likely around £900, or £1000 if I do VRS front brakes.
The car cost me £1250 so making that £2150 for a 180HP 1.9TDI with uprated suspension and brakes doesn't seem that ludicrous really. Would mean I'd have scratched my smoke machine itch too. Will keep up with hot hatches of the same era, and still do over 60MPG on a run. Plus I can take it back to Pod and confuse a couple of people.
But I know myself, and its very unlikely to happen.
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£550 in parts (New clutch & flywheel, injector nozzles, second hand PD130 intercooler + hoses and PD150 turbo + new stock shocks, vogtland springs and OEM top mounts) + the cost of fitting a clutch and flywheel and the cost of mapping. So likely around £900, or £1000 if I do VRS front brakes.
The car cost me £1250 so making that £2150 for a 180HP 1.9TDI with uprated suspension and brakes doesn't seem that ludicrous really. Would mean I'd have scratched my smoke machine itch too. Will keep up with hot hatches of the same era, and still do over 60MPG on a run. Plus I can take it back to Pod and confuse a couple of people.
But I know myself, and its very unlikely to happen.
All them parts for £550? Are you sure? Sounds at least double that money to me.
Not sure you will still do over 60 mpg on a run either with it modded like that. And I doubt a 180 BHP Skoda diesel is really gonna confuse anyone on a drag strip, other than the obligatory "Why bother?".
But, on the other hand, yeah. If you can get 180 BHP out of it, then sure. Why not. It'll certainly drive a bit better. 312mm brakes on a VRS then?
£550 in parts (New clutch & flywheel, injector nozzles, second hand PD130 intercooler + hoses and PD150 turbo + new stock shocks, vogtland springs and OEM top mounts) + the cost of fitting a clutch and flywheel and the cost of mapping. So likely around £900, or £1000 if I do VRS front brakes.
The car cost me £1250 so making that £2150 for a 180HP 1.9TDI with uprated suspension and brakes doesn't seem that ludicrous really. Would mean I'd have scratched my smoke machine itch too. Will keep up with hot hatches of the same era, and still do over 60MPG on a run. Plus I can take it back to Pod and confuse a couple of people.
But I know myself, and its very unlikely to happen.
Waste of money that you can otherwise put towards a new car.
Just remap it and call it a day.
Why don't you just buy a 335i (vita) or a VRS (acme) the difference in price for a non bodged example is barely more than all the second hand parts you are listing anyway 
Don't get me wrong I'm all for fettling, but polishing a **** springs to mind in this instance. Don't intend to offend but honesty is sometimes the best policy.
Don't get me wrong I'm all for fettling, but polishing a **** springs to mind in this instance. Don't intend to offend but honesty is sometimes the best policy.