turbo or supercharger?

[bmwmpwr]

hey i just got a 99 m3 and wanted to add to the engine wut is better turbo or supercharger? wut is the diffrence between them and where can i get them at good prices?? please help!

[Vitolo]

wut=what*

kthx

[Nitrous115]

What are you trying to get out of going with FI. Are you looking for bigger numbers, better bottom end, top end? It all just depends

[bmwmpwr]

i want more hp and top end

[ryan8624]

then a turbo is the way to go, if you have the money.

[bmwmpwr]

and a super charger would give me hp and bottom end?

[Nitrous115]

Turbos lag so there wouldn't be as much torque. In general superchargers don't produce as much hp as turbos. But it really depends which turbos and superchargers you are comparing. The bigger the turbo the more turbo lag there is, but the more hp

[Kompressor]

Supercharger gives a little less horspeower, but throughout the band, no lag. Both bottom end and top end.

[jderry]

Turbos lag so there wouldn't be as much torque.

Supercharger gives a little less horspeower, but throughout the band, no lag. Both bottom end and top end.

C'mon guys -- stop throwing out stuff you read in sport compact car and the typical import magazines

a) Turbo lag -- this can be really huge or it can be really small. I think the Audi 1.8T has one of the least minimal turbo lags because of the compressor size. Turbo lag is going to be dependent on the size of the turbo. Goto big -- you'll have big lag ... but a huge jet--like thrust when it kicks in. To small, you'll have instant power -- but, less top-end power.

b) Superchargers can give just as much power IMHO ... I know, people disagree -- but, I've seen numerous 11 psi vs. 11 psi -- and if they are tuned properly .. the superchargers are right with the turbo's. The turbo's are more fun b/c of the torque slam that you will experience.

The supercharger IMO -- is a little easier to modulate ... i.e., it CAN be easier to use at the track, through a hairpin turn, etc ... b/c of the linear nature.

However, with Stimpee's and Josh's PD supercharged setup -- 344 rwhp is NOTHING to sneeze at. The PD supercharger setups are being used on many cars now ... you get turbo-like response but a linear power band like a supercharger. In essence, taking the best of both applications ...

However, no offense bmwmpr -- but, if you are asking what the diff. is b/w turbo and s/c, asking about price, what is better to add to the engine, etc ... you should not do it ...

[Matthew C Smith]

So, what do you know about Stimpee's latest supercharger he's been working on?

I still haven't heard much about it lately.

And who's Josh? more info?

[Nitrous115]

C'mon guys -- stop throwing out stuff you read in sport compact car and the typical import magazines

a) Turbo lag -- this can be really huge or it can be really small. I think the Audi 1.8T has one of the least minimal turbo lags because of the compressor size. Turbo lag is going to be dependent on the size of the turbo. Goto big -- you'll have big lag ... but a huge jet--like thrust when it kicks in. To small, you'll have instant power -- but, less top-end power.

b) Superchargers can give just as much power IMHO ... I know, people disagree -- but, I've seen numerous 11 psi vs. 11 psi -- and if they are tuned properly .. the superchargers are right with the turbo's. The turbo's are more fun b/c of the torque slam that you will experience.

Why did you try to dis on what I said, then say the exact same thing but in different words?

[jderry]

there's more torque with turbo's ... I don't see how you can see there is less torque with a turbo.

Second, turbo's lag? Hell no, not all turbo's lag ... I mean, all superchargers lag if I am following your logic correctly ... if it takes the turbo 1 second to spool ... it would take the supercharger like 3 seconds to get to full boost.

As far as HP -- I think superchargers and turbo's can yield similar numbers. If you are comparing apples to apples.

Comparing a T78 at 11 psi to a supercharger at 11 psi is not fair. If the goal is 400 rwhp -- both supercharger and turbo will hit it.

Both can be upgraded for more power -- bigger compressor or pulley upgrade.

[///Samson]

Learn about them before you dish out the money to have something put in your car without any knowledge how it functions: Here's supreme books on turbo and super chargers. I suggest them to everyone.

"Maximum Boost: Designing, Testing, and Installing Turbocharger Systems"


"Supercharged! Design, Testing and Installation of Supercharger Systems"

--------------

This one isn't bad for quick reading:

"Forced Induction Performance Tuning A Practical Guide to Supercharging and Turbocharging"

[Nitrous115]

I think we ment low end torque. All turbos lag to a certain extent, since they spool off the exhaust gasses. Superchargers do not lag. You pretty much could acheive the same top end hp numbers either way if you set them up correctly. And you could also achieve about the same low end torque. But it isn't that very easy to make one of them accomplish both.

[Matthew C Smith]

I just want to clear up one thing here (there are so many things that need it though...)

A supercharger does not have lag. It is always spinning so long as the crank is spinning. Therefore by design, it cannot lag because there is nothing to spool or spin up.

Also, there are two main types of supercharger. Positive displacement (PD) and centrifugal. They have different characteristics and make full boost at different engine speeds. If you want more info on this stuff do a google search. I'm sure you can find something.