Supercharger Options

[hillzz22]

I have recently started looking into a S/C kit for my OBDI M3 to hopefully be purchased and installed this summer. I've done quite a bit of searching around on both these forums and in other places as well and this is what I've come up with:

-Dinan (rock solid performance and support, conservative, expensive)
-RMS (based on Dinan design, decent hardware, very questionable customer support and software history)
-AA (Non-Vortech, non-upgradeable, but good performance and proven customer support(
-ESS (not a US company, hardware seems good, not a lot of feedback or results from what I gather on the ESS stuff yet)

So my question is this; what supercharger is right for me? As far as goals and financial situation, I am still in school so I definitely don't have the money for big HP numbers yet. 300whp or somewhere around there would be more than enough for now. I have read a lot about the upgradability of a Vortech based kit and I really like that idea for when I actually have the money to do so. The AA kit clearly comes short in that category. The Dinan kit, although really nice, is just so much more expensive than the others, so I'm having trouble justifying that. Based on all that I have heard about RMS on these boards I am not sure if I want to take that chance. So what it really comes down to in my mind is the ESS kit. I can't seem to find much info or feedback on it. ESS doesn't even include it on their website, which seems weird, but I have seen it for sale by KO Performance. Any info or proven results with the ESS kit would be helpful, as well as any other advice in general.

Thanks,

-Aaron

[MrBlonde]

Avoid RMS like the plague. Talk to Karl at AA or George at ICS.

[Dado]

here is a little ESS info.

http://www.dtmpower.net/pictures/ess/writeup_ess.html

[mcvolcom]

ESS is great, i have had mine for almost 2 years now and love it. My car runs great, although i live in California, so most of the time it is hot, so other cooling options are a must. The car is very fast and runs smooth through the whole powerband. Ok so the down sides of my ESS system. the company is in Norway so getting a hold of someone is very difficult, and second my check engine light has been on ever since i sent the ECU to Norway.

[Dado]

Originally Posted by mcvolcom

and second my check engine light has been on ever since i sent the ECU to Norway.

what is the code that is pulling up?

[vanos boy]

MCVOLCOM,
Do you have any trouble passing emission test every two years?
The major factor stopping me from going the FI route is trying to pass emission.

[hammerfang]

what ever happened to that guy dondon, i haven't seen or heard anything about him or the car in a while

[mcvolcom]

Originally Posted by Dado

what is the code that is pulling up?

Dado, the code that pops up is an ecu code, E-prom or something, i think?.... so something is not reading right.

[mcvolcom]

Originally Posted by vanos boy

MCVOLCOM,
Do you have any trouble passing emission test every two years?
The major factor stopping me from going the FI route is trying to pass emission.

Funny question vanos boy. the answer is yes and no, with most vortech systems you will pass, but you wont pass the visual, unless you have the carb exempt sticker from dinan, which i have. but my problem is i have track pipe, exhaust, and some other engine mods that make it difficult to pass. not to mention that i have the problem with the check engine light being on. i have been trying to find a shady smog tech in socal for 2 months now that will pass me, no luck yet...not good!

[328155]

Hillzz have you thought about the Eurosport twin screw? I'm going to FI this spring and I think I'm gonna go for that one. I've been meaning to go down to ICS, anyone up to meet their?

[hillzz22]

I looked at the twin screw, it seems like a great idea but unfortunately its a brand new concept currently so I personally would like to see how it holds up on cars first before I think of putting one in my car. Also, who knows when it will ever actually be released, the date is constantly pushed off. I'd be down to go check out ICS, never been there before but I'm sure it would be a good time. I'd love to see some of the monsters they've created.

-Aaron

[CarlsbadCroak]

I have a Dinan base kit with RMS aftercooler and software. Carb sticker, passes visual and blows very clean in the sniffer, and makes power. I'm running stock cats and headers, and it's my hard-driven daily driver with 95k on the clock and 20k on it since the Dinan install, nearly 12k since the RMS upgrades, no issues with the motor at all.

With good software, a Vortech kit is very reliable, is upgradable, and puts down some very good power.

[BMW Maniac]

what about ASA?

[hillzz22]

ASA, what is their website or where can I get more info?

-Aaron

[Excidium28]

If ur REALLY not gonna want more than 300hp, than I would go with AA. I just got my kit, sounds awsome! and runs great.