Does Anyone Know Anything About Bell Engineering Turbo Kits?

One Sweet E36 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2001, 12:00 PM

I Was Thinking About Getting A Bell Engineering Turbo Kit For My M3 Does Anyone Have Anything To Say Good Or Bad? About These Kits?

themadhatter · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2001, 12:28 PM

never heard of it, where did you hear about it?

M3RACER · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2001, 02:45 PM

I was reading about it, it sounds pretty good the only thing I don't like is the fact he is using a FMU. He says the he has a all new design for the FMU that supposed to work better than the previous ones. I found out the reason for the delay in relesingf the kit was because he might be working with somebody, don't know the guys name but he is big in the audi world, to develop some software instead of using the FMU. I don't think they have released a dyno on the kit, I would wait and see how the dyno comes out and let them work out any bugs in the kit if there are any.

Mark S. · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2001, 05:30 PM

corky bell has been around turbochargers and racing for a long time. when i was considering going the turbo route, he was my choice. call them for any questions you might have. they are really nice people.

http://www.bellengineering.net/

mark

stimpee · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2001, 06:20 PM

FYI, Bell's web site has said that the M3 turbo kit is under development and imminent for production for like 2 years now. He has been saying the same thing about his supercharger book (to complement the turbo book).

No doubt the guy has been around, and knows some sh*t, but you would probably have to talk to him directly to find out if there is anything really going on with turbo development for M3's. I would imagine he had some part in the MechTech development of their kit, as he has been tied in with and a big supporter of Aerodyne for quite some time.

As for using an FMU, I have said it before, and I will say it again, as long as a forced induction kit manages the air fuel ratio to a proper setting which balances maximum power with keeping detonation at bay, it makes NO difference how that achieved. The method of reprogramming and customizing for each vehicle may often be preferred and make it easier to attain that state, but FMUs, piggyback computers, and the like do not preclude you from being successful...

Lex325 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2001, 08:45 PM

impee knows what he's talking about guys

One Sweet E36 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2001, 12:11 AM

What is a better choice a good turbo kit or a good super charger? I personaly like the blowoff sound that turbos make

but i was hoping maybe someone here could push me in the right direction!

stimpee · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2001, 05:48 AM

Not Turbo vs SC again!!!

It really all depends on what you want. WITH CURRENT OFFERINGS, you are looking at the decision between ease of installation/deinstallation, and apparent "lag, vs absolute power.

The centrifugal SC kits currently available make great top end power, but have essentially no boost below 3000-3500 rpm. The amount of area under the torque curve of a cent. SC'd car is significantly less than that of a turbo car at the same peak boost setting. So, the turbo will give you more low end torque (once spooled up) and more high end HP (no parasitic drag), at the cost of increased complexity, more difficult installation, slightly higher maintenance, and somewhat "unpredictable" nature which may make it harder to drive and control, particularly on a race track (road course).

Again, it all depends on what you want. The combinations of advantages and disadvantages of these two currently available setups is why I am working on developing my own setup which will give much of the best of these 2 methods, while maybe sacrificing just a bit of the "top end" ultimate horsepower to the turbo setup...