Supercharged CSL

Supercharged CSL

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Discussion

98C4S

Original Poster:

2,935 posts

197 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
Does anyone have any experience with Supercharging an E46 CSL?

There is a company called Simpson Motorsport who do various ESS kits, starting from 450bhp up to a 550bhp.

I have often heard that supercharging a car hasnt delivered the desired result, and that the figures do not reflect the cars performance.

I am thinking of a replacement for my modded Cayman S (340BHP/300Lb/ft)

I have only ever heard praise about the CSL

Any info would be great

spenny_b

1,071 posts

250 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
My first proper experience of a CSL was last Friday - ca.100miles of cross country bliss...cracking car, but seriously, something you don't want to lose is the induction noise....just fantastic, but would be lost with SC kit...360hp is a perfect match for the chassis and on Mich PS2's, a very biddable car in all weathers (including biblical downpours) where the power is so exploitable, far more so than in my GT3 (I dont mind admitting, if following, I wouldn't have seen which way the CSL went in anything other than dry conditions)

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
Simpsons do it and so do CA Automotive. Ive seen a few at Simpsons and the latest ESS kits seem pretty good but with anything other than 50+ bhp the problem seems getting the power down onto the road.

I wouldnt mod a CSL as you have to make so many changes anyway to the suspension and running gear you might as well start with an M3, but chances are you will regret it and might as well buy a CSL

THere was a supercharged E46 M3 at Bedford Autodrome on Monday this week, drove past it on track a few times!

98C4S

Original Poster:

2,935 posts

197 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
Thanks guys,

I am getting the CSL itch, It needs to be itched. Most have uprated suspension and brakes.. are those essentials?

RMac

347 posts

228 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
as one other has said, you lose the fantastic induction noise by supercharging - on the upside, selling the carbon airbox would go a long way towards paying for the conversion!

Brakes and suspension are down to what you want the car for! Road use, probably no point. If you want to track it then I think you will need to do the mods.

Spokey

2,246 posts

216 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
98C4S said:
Thanks guys,

I am getting the CSL itch, It needs to be itched. Most have uprated suspension and brakes.. are those essentials?
For tracking, the brakes might be useful.

For very serious tracking, the suspension possibly too. But it would have to be very, very serious tracking, IMHO.

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
On the road the car is fine as it is

for track unless you are a pro driver you will need a BBK but suspension only if you really need that extra 2% or something to fiddle with

one of the biggest benefits of a/m suspension I have found is that it greatly improves wear on the Cup Tyres with less roll

RatBoy M3CSL

1,490 posts

203 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
quotequote all
shim said:
On the road the car is fine as it is

for track unless you are a pro driver you will need a BBK but suspension only if you really need that extra 2% or something to fiddle with

one of the biggest benefits of a/m suspension I have found is that it greatly improves wear on the Cup Tyres with less roll
What you really need is a BBK Alcon kit.. like the one i have for sale.. in the classifieds biggrin

For track work I would say brakes and supsension mods are essential, these cars need 2.5 min but preferably 3 degrees front neg per corner, or they destroy front tyres...

I looked into a blower for mine, before doing the Schrick cams, I based that decision on the Simpson car breaking the gearbox the day i was due to test it..! and talking to other guys, who loved the power.. but 50-80 miles on a tank of fuel on track with the bigger injectors put me off, 150 miles a tank on the road.. so i was told..

Its not about economy of course.. but it would just wind me up going to Tescos every other day for fuel..!


Edited by RatBoy M3CSL on Thursday 19th November 13:58

Slippydiff

15,151 posts

230 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
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To the OP, I hope this doesn't come across as condescending (it's not meant to)

Buy yourself a CSL, drive it for 20K road miles in the first year (as I did) and you'll come to realise there's nothing to be done except put fuel in it, service it and enjoy driving it (and pay for the warranty) Mine's done two massive Eurohoons and proved to be peerless for the job I wanted it for.

It REALLY is THAT simple smile

My car is totally standard apart from AP six pots on the front and AP 4 pots on the rear (and a rear axle tightening kit fitted by Simpsons)

Forget any bar the above mods for ROAD use, as they're (IMO) totally uneccesary. That includes noisy/ lightweight exhausts, spring/damper upgrades AND supercharger kits . . . .
If you want to track it then the situation differs.

HTH

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
Forget any bar the above mods for ROAD use, as they're (IMO) totally uneccesary. That includes noisy/ lightweight exhausts, spring/damper upgrades AND supercharger kits . . . .
If you want to track it then the situation differs.

HTH
totally agree for road use

apart from he will need RTAb and Turner limiter kit

RatBoy M3CSL

1,490 posts

203 months

Friday 20th November 2009
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+1.. well spotted Shimmy..

The RTAB's are a must for road use too really, unless you enjoy rear wheel steering..!

terryb

990 posts

251 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
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standard brakes are powerful but have no feel whatsoever - which is a real shame. I could only imagine that a good set of APs or Alcons would be a massive improvement.

Standard suspension is very good.

jrinns

375 posts

190 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
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Good information here guys, whats a RTAB ???

Looking to buy Jan or Feb and get on a few track days. CSL is creeping to the top of my list for age vs value vs potential to go wrong.

Slippydiff

15,151 posts

230 months

Thursday 3rd December 2009
quotequote all
jrinns said:
Good information here guys, whats a RTAB ???

Looking to buy Jan or Feb and get on a few track days. CSL is creeping to the top of my list for age vs value vs potential to go wrong.
Rear Trailing Arm Bush

A known weak point, lots of views as to how to "rectify" the issue. I went for new standard bushes and the Turner Motorsport rear axle tightening kit

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PR...

(Basically a pair of alloy shims that go either side of the standard bush and remove a lot of its compliance whilst retaining its ability to articulate in two planes as the trailing arm/suspension moves through its arc)
This one mod alone makes the rear of the car much more planted and controllable as it removes a lot of the "rear steer" the standard bushes allow when past their best.


ADM06

1,077 posts

179 months

Tuesday 8th December 2009
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMR9OVEDIY

Supercharged M3 CSL lapping the Nurburgring in 7.22.

I say do it. wink