Supercharging an E46 M3.
Discussion
Now...I may be getting a little ahead of myself here having only owned my E46 for 2 weeks....and my bank manager would kill himself if he knew the expensive and pointless thoughts going through my head....
But where does one start with thinking about a supercharger for my M3....am I mad? Will the engine go pop after 10k miles?
I'll just throw it out there and all of you experts can laugh / cry / give me some sound advice as you see fit!
But where does one start with thinking about a supercharger for my M3....am I mad? Will the engine go pop after 10k miles?
I'll just throw it out there and all of you experts can laugh / cry / give me some sound advice as you see fit!
Oh yeah - and I called the company you recommended to unlock my TV - but they're in Cardiff and not open at the weekends. Basically, it's a software tweak, and they wanted £260 + VAT to do it. Found a guy who does it mobile for £195 cash in hand. Works fine and has had no effect on anything else in the car (I was having nightmares about the Sat Nav packing up or the OBC breaking). I think you might describe him as a 'discreet' service - as he offered to 'adjust' my mileage - I told him to get lost at that point. I have a number though, cos he did a good job on the TV!
jbonnett said:
Thanks AC - is that as in Lotus Carlsson or have I got my knickers in a twist?
Lotus Carlton
Carlsson are a tuning company...
Edited to add some links
>> Edited by rico on Thursday 26th February 16:09
Here is a link to an E46 M3 with Supercharger in the US:
http://216.118.86.224/m3forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24493&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
Personally I wouldnt dream of trying to do much to the E46 M3 engine as dont think there is much left to get out of it as BMW showed with the CSL!!!
http://216.118.86.224/m3forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24493&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
Personally I wouldnt dream of trying to do much to the E46 M3 engine as dont think there is much left to get out of it as BMW showed with the CSL!!!
Get rid of that screamming six pot & throw in a proper torquey V8, I may of course be slighly biased about that route on a 3 series 
What about an M5 lump with 400bhp as a starter & 500bhp if played with al-la Ascari, all without resorting to super dooper chargers.
Ok it wouldnt be cheap, but by gum that little puppy would shift!
What about an M5 lump with 400bhp as a starter & 500bhp if played with al-la Ascari, all without resorting to super dooper chargers.
Ok it wouldnt be cheap, but by gum that little puppy would shift!
Linden Special Vehicles do superchargers for BMW (he's lurks on here), however the issue i have is the enormous cost of these conversions. A s/c for my 540 would cost 8k, in my opinion its not worth it; Yes it would have similar power to an M5 with the luxury of an automatic (which is why i didn't buy an M5), however what it would still lack is a limited slip diff - without traction control my spins the wheels all day long, so more power would make it worse.
These conversions need to be around 4-5k mark tops, then i would consider one - just for the fun.
Eliot.
(in fact i could purchase a complete 600BHP supercharged 5.7 chevy engine for less than 8k, and still have the old 4.4 v8 spare!)
>> Edited by eliot on Tuesday 2nd March 17:18
These conversions need to be around 4-5k mark tops, then i would consider one - just for the fun.
Eliot.
(in fact i could purchase a complete 600BHP supercharged 5.7 chevy engine for less than 8k, and still have the old 4.4 v8 spare!)
>> Edited by eliot on Tuesday 2nd March 17:18
jbonnett said:
Oh yeah - and I called the company you recommended to unlock my TV - but they're in Cardiff and not open at the weekends. Basically, it's a software tweak, and they wanted £260 + VAT to do it. Found a guy who does it mobile for £195 cash in hand. Works fine and has had no effect on anything else in the car (I was having nightmares about the Sat Nav packing up or the OBC breaking). I think you might describe him as a 'discreet' service - as he offered to 'adjust' my mileage - I told him to get lost at that point. I have a number though, cos he did a good job on the TV!
Jb - have you still got this guys number? I live in the south and need this doing
Cheers, Nik
jbonnett said:
Now...I may be getting a little ahead of myself here having only owned my E46 for 2 weeks....and my bank manager would kill himself if he knew the expensive and pointless thoughts going through my head....
But where does one start with thinking about a supercharger for my M3....am I mad? Will the engine go pop after 10k miles?
I'll just throw it out there and all of you experts can laugh / cry / give me some sound advice as you see fit!
Dude, seriously don't bother. Enjoy your car, especially the "Fun" button, but if you want more power and a BMW badge get an M6. You will lose a lot of the value of your car by modding it - especially in the "BMW" world (unless it was a Dinan or Hartge type conversion) and besides which 343 bhp is well enough...Ok so you got pasted by an Evo - which in turn would be pasted by a 10k superbike - theres always something quicker out there for less money. I have had my e46 for a year now (after owning 2 lotus elises, one tweaked to 160bhp and a BMW540i) and the e46 m3 convertible is IMHO the best "All rounder" car money can buy - enjoy it !
I think you might be right Olly. I've always got a nagging voice in my head, as I've never yet left a car standard in my life - however, I've literally this second got back from a quick countryside hoon - and I think you're right - unmolested it still puts one hell of a smile on my face.
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