Thought I'd re-post this in case some of you are sick of seeing my stale "Affordable supercharging" thread...
Just got off the phone with VF Engineering. These are the guys putting together the $10k s/c kit for the M5 kit due for release later this year. I inquired about the status of the product release and they indicated that the are in the process of launching two new supercharger kits (one for the e46 M3) and this has pushed back their kit launch activities until more toward the end of the year. The M5 kit is in the final stages of testing. The kit utilizes a single Vortech centrifugal supercharger with an air-water intercooler. The design specifications are that the kit provide at least a 40% increase in horsepower and 35% increase in torque for the S62 as a bolt-on kit that requires no additional engine or car modifications (even the exhaust is stock, and yes, the car's fog lights are retained in contrast to the Dinan kit). Additional car upgrades are fully at the discretion of the owner. The tuning will be for 6psi. Installation time is estimated at 10-12 hours, and can be performed by high performance shops/distributers in most major cities. During installation, the ECU is sent to VF for re-flashing. The kit will be CARB approved and will feature a 3 year/unlimited mileage warranty on all kit parts. The kit was shown at this year's Bimmerfest, and pictures of a beast engine bay with the installed kit can be seen on the VF Engineering website (http://www.vf-engineering.com) I asked for dyno data, and this will be made available as the testing is completed and the kit nears launch.
The VF website has considerable additional information on the kit. If anyone is considering options for supercharging the beast, I would recommend looking into this kit. Overall, everything looks very professional. I appreciate the detail that the website offers. And I highly appreciate being able to make MY OWN decisions regarding additional car upgrades. For my purposes, I'm simply looking for an upgrade to the beast's engine output to be more competitive with today's standards. I'd like not to be embarrassed by the e60 M5, but rather, to embarrass the e60. And I'd like an honest 200 mph sedan running the stock 3:15 differential (of course the speed limiter is removed during ECU re-flashing).
I don't know about you guys, but this sounds like just the ticket to keeping our beasts upgraded at an affordable price. Of course this assumes that the kit will deliver as per the design specifications and will prove to be reliable. VF does not look like a bush-league operation, and I'd be surprised if their 6 psi tuning can't crank out a 40% increase in horsepower. Their three-year warranty looks pretty attractive against reliability apprehension.
If you are thinking about supercharging and the VF kit meets its design specs, this looks like a no-brainer to me. The kit even looks nice and OEM-ish when installed. VF seems to understand what many of us may be looking for, and they seem to understand the general specifications (including economics) to ensure a successful product.
I agree! VF-Engineering Supercharger Kits for the BMWs are one of the best out there!
We've installed one VF-Engineering Stage 1 kit on a 2002 540i Sport and ran into 2 minor issues while installing the kit and VF Engineering was on top of it right away. Great customer support and technical team.
With 6psi, the 540i feels like a M5..the only downside is that the Stage 1 kit doesn't have an intercooler.
Last I heard from VF was that they were recasting the intake plenum for the M5 and 645 models.
BTW, we're an authorized dealer and installer for VF-Engineering.
Attached is the VF Engineering kit on our customers 540i
__________________ Jon C.
Last edited by Jon@TheMShop; 12th July 2006 at 06:13.
I've been itching for affordable power. Seeing as how I don't have 60k for Dinans setup I hope this becomes available to the rest of us pretty soon. Maybe nice Xmas present for myself!:biggrinbounc e: Thanks for keeping us posted!
__________________
"I gotta race like a piss horse"
Will there be a 3rd E39 M5???
Imola E39 M5 S1.5 - Also gone
Jet Black E39 M5-Gone but not forgotten
40% increase with 6psi, seems a little optimistic. 6psi is 40% of Barometric pressure (14.7PSI), when you consider the parastic drag of the supercharger getting to 40% gain would be tough unless the intercooler did an excellent job.
Even a 30% boost would great as power would increase to the 520 hp level.
In any case, I think the big issue in this pkg will be getting driveabiliy just right.
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2001 E39 M5 Titanium Silver/Silverstone
1997 BMW M3 Gruppe N Race Car
2005 X5 4.4i
40% increase with 6psi, seems a little optimistic. 6psi is 40% of Barometric pressure (14.7PSI), when you consider the parastic drag of the supercharger getting to 40% gain would be tough unless the intercooler did an excellent job.
Even a 30% boost would great as power would increase to the 520 hp level.
In any case, I think the big issue in this pkg will be getting driveabiliy just right.
i tend to disagree with your statement... 40% is totally doable.
Throw on a set of SS headers, a set of velocity stacks maybe cams and you're getting not far off S3 territory for a fraction of the cost.
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Respect a mans car, a man respects you. "In every detail, the M5 was a poster child of the M philosophy: superb driving dynamics, luxurious interior and above all, uncompromised performance." - BMW.ca regarding the E39 M5
i tend to disagree with your statement... 40% is totally doable.
only possible if you can increase volumetric efficiency.....meaning improve the exhaust and/or intercool...
you put in another 6psi or .4 bar, the max u can get is 40% extra power, but don't forget the parasitic loss of turning the supercharger.
Think about it. new power = 394 hp x (1+6/14.7) - power lost driving the supercharger = 551 - the parasitic losses. Maybe around 520-530hp is what you'd see.
BTW, the Dinan kit on the M3 is 423hp w/o intercooler 46X with intercooler at 460 hp it's a 40% gain.
__________________
2001 E39 M5 Titanium Silver/Silverstone
1997 BMW M3 Gruppe N Race Car
2005 X5 4.4i
I hope this becomes available to the rest of us pretty soon. Maybe nice Xmas present for myself!
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