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        Old 11th March 2005, 19:53   #1 (permalink)
        bbloch1114
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        Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        I just posted what I will put below here in the post about RMS vs. Dinan vs. Discovery Automotive but I wanted to put it here too some more of you would see this:

        I was going to wait until I had time to write a full report, but I could not wait and say nothing -- so here are few points to think about in the meantime:

        1 - Osh is correct, he did in fact design the whole supercharged kit that Bill now sells -- Bill obtained the molds by paying Osh's supplier when Osh couldn't

        2 - You already know about my experience with RMS -- horrible. As for my experience with Discovery Automotive and Bill -- well, it was great up until I got the car back.

        3 - I have only been able to drive the car for 500 miles in the 8 months since I got the car back from Bill -- not by choice. It was one problem after another starting with one of the clear windows in my plenum cover breaking after the first 4 minutes of driving once I got the car back.

        4 - As for my clutch going and Bill mentioning it -- he is just trying to run damage control because I was ready to expose him here. The clutch was nothing more than a stock 850csi clutch and it burnt out after I only drove it for 500 miles. I sent the whole thing to SPEC Clutches and I have a letter from them that I will post stating how the clutch Bill chose to install was far from acceptable for a car with the power I was supposed to have (which it doesn’t by the way -- I will also post dyno reports). And even though Bill admitted to me in an email that he is not a clutch expert and even though he chose the clutch that was installed, he does not feel that he should have to pay for the repair.

        5 - In Bill's smoke screen post (#51 on the link), he suggests that I was drag racing my car. I took it to the local 1/4 mile track and made two runs -- I'd hardly call that drag racing. When Bill said that I wanted an OEM feel, he is telling the truth and you know what, that is exactly what I have now from SPEC and it is good for 800 HP and costs thousands less than Bill charged for the wrong clutch.

        6 - Speaking of paying for things, Bill originally gave me a quote of $6000-$7000 for finishing what Osh started. In the end, it cost me $38,000 even though I supplied Bill with the Supercharger, the heat exchanger, the carbon fiber tubes, the headers, the Brembro brakes -- basically all the parts -- which was just shy of what I spent with Osh -- without supplying him any parts. Yes, Bill did a few other minor things for the car, but certainly nothing that would make you think that the invoice would swell that much. And speaking of the invoice -- I only had to ask Bill about 50 times for that and it took him until about 7 months after I got the car back to get it to me. And you should see it -- it's a Word Doc that looks totally unprofessional and nothing is broken down. Not only should you see it -- you will because I will post that too.

        Like I said, this is a start because I could not just sit back and listen to any more of Bill's bull. My opinion, after having been a customer of both Osh and Bill, is that there is not that much difference between the two in terms of integrity. Bill is smarter and a quick learner and he is better funded, but he too does not deliver on his promises and he does not stand behind his work at all.

        One thing Bill did do right though was naming his company -- Discovery Automotive -- and you know why I say that, because each day he discovers something new that can do correctly -- unfortunately though, those discoveries cannot be made with out first discovering what he did wrong -- and those discoveries will be made at the customer's expense.

        If you really want to do this kind of very expensive tuning and modifications, don't be an idiot like I was and convince yourself to believe what you want to believe -- instead, deal with a company with years of BMW tuning experience and a company that stands behind its products. A company like Dinan or Active Autowerke (where my car is now -- having Bill's mistakes corrected) would be fine. A one or two man show with practically no BMW tuning experience like Discovery Automotive -- never again.

        Stay tuned for my next full-disclosure post where all the things you'll want to know will be "discovered." And if you can’t wait for that, feel free to send me a private message and give me your phone number and I will be happy to call you. I do not have time to write back to written questions, so again, if you want to get feedback from me, leave me your number and I will call you.
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        Current M5:

        2006 E60
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        12mm front H&R spacers 15mm rears

        Previous M5 (sold to DoctorV8):

        2001 E39
        653 HP/510 lb/ft
        Vortec Supercharger
        Active Autowerke Air-to-Air Intercooler
        Aquamist Water Injection
        Supersprint Headers
        TubiStyle Exhaust
        Koala Motorsports 3.15 ring & pinion
        4-wheel Brembos
        KW Varient 3 Suspension
        Dinan Mono-Ball lower control arm mounts
        Dinan Wheels -- powercoated to match OEM wheels
        Dinan Rear Subframe reinforcement (from Dinan S3)
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        Old 11th March 2005, 20:17   #2 (permalink)
        Ducman69
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        I am very interested to see the invoice when you post it. Did you actually receive the car before you paid the $38K? Did DA give any type of "warranty" for the work they performed for at least 3-6 months? What type of work is AA doing other than fixing DA's work and what needed to be fixed?
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        Last edited by Ducman69; 11th March 2005 at 20:20.
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        Old 11th March 2005, 20:25   #3 (permalink)
        Gustav
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        http://www.m5board.com/ubb/confused.gif

        I guess supercharging an M5 is not easy... Im sorry to hear this.
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        Old 11th March 2005, 20:39   #4 (permalink)
        chunpng
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        This is really a sad post.

        CP
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        Old 11th March 2005, 21:09   #5 (permalink)
        bbloch1114
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        Quote:
        Originally Posted by Ducman69
        I am very interested to see the invoice when you post it. Did you actually receive the car before you paid the $38K? Did DA give any type of "warranty" for the work they performed for at least 3-6 months? What type of work is AA doing other than fixing DA's work and what needed to be fixed?
        I will post some pictures when I get a chance but the hose connecting the carbon fiber tubes had a 3" rip on the underside causing much of the supercharged air to blow right out of the hole -- which is why the power level seemed so low -- it was. The clutch, pressure plate and face of the flywheel had to be replaced. Also, the check engine light was constantly on and the car was sputtering. I also have AA installing KW coilovers and spacers for the wheels.

        I did not have or see the car before the money was paid.

        Warranty -- you're kidding right? No warranty and they are not responsible for anything.
        __________________
        Current M5:

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        12mm front H&R spacers 15mm rears

        Previous M5 (sold to DoctorV8):

        2001 E39
        653 HP/510 lb/ft
        Vortec Supercharger
        Active Autowerke Air-to-Air Intercooler
        Aquamist Water Injection
        Supersprint Headers
        TubiStyle Exhaust
        Koala Motorsports 3.15 ring & pinion
        4-wheel Brembos
        KW Varient 3 Suspension
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        Old 11th March 2005, 21:10   #6 (permalink)
        bbloch1114
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        Quote:
        Originally Posted by Gustav
        http://www.m5board.com/ubb/confused.gif

        I guess supercharging an M5 is not easy... Im sorry to hear this.

        It's not just a matter of how hard or easy it is to Supercharge the car, the real issue is professionalism and standing behind your work -- there are big problems here for Discovery Automotive.
        __________________
        Current M5:

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        Silverstone Merino Full Leather
        12mm front H&R spacers 15mm rears

        Previous M5 (sold to DoctorV8):

        2001 E39
        653 HP/510 lb/ft
        Vortec Supercharger
        Active Autowerke Air-to-Air Intercooler
        Aquamist Water Injection
        Supersprint Headers
        TubiStyle Exhaust
        Koala Motorsports 3.15 ring & pinion
        4-wheel Brembos
        KW Varient 3 Suspension
        Dinan Mono-Ball lower control arm mounts
        Dinan Wheels -- powercoated to match OEM wheels
        Dinan Rear Subframe reinforcement (from Dinan S3)
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        Old 11th March 2005, 21:23   #7 (permalink)
        Gustav
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        I understand. I also beleive that they will answer to you. However this is not a problem of late delivery of a short shift kit, but something alot more serious.

        In the end what counts is what the customer thinks of the serives and this time it was disastrous. http://www.m5board.com/ubb/frown.gif Again. http://www.m5board.com/ubb/frown.gif

        How do we prevent this in the future?
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        Old 11th March 2005, 21:28   #8 (permalink)
        bbloch1114
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        Quote:
        Originally Posted by Gustav
        I understand. I also beleive that they will answer to you. However this is not a problem of late delivery of a short shift kit, but something alot more serious.

        In the end what counts is what the customer thinks of the services and this time it was disastrous. http://www.m5board.com/ubb/frown.gif Again. http://www.m5board.com/ubb/frown.gif

        How do we prevent this in the future?
        The only way I can think of is to do research and stick with known entities. By the way, I'm sure Bill will respond soon and I can't wait because I can back up everthing I said with factual proof -- all he has is a smoke screen.
        __________________
        Current M5:

        2006 E60
        Saphire Black
        Silverstone Merino Full Leather
        12mm front H&R spacers 15mm rears

        Previous M5 (sold to DoctorV8):

        2001 E39
        653 HP/510 lb/ft
        Vortec Supercharger
        Active Autowerke Air-to-Air Intercooler
        Aquamist Water Injection
        Supersprint Headers
        TubiStyle Exhaust
        Koala Motorsports 3.15 ring & pinion
        4-wheel Brembos
        KW Varient 3 Suspension
        Dinan Mono-Ball lower control arm mounts
        Dinan Wheels -- powercoated to match OEM wheels
        Dinan Rear Subframe reinforcement (from Dinan S3)
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        Old 11th March 2005, 21:49   #9 (permalink)
        Tin
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        Re: Living with a Supercharged M5 from Discovery Automotive

        Quote:
        Originally Posted by bbloch1114
        If you really want to do this kind of very expensive tuning and modifications, don't be an idiot like I was and convince yourself to believe what you want to believe -- instead, deal with a company with years of BMW tuning experience and a company that stands behind its products. A company like Dinan or Active Autowerke (where my car is now -- having Bill's mistakes corrected) would be fine. A one or two man show with practically no BMW tuning experience like Discovery Automotive -- never again.
        __________________
        Sorry to hear this.. could I ask a couple of q's?

        Did they do any internal engine work to this installation?

        I guess the reason why they now choose to install UUC's Stg 3 clutch kit is to overcome the issues you had on your 850' clutch system.

        Do you know if AA offer any supercharging kits for M5's? Have they said they will be able to get the 500+ RWHP figures quoted for you?
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