[cupertinosteve]

While we all wait in anticipation for FBIS' Single Turbo Review, I thought I would offer my thoughts on my Single Turbo experience.

Background Info:
- I've been a 335 owner for about 2 and half years
- Driven 30+ HPDEs in heavily modified EVOs and Subies
- Currently alternating between 2 different e90 335s (2007 – FBO+meth+M3_suspension, 2008 – Single Turbo)
- Driven an FBO+Meth car for about 2 years
- Fastest 1/4 mile – 11.538@118.673mph (http://www.dragtimes.com/BMW-335i-Timeslip-23492.html) - with FBO+meth car
- 600+ miles driven on the Single Turbo (2 full tanks of 91 octane)

Car Details (Single Turbo)
- 2008 E90 335 6AT (27000+ miles)
- Vishnu/FFTEC Single Turbo Kit (58mm/Ceramic/BB turbo, 3.5bar, Y-downpipe, Recirc. Wastegate)
- Vishnu Procede Rev.3
- Vishnu PWM Meth Kit (1 gallon trunk mounted)
- Helix Stepped Intercooler
- Forge Diverter Valves
- AE Catless Exhaust
- 235x40x18" Hankook Front Tires
- 275x45x17" MT ET Rear Tires (Kosei K-1)
- (stock) BMW Sport Suspension

Overall Experience - I've been driving this car around for the past 2 weeks and I absolutely love it. I'm glad I waited a while before writing anything to let the "overwhelming shock" wear off a bit. The car is absolute joy to drive. I literally can't wait to go to work, so I can drive the car. I've woken up at 3am in the morning dreaming of the car, then go take the car out for a spin (its only happen once, wife says I have a problem). The car sounds so differently now, it the combination of the subtle whine of the turbo when just puttering around the neighborhood, to the sexy siren scream when you're opening up on the highway.

Acceleration – This is the real reason why I got a Single Turbo, hammering on the highway, merging with a vengeance. I'll be honest, after getting the keys the first time and taking it on the freeway, I was a little scared. I felt that car was "stupid fast", "stupid" meaning that there is no good reason to have this much power so quickly on tap. I've had 500+ HP EVOs and Subies in the past, this is just in a different beast. Coming from an FBO+meth car and having driven an ASR+FBO+meth car, there is that mid-ranged punch that really makes you catch your breath … but by 5000-ish RPM you can feel the taper and falloff in power, you can catch your breath. This is NOT the case with the Single Turbo, that mid-range rush you get goes all the way to redline, there is NO place to catch your breath and then you upshift into the next gear and do the same thing again. After two weeks, I'm starting to get use to this sensation, but I'm finding myself in triple-digit land more often than I should be in public. I honestly can't imagine driving a 6MT with 1000 more RPM and another 100WHP in that range.

Throttle Response – DS cruise can usually sits around 2600 RPM and if you romp on it, you'll have full boost in a few hundred RPM, there is a fraction of a second to load up and then you're off – it doesn't feel that much slower responding than FBO. When I'm in Manual mode, I find that keeping the car at 2900 RPM (just a hair under the 3K marker), its ready to pounce whenever you need it. You can hear the turbo spooling when you're not building any boost, I found the sound "comforting", telling me "I'm ready, when you're ready".

Performance - I haven't had time to get back to the track — so sorry no numbers. I can tell you that I'm building a lot more boost while brake boosting than I did with my FBO. My FBO setup could build 5-7 PSI, while the Single Turbo could build at least 10PSI. I'm tot sure if it can build any more boost, I gave up trying since its more than enough to melt an M2 launch on 275x45x17 MT ET tires.

Daily Drivability – The car is an absolute joy to drive. While in commuter traffic, its just like sitting in traffic with a stock car. In my previous heavily modified / high_HP cars, it wasn't the case … there was rough idling, idle drone, gutlessness acceleration at idle speeds. I don't feel there was any sacrifice in this area.

Gas Milage - just cruising around back and forth to work, it didn't seem that different than a stock 335. I took a 1/4 tank cruise on the highway and was able to get 28.7 MPG. If you're constantly beating on the car, it'll gas, but not that different than my FBO+meth car and not nearly as bad as my Evo at Thunderhill – 4 MPG. I think the reason why the milage isn't so different than FBO+meth is that I was picking up speed so quickly, I was off the accelerator sooner than before.

Meth Usage – With my 4 meth nozzles (2 in each intercooler end-tanks) I used 3/4 gallon over 2 full tanks of gas. That's with a bunch of sustained 2-3-4 gear runs. I thought I would not be able to get a tank of gas for each tank of meth, so its not nearly as thirsty as I thought it would be. I'm may consider putting that 5 gallon baffled setup, but I really like having all that empty trunk space. And worst case scenario when you run out – just go to Map 1 and just have 500WHP on 91 octane. I'm not going to cry about that possibility.

Engine Temps – I noticed that the engine temps are running about 10-15 degrees cooler than my FBO setup. Now there is probably some car-to-car variance here, but I think there is something else going on here … possibly less back-pressure, who knows, I just noticed there was a noticeable difference here.

Comments on some of the "other" comments:
- "You need serious suspension upgrade" - I think its critical if you're tracking your car, but if you're just on the street, it won't really help you that much due to lack of grip due to surface conditions.
- "You need a LSD" - yes you "should" get this, if you're serious enough for a single turbo, you're going to want to be able to use some of its power in M2 mode.
- "Its laggy" - nope not really an issue. I'll concede that it may be 200-300 rpm "laggier", but then you really you quickly blow threw range and on to more power.
- "Its not much more powerful than FBO or RB/ASR upgrade" - I've gotten to drive an ASR turbo car and its a nice improvement to an FBO setup, but I would say that its not really comparable. Where the key difference is not only at peak power, but where it makes the power. After that initial midranges punch, there is a tapering in power after 5000 rpm … the single turbo does not have that taper. That punch lasts all the way to redline.
"The transmission is going to melt …" - I feel that things tend to brake at launch vs. in the middle or top of a gear. That being said, staying in M2 and giving a progressive torque curve vs. the FBO torque spike may be better for the transmission long term. I guess time will tell, but I haven't notice any slip at launch or at shift.
- Any other comments you want me to comment on? I'll be as honest as I can.

Conclusion:
- I really can't say enough about the sound of the this turbo kit. Its absolutely intoxicating.
- It took me a little time to get used to the discharge sound, my current Forge DVs are dumping to open air. In the FBO setup, its plumbed back into the intake, so it was really quiet. Its not like those vent-to-atmosphere BOVs on some annoying import, it sounds nice.
- I don't really drive like a dyno, no matter what I think … I can't quite find a way to describe orquantify it, but the car feels better than the dyno plot would indicate.

When I get a chance, I'll try and post the following:
- video (tach, speedo and boost) of a romp on 2nd gear, 2-3 shift, up to the top of 3rd
- video/audio – inside the cabin of the turbo sounds

Let me know if you have any questions or requests.

(not responsible for any typos or grammar)

(Edited)

A great big thanks goes out to Shiv and the FFTEC guys. It was one my best experiences i've had modifying at the bleeding edge. Thanks for the great communication and advice ... and patience at all my questions and last minute changes.

For those who are considering a single turbo upgrade - please consider going to FFTEC or shipping your car out there. Its not that expensive and you'll know you'll be taken care of.

[guru_method]

Sounds good! Enjoy it!

[nafoo]

Request: Take it to a drag strip! I want to see low 10s

[MDORPHN]

Good write-up

Neil

[MikeB@fftec]

Great review Steve! It sounds like you're having a good time out there.

[idrift4wd]

Sick write up, im sure the kits was worth every penny.

[Elliott@DetailAddict]

Were you by any chance Stevo8 on the Evo forums?
And great write up

[cupertinosteve]

mikeb@fftec - Thanks. I'm sorry, I forgot to mention the amazing service I got from you and the other guys. Thank you for making this such a great experience ... i'll update my post.

@grant@detailaddict - nope, that wasn't me. I was "cupertinosteve" at those forums too.

[Elliott@DetailAddict]

oh ok. I was CasperIXSE on norcal and caspersytfu on Empire.
Glad to see you have a new crazy beast.

[F80M]

Great review. One request please? Can I drive your car?

[onesuperboi]

"When I'm in M mode, I find that keeping the car at 2900 RPM (just a hair under the 3K marker), its ready to pounce whenever you need it."

What do you mean M mode? In a 335i?

[cskelly]

Originally Posted by onesuperboi

"When I'm in M mode, I find that keeping the car at 2900 RPM (just a hair under the 3K marker), its ready to pounce whenever you need it."

What do you mean M mode? In a 335i?

I would assume he means manual mode.

[turugara]

Great write up! What I would do for a ride in that car.

[plague]

nice write. someone pleeeaassee post a video

[Tranic335i]

Nice! Must be one crazy ride.

[Sniz]

very nice review, having a turbo that is capable of the cfm your requesting really makes a world of difference.

I laugh at the lag comments but then i realize on an auto its more of an issue as you are not always in control. Glad to hear the gearing is fitting to this singles onset of boost.

[onesuperboi]

Originally Posted by cskelly

I would assume he means manual mode.

"DS cruise can usually sits around 2600 RPM and if you romp on it, you'll have full boost in a few hundred RPM, there is a fraction of a second to load up and then you're off – it doesn't feel that much slower responding than FBO. When I'm in M mode, I find that keeping the car at 2900 RPM (just a hair under the 3K marker), its ready to pounce whenever you need it."

I know D mode is regular, and DS is the sport mode. D mode I am below 2K most of the time, and with DS I'm in the 2500 RPM range.

Just want to know if there is something that I'm missing like a PROcede feature. IIRC, I read somewhere that Shiv was able to rev the auto tran 7900 RPM.

[son_of_siggy]

Don't think you're missing anything. There is D, DS, and M, where you tap the paddles or shifter. Not sure what you think you are missing.

[OpenFlash]

Originally Posted by son_of_siggy

Don't think you're missing anything. There is D, DS, and M, where you tap the paddles or shifter. Not sure what you think you are missing.

+1

In this case, M mode stands for manual mode.

[venom3469]

Nice write up, I cant wait to see some videos of this beast!

[cupertinosteve]

Originally Posted by onesuperboi

"When I'm in M mode, I find that keeping the car at 2900 RPM (just a hair under the 3K marker), its ready to pounce whenever you need it."

What do you mean M mode? In a 335i?

yeah, I meant "manual" mode ... i corrected my initial post.

[cupertinosteve]

Originally Posted by Sniz

very nice review, having a turbo that is capable of the cfm your requesting really makes a world of difference.

I laugh at the lag comments but then i realize on an auto its more of an issue as you are not always in control. Glad to hear the gearing is fitting to this singles onset of boost.

Thanks Sniz.

I think most folks forget that 1 PSI of pressure is not the same between different turbo types.

I would highly recommend those with a 6AT to go with a 58mm setup ... I don't think there is any difference in peak power (since we don't have the revs) and you get even better boost response. I should be able to confirm this after SIKH335 and I trade cars for a little bit.