Portable Air Compressors

2_N54's · 04-30-2008, 05:25 AM

I am in the market for an air compressor to keep in the trunk. I was just wondering if you guys can show me ones that you could recommend to me. I've just been reading online and lots of them have reliability issues so I just wanted to know which compressors you guys use. Thanks in advance

325/528 · 04-30-2008, 07:44 AM

I initially bought one from Sam's club and tried it to air up a tire, but it really struggled and then died just getting the tire up to about 34 psi. I ended up buying one from Griot's garage and it works very well - no strange sounds or struggling. It was more expensive, but worth it.

TofuTurkey · 04-30-2008, 07:53 AM

I bought the M-mobility kit, it's got a compressor in it. I suppose I should try using it sometime to find out if it's actually working

HRC · 04-30-2008, 10:06 AM

I have the M-Mobility kit too, works well!

Danny

battlehawk1025 · 04-30-2008, 10:08 AM

i got one from pep boys, it went for like i hundred $$$ but got it for 50

on sale
but i got it like a year ago. some one told me craftsman should be coming out with one soon. but thats just what i heard

Craig@SupremePower · 04-30-2008, 10:14 AM

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...tkit/index.jsp

HRC · 04-30-2008, 10:20 AM

A few pics for you.

Danny

Craig@SupremePower · 04-30-2008, 10:36 AM

Curious Danny what's the M mobility kit sell for??

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRC

A few pics for you.

Danny

HRC · 04-30-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Curious Danny what's the M mobility kit sell for??

I think they retail for around $120 or so, not sure though...

Danny

longodj · 04-30-2008, 11:37 AM

I bought one at Sears this weekend and I plugged it in the night before an autocross and it didn't even turn over! Make sure the one you buy doesn't require too much power. I might have been doing something wrong...but just be careful

LOLrance · 04-30-2008, 11:38 AM

M Mobility Kit.

txusa03 · 04-30-2008, 12:27 PM

I got the Cyclone at PepBoys. Josh49 recommended and I bought it and had no problem using it, not too fast or too slow for $20 (I think coz it has been a while back).

link to the other discussion thread:http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=cyclone

scollins · 04-30-2008, 02:05 PM

The trick is to find one with a good CFM rating. Most of them are marketed as "250 PSI!" and everyone thinks, "Wow, that is high, it must be really fast!" But no, it is 250 PSI @ 0 CFM! That means it will get to 250 PSI, eventually, after a few days....

The Cyclone is rated at 30 liters/minute, which is roughly 1 CFM. That isn't very much, but a hell of a lot better than the cheap "250 PSI" inflators. In comparison, my 5 gallon shop compressor does 6.2 CFM @ 90 PSI.

Costco has one that is rated at 72 liters/minute (2.5 CFM) for $150 (!!) Portable compressor @ Costco

Much more expensive, but it will be considerably faster too.

txusa03 · 04-30-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scollins

The trick is to find one with a good CFM rating. Most of them are marketed as "250 PSI!" and everyone thinks, "Wow, that is high, it must be really fast!" But no, it is 250 PSI @ 0 CFM! That means it will get to 250 PSI, eventually, after a few days....

The Cyclone is rated at 30 liters/minute, which is roughly 1 CFM. That isn't very much, but a hell of a lot better than the cheap "250 PSI" inflators. In comparison, my 5 gallon shop compressor does 6.2 CFM @ 90 PSI.

Costco has one that is rated at 72 liters/minute (2.5 CFM) for $150 (!!) Portable compressor @ Costco

Much more expensive, but it will be considerably faster too.

Thanks for that bit of info which I was not aware of at time of purchase but I am very happy with my cyclone for the $ I paid and the performance I got.

scollins · 04-30-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txusa03

Thanks for that bit of info which I was not aware of at time of purchase but I am very happy with my cyclone for the $ I paid and the performance I got.

No worries. The Cyclone seems to be a pretty decent piece of kit, especially considering the price point. Sure, the one at Costco has 2.5 times more CFMs, but it also costs 5 times more! For something you hopefully won't need to use that often, does it make sense to spend the extra money? Mostly, I'd say no.

I learned about these compressors from my 4 wheeling days. There, you were lowering your air pressure before starting trails (down to 15 PSI, sometimes even 10 PSI in the snow) and then you would have to air up when done. So they got a workout, and having a slow, crappy compressor at the end of the day sucked. The hot mod was to take an A/C compressor and convert it into a air compressor. Those guys could re-seat tire beads!!

2_N54's · 04-30-2008, 04:34 PM

Thanks everyone for the informative posts! Greatly appreciated, looks like I'm be looking for the cyclone one seeing as I'll only being using it when I need it on the road.

04-30-2008, 05:25 AM	#1
2_N54's Private 3 Rep 94 Posts Drives: AW E90 and E60 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	Portable Air Compressors I am in the market for an air compressor to keep in the trunk. I was just wondering if you guys can show me ones that you could recommend to me. I've just been reading online and lots of them have reliability issues so I just wanted to know which compressors you guys use. Thanks in advance
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04-30-2008, 07:44 AM	#2
325/528 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 278 Posts Drives: pinto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: lost soul iTrader: (7)	I initially bought one from Sam's club and tried it to air up a tire, but it really struggled and then died just getting the tire up to about 34 psi. I ended up buying one from Griot's garage and it works very well - no strange sounds or struggling. It was more expensive, but worth it.
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04-30-2008, 07:53 AM	#3
TofuTurkey Gobble gobbledygook 5 Rep 287 Posts Drives: 08 335xi Coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0)	I bought the M-mobility kit, it's got a compressor in it. I suppose I should try using it sometime to find out if it's actually working
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04-30-2008, 10:06 AM	#4
HRC MAUI BUILT 485 Rep 7,781 Posts Drives: 2006 330i MT Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NORCAL iTrader: (10) Garage List 2002 E46 325i [0.00] 2012 E70 35i [0.00]	I have the M-Mobility kit too, works well! Danny __________________ Arctic/Blk Leather/Alum.Trim/MT/ZSP/Sunshades/Blk Lines/M3 Illuminated Knob/Alcantara Performance Wheel/M-E-Brake Handle/Euro Fog Switch/Koni Yellows/H&R Sport Springs/19" VMR V718's w/PS2 Tires/M-Tech Body Kit/Carbon Fiber Spoiler/Bimmian Interior Bulbs/OEM Eye Glass Tray/SSK/Alcantara Boot/Split Armrest/OEM Dual Rear Power Outlets/Rear Ashtray Delete/OEM Alum. Pedals/Osram 6000K/Brex Rings/LED Side Markers/BMS Power Box
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04-30-2008, 10:08 AM	#5
battlehawk1025 battlehawk1025 44 Rep 883 Posts Drives: 2007 335XI 6mt, SL 65 , M6 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: wilmette/chicago,IL iTrader: (4)	i got one from pep boys, it went for like i hundred $$$ but got it for 50 on sale but i got it like a year ago. some one told me craftsman should be coming out with one soon. but thats just what i heard
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04-30-2008, 10:14 AM	#6
Craig@SupremePower G.O.A.T.! 1000 Rep 74,998 Posts Drives: '18 GMC Yukon XL Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (14)	http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...tkit/index.jsp
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04-30-2008, 10:20 AM	#7
HRC MAUI BUILT 485 Rep 7,781 Posts Drives: 2006 330i MT Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NORCAL iTrader: (10) Garage List 2002 E46 325i [0.00] 2012 E70 35i [0.00]	A few pics for you. Danny __________________ Arctic/Blk Leather/Alum.Trim/MT/ZSP/Sunshades/Blk Lines/M3 Illuminated Knob/Alcantara Performance Wheel/M-E-Brake Handle/Euro Fog Switch/Koni Yellows/H&R Sport Springs/19" VMR V718's w/PS2 Tires/M-Tech Body Kit/Carbon Fiber Spoiler/Bimmian Interior Bulbs/OEM Eye Glass Tray/SSK/Alcantara Boot/Split Armrest/OEM Dual Rear Power Outlets/Rear Ashtray Delete/OEM Alum. Pedals/Osram 6000K/Brex Rings/LED Side Markers/BMS Power Box
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04-30-2008, 11:37 AM	#10
longodj Major 75 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 335xi [0.00] 1974 VW Beetle [0.00]	I bought one at Sears this weekend and I plugged it in the night before an autocross and it didn't even turn over! Make sure the one you buy doesn't require too much power. I might have been doing something wrong...but just be careful __________________ Performance: UUC Sways CDV Mod KW V3 Vorshlag plates Pagid Yellow VK OC Hotchkis Brace STETT IC/CAI Braille B2015 VK Catless DP BMS JB3 M-Tech #1 Mod: AutoX/HPDE HPDE 3 Many Thanks: **********s UUC Motorwerks VK Motorwerks HP Autowerks SOLD
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04-30-2008, 11:38 AM	#11
LOLrance The Law. 301 Rep 14,283 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SF / OC iTrader: (17)	M Mobility Kit. __________________
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04-30-2008, 12:27 PM	#12
txusa03 Major General 548 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	I got the Cyclone at PepBoys. Josh49 recommended and I bought it and had no problem using it, not too fast or too slow for $20 (I think coz it has been a while back). link to the other discussion thread:http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=cyclone __________________ under construction!
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04-30-2008, 02:05 PM	#13
scollins Bootleggin' 'n Gunrunnin' 137 Rep 2,372 Posts Drives: 2024 X3 M40i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Renton, WA iTrader: (3)	The trick is to find one with a good CFM rating. Most of them are marketed as "250 PSI!" and everyone thinks, "Wow, that is high, it must be really fast!" But no, it is 250 PSI @ 0 CFM! That means it will get to 250 PSI, eventually, after a few days.... The Cyclone is rated at 30 liters/minute, which is roughly 1 CFM. That isn't very much, but a hell of a lot better than the cheap "250 PSI" inflators. In comparison, my 5 gallon shop compressor does 6.2 CFM @ 90 PSI. Costco has one that is rated at 72 liters/minute (2.5 CFM) for $150 (!!) Portable compressor @ Costco Much more expensive, but it will be considerably faster too. __________________ Scott 2024 G01 X3 M40i, Brooklyn Grey Metallic /// 2015 F15 X5 35i, Space Gray Metallic, 99K miles /// 2013 F30 320xi, Mojave Metallic, 112k miles 2019 Ford F450 STX, Oxford White 2013 Ducati Multistrada Touring S, Red
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04-30-2008, 04:34 PM	#16
2_N54's Private 3 Rep 94 Posts Drives: AW E90 and E60 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone for the informative posts! Greatly appreciated, looks like I'm be looking for the cyclone one seeing as I'll only being using it when I need it on the road.
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