[CRE]

Originally Posted by Kubricks

In my case I wanted to keep my E87 hatchback because of the 4 doors.
E9x is too big for my taste, E82 is 2 doors coupe, so I can't get N54/55 variant on the platform I wanted, and that's that.

I can appreciate that. My second car is a Honda Accord... not my favorite car by a mile and many are surprised to hear that I think it's too big. It's also slow as hell.



From what I understand, and I may be wrong on some or even all of this:

V1 had the issues with the short charge/hot pipe across the lifespan of the kit. From what I've read ESS has swapped out the longer/fixed charge pipe for those who have requested it. This kit also relied on the stock fuel system which proved to be a MASSIVE bottleneck and resulted in less than stellar performance for many. I'm not sure if this kit was intended for a MAF or Alpha-N tune, but the couple owners that I know of have used either.

V2 at some point got the updated/longer charge pipe and included the M3 injectors which gave more consistent results for those who got it. I've read that a couple people with this kit got the shorter charge pipe and had to exchange it. Both V1 and V2 used the Vortech V3SI supercharger and a 120mm pulley. This kit was intended to operate using an Alpha-N tune, possibly because of the significant difference in flow rate per duty cycle of the larger injectors and issues with the ECU's trim during closed loop operation.

V3 (if that's what they decide to call it), which uses ESS' G1 supercharger, has the longer charge pipe and the M3 injectors. This kit is also intended to use an Alpha-N tune.

I have issues with a bouncing idle at tip-out. When letting off the throttle my idle will drop to around 500RPM and then slowly correct itself to around 650RPM. I haven't had any issues with stalling. I suspect this may simply be due to the impeller restricting free airflow at low RPM or causing too much turbulence.

If anyone needs it, the part number for the injectors included with my V3 (G1) kit is:
0 280 158 164 (Bosch)

The specifics of my setup: G1 supercharger, M3 injectors, 115mm pulley (to compensate for my altitude, running 5:1 gasoline/E85, AFR at WOT mid 12s, ESS' supplied Alpha-N tune. The only issue I've had was a leaking oil seal on the compressor side, they shipped me a replacement SC right away... not a big deal, it was a quick swap and they didn't require me to send the leaking unit back first.

Hopefully this info will be of use to someone.



I should also mention that if you're planning on moving the IAT sensor to a location after the supercharger that you WILL need to have the car tuned for it. Running the tune provided with the kit will most likely result in the engine pulling a ton of timing and dumping in a lot of additional fuel as the ECU sees manifold temps a good 30 to 40 degrees hotter than expected. It may even be enough to through it into limp mode which, if you haven't experienced it before, sucks.

[houbmw]

Who is actually out there enjoying their ess supercharged n52?

I have been following alll threads related to force induction since they have started. It is amazing to me that a company like ESS is still having these issues after how many years of selling the kits?

As someone on the sideline who was hopefully to one day go FI, these issues just make me stay as far away as possible. I just crossed 105,000 on my 2007 530i 6 speed and all I hear is how unreliable the vehicle will become.

Would adding the hardware for the ESS kit plus getting the car dyno tunned by someone such as Bob be a way to get the engine running and idiling smooth?

[BlueM3Wagon]

Ok. So had to take my kids to daycare this morning in my car, car died every time I come to a complete stop, no check engine light, no limp mode. I sent the log to Bob after revision 9, car still lean on immediate start up and rich when I brake 10 AFR. Also notice the STFT bounce from 30 to -30 cruising on the highway, no idea if this is normal or not don't understand short and long term fueling. He initially told me sounds like vacuum leak post MAF, I don't see anything loose but he wants to look over the log before I tear everything apart again. My wife is getting pissed how much time I've been spending uninstalling and reinstalling, ughh.

[CRE]

Originally Posted by houbmw

Who is actually out there enjoying their ess supercharged n52?

I have been following alll threads related to force induction since they have started. It is amazing to me that a company like ESS is still having these issues after how many years of selling the kits?

As someone on the sideline who was hopefully to one day go FI, these issues just make me stay as far away as possible. I just crossed 105,000 on my 2007 530i 6 speed and all I hear is how unreliable the vehicle will become.

Would adding the hardware for the ESS kit plus getting the car dyno tunned by someone such as Bob be a way to get the engine running and idiling smooth?

It seems to me that most of the people who have had trouble are running the original kit. Another Z4 owner and myself are having no issues with the newest kit using ESS' supplied tune. There is someone who has posted a few videos of his car on YouTube who is running the original kit with M3 injectors. Before adding the injectors he kept making between 280 and 290rwhp, from what I recall. After the injector upgrade he made a good deal more but I can't remember how much. His tuner had issues too but I don't remember if it was just fuel related or if there was more to it.

[Hush Paranoia]

Hey! I am pretty new here and to forums in general. I usually just lurk for answers in the shadows. I am loving my ESS G1 supercharger kit. CRE actually helped me a lot with multiple aspects of the build. I have about 750 miles on it and I love it so far. The standard 93 Octane tune is what I run along with everything the kit came with standard, minus a longer oil breather hose. This kit makes the car a lot more enjoyable. I was able to have a 430i grand coupe as a loner from the dealership for a non related job and it was so harsh riding (in any mode), slow feeling (even in sport +), and too much tech for my tastes(why the nav screen have 3 inch bezels like its 2001?). It really made me not want to upgrade honestly, and that is a good thing since I loathe car payments. Maybe I am old school because I have owned my car since 2009 and I am just partial, but the kit itself makes it a new car. I love the reaction from folks when they see / hear a supercharger under the hood and ask about the details of the install and honestly it has just received all love. It is exhilarating honestly. The one issue with it is that I would love the kit to be a lot LOUDER. The whistle is awesome at higher RPMS (say 4K+) but I do wish it was more audible. For those of you who daily drive like I do and want a car that handles as if it is a daily driver under 3K RPMS (or in non sport mode) then this is the kit for you. If you want it to feel like the car should have felt from the factory then floor it. These super charger kits make it very quick and lovable. Worth every penny of time, blood, sweat and stress over the possible screw up of my baby. This makes your car literally one of a kind and really makes me want to drive way more than I have in the past. On average I put about 7k miles a year on my car. (I had 76,xxx when I installed the S/C) But I can tell you from the sheer enjoyablity and fun factor that amount of mileage will increase.

[Hush Paranoia]

Originally Posted by houbmw

Who is actually out there enjoying their ess supercharged n52?

I have been following alll threads related to force induction since they have started. It is amazing to me that a company like ESS is still having these issues after how many years of selling the kits?

As someone on the sideline who was hopefully to one day go FI, these issues just make me stay as far away as possible. I just crossed 105,000 on my 2007 530i 6 speed and all I hear is how unreliable the vehicle will become.

Would adding the hardware for the ESS kit plus getting the car dyno tunned by someone such as Bob be a way to get the engine running and idiling smooth?

My car Idles fine!

also,

Headphone warning, please dont. For second video start it at 1:20 <3

[BlueM3Wagon]

Ok, took all the hoses apart and reconnected, Bob went through the logs and said he's not sure why I'm dying on braking; he's not had this issue before. He suspects post TB vacuum leak but I already had a smoke test done and they said it was well and sealed. I asked Bob if the MAF readings could be causing the issues; he said to unplug MAF to check if it stopped doing it. Well I went out with MAF plugged in, anytime I brake to a stop car dies, check engine light but no codes. After three times, I pulled over, unplugged the MAF and braked to stop 5 times, no dying. So I guess it is the MAF? If that's the case bad MAF or bad MAF tune? Mind you I'm still on a MAF tune and not Alpha N, hopefully he had an update before the weekend.

[Noir]

I love my v3si.
i just need to drop a newer n52 in since I'm burning oil where I make most of my boost.
trying to sell my e23 for more engine money and to buy a meth kit... bigger injectors.. all that sauce. Its definitely fun with my LSD : but it would be astronomically better when im not facing dying piston rings.

[Hush Paranoia]

Wait, did you disconnect the yellow MAF wire? In our z4s we have to disconnect it

[BlueM3Wagon]

Originally Posted by Hush Paranoia

Wait, did you disconnect the yellow MAF wire? In our z4s we have to disconnect it

Yes I originally did when we were running a mafless Alpha N tune but then Bob had me reconnect it and started a MAF tune. Not sure if we're going to go back to Alpha N or not. Right now I'm running with my MAF disconnected and it's running like a facking champ. Waiting to see what Bob says

[CRE]

Originally Posted by Michaellcoates

Yes I originally did when we were running a mafless Alpha N tune but then Bob had me reconnect it and started a MAF tune. Not sure if we're going to go back to Alpha N or not. Right now I'm running with my MAF disconnected and it's running like a facking champ. Waiting to see what Bob says

Ok, but when you say you're running MAFless, is the whole thing disconnected or is the wiring for the IAT still conected. disconnecting the yellow wire only from the MAF connector leaves the IAT signal functional. Not trying to ask the same thing a hundred times just trying to be sure of how you've got it running right now. How are your AFRs right now?

[BlueM3Wagon]

I unplugged the entire MAF connection including the IAT, when we first started tuning, I did as the ESS and Bob instructed which was the cut the yellow MAF signal since we started with Alpha N, then around revision 5 Bob told me to reconnect the MAF wire and we'd try to tune it using MAF. I had to extend and solder and I'd hate to cut it now especially if Bob wants to keep using the MAF signal.

The car runs great with it plugged in honestly better than any tune so far so maybe we're close if whatever the issues the MAF was causing is figured out

[BlueM3Wagon]

Originally Posted by CRE

Ok, but when you say you're running MAFless, is the whole thing disconnected or is the wiring for the IAT still conected. disconnecting the yellow wire only from the MAF connector leaves the IAT signal functional. Not trying to ask the same thing a hundred times just trying to be sure of how you've got it running right now. How are your AFRs right now?

Also AFRs are almost perfectly on target at idleAnd cruising.

[CRE]

I'm glad to hear it's running better. the MAF harness is very easy to remove individual pins from. No need to cut the wires at all. If you do need to disconnect the yellow wire again let me know and I'll post some pictures showing how to do it.

[BlueM3Wagon]

Originally Posted by CRE

I'm glad to hear it's running better. the MAF harness is very easy to remove individual pins from. No need to cut the wires at all. If you do need to disconnect the yellow wire again let me know and I'll post some pictures showing how to do it.

I guess I didn't think of that. It was more of a temporary thing. I did pull the pins to change the pin housing and loom harness already. You are right very easy. I guess having IAT would be good to keep in the system

[desertman123]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-BMW...-/192606317138

One of these bad boys

[Noir]

I was gonna suggest the same desertman123 ....

running the IAT sensor.
Idle can be rough when AC is off. but with AC on, its smooth.

I think I may need a tweak for my tune given my change of location.

[CRE]

I need to find a shop with a Dynojet in my area at some point. I met up with an acquaintance who owns a MR2 specialist shop and a friend of his who just bought a mustang dyno. There were a TON of hiccups trying to dyno my car including their sealevel calibration being off (just a little) and the ignition signal going crazy around 6300RPM and up. Adjusted for the differences between the mustang and dynojet I was making a fraction over 300rwhp and 270ft lb at 6300RPM and rising (but that's where we had to cut the run). Take it with a grain of salt though, as I said, things were not working right and those numbers could be a bit low or high and we couldn't measure all the way through redline.

[BlueM3Wagon]

Hey remember me? Still working out tunes. When back to MAFLess tuning. It was causing stalling issues on braking. Also had some issues after that causing stalling on reverse. Finally got those taken care of and the AFRs smooth out during throttle. Installing boost gauge and IAT relocation this weekend, both in the manifold.

[CRE]

Cool, I'm glad things are getting sorted out. Where did you decide to tap for the boost gauge? I keep thinking I'll put one in temporarily, I've got a few nice ones laying around, but I've just been very unmotivated.

[BlueM3Wagon]

Cars running terrible again.

When I flash the tune, car runs really well. Actual AFR and directly in line with commanded AFR, stable idle, smooth acceleration, no added load under braking. I notice it take 30 miles or so before the LTFT show up after I flash a tune. I chalk this up to adaption? And while the LTFT show 0.00, cars a dream. It's when they come back do I have massive amounts of issues. Friday night I stalled out while braking. I feel like the car is still getting gas when I'm braking and takes more effort to stop the car. Brakes actually squeal now when stopping. Before it stalled every time I put the car in reverse (bob said because of negative timing ">-16". He fixed that it's not stalling in reverse anymore, but when i transition from reverse to drive there is a really loud chirp.

Saturday after LTFT showed measurement the AFR went lean again while cruising under light throttle. Normally in 3rd gear (16-20 AFR when commanded is 14.7). Feels like it doesn't get gas when i press down on the pedal. Then I noticed rich on stationary idle (10.3-11.5). When I go to accelerate from a stop it accelerates hard (too much gas built up from rich idle?) then dips with no gas, and hits hard again causing the car to buck and jerk. Sunday night was the next time i drove. Again, lean cruising light throttle up to 20 AFR, rich idle down to 10.3. I noticed at one time the vacuum was hopping all around from boost 2psi to -3 vacuum, timing was -25 and I was completely stationary. I have videos of all of this as well as data logs would be happy to share them in anyone that is interested. I can't even do WOT logs because it bucks so hard under heavy acceleration it doesn't even matter. So unbelievably frustrated with the tuning process. I work from home and have a family vehicle, couldn't imagine how I'd be feeling if it was my daily that I depended on.

[hassmaschine]

Do you have headers? LTFT being that far off indicates to me a problem with the feedback loop (assuming nothing else like a vacuum leak, bad injectors, etc).

In true MAFless mode, you don't need to disconnect the MAF sensor either. It just ignores it. but the IAT is a better idea since it's so much smaller.