VT2-500 install/build/impressions thread

[tikamak]

Originally Posted by Beedub

no tika this was a non performance enhancing upgrade. More of a hardware upgrade on the bracket to provide more belt wrap as per the bracket setup tiago posted, and the water pump pulley which i believe over drives it more to provide better cooling.....

however I've decided I'm wasting my money tbh... neither have been an issue for me and ess made the bracket changes for the 575 spec kits which uses a very small pulley, not an issue on the 500-550 spec kits.

Im replacing pieces that have always worked and are working as they should, i need to stop always looking for the next thing and be happy with what i have.

however something new in the works... i will post update in due course. Don't want to talk about something I'm unsure on as yet.

Good move englishman.

Can you PM me the offer price and content in any case ?

[Beedub]

i PM'd

[ZStig]

other than the idle being rough for the first 10 seconds or so when I turn the car on, I've been content with the additional power that the car's making.

Second gear, 60* F temp, 275mm OLD summer tires, I can overcome the traction control system and put the car sideways about 4 feet when I punch it. hahha

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by ZStig

other than the idle being rough for the first 10 seconds or so when I turn the car on, I've been content with the additional power that the car's making.

Second gear, 60* F temp, 275mm OLD summer tires, I can overcome the traction control system and put the car sideways about 4 feet when I punch it. hahha

Has your belt slip issues stopped now since the 525 pulley went on??

[ZStig]

Originally Posted by Beedub

Has your belt slip issues stopped now since the 525 pulley went on??

I don't have the boost gauge in right now, I was going to send it in to the factory for a re-fresh of the buttons. It doesn't feel like its slipping, and more importantly, there's no belt dust last time I checked

the car still suffers from rough starts though. rpms go up and down for 20 seconds

[Beedub]

do you have any interest in the new style bracket with the additional roller??

[ZStig]

Originally Posted by Beedub

do you have any interest in the new style bracket with the additional roller??

No because now my radiator is leaking, and that cuts into funding for a part I don't need right now.

I'll be putting up my 130mm crank pulley and 3.33" supercharger pulley for sale. Hoping to budget in the Zionsville Radiator. Might as well upgrade when replacing, that's always been my motto

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s..._code/ZAR1.htm

I wonder if they truly custom make these radiators, or if its a generic one that fits perfectly, just re-branded

[ZStig]

although a stock one can be had for as little as $140...

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by ZStig

No because now my radiator is leaking, and that cuts into funding for a part I don't need right now.

I'll be putting up my 130mm crank pulley and 3.33" supercharger pulley for sale. Hoping to budget in the Zionsville Radiator. Might as well upgrade when replacing, that's always been my motto

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s..._code/ZAR1.htm

I wonder if they truly custom make these radiators, or if its a generic one that fits perfectly, just re-branded

from the conversation i had with them, they are totally custom and made by them, not outsourced. i agree with your ethos.

[ZStig]

Originally Posted by Beedub

seriously considering upgrading to that new style bracket, Ess has priced it all out for me and its not that bad BUT.... seems kinda waste of money at 500 pulley size spec which doesn't really get belt slip anyway, On the other hand, i really like the idea of the added belt wrap and should give more consistent boost figures, but... i have to be honest, never really noticed an issue with the current setup, I'm guessing its more needed when the pulley size goes down to the 575 spec.

i suppose while I'm in their i could upgrade the water pump pulley ( what does this do again from the one i have?) i i had one of the original beta 500 kits as you did i believe, But again, this has never been an issue and I've never seen the car overheat, ever or even get overly warm. Im guessing the new pulley slightly overdrives from stock maybe?

Basically not sure ill see any benefit from spending my hard earned on the above hardware upgrades from what i have now.

Not sure what to do tbh, would love your 2 cents on all the above, feel free to give brutal honestly, i need it, so .... go for it ?? or stop messing for the sake of it and enjoy??


Byron.

The "upgraded" water pump pulley is only needed if you're increasing the crankshaft pulley size. This way the water pump isn't overdriven.

You don't need a new supercharger bracket, unless you're planning to go to a smaller than spec 525 pulley.

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by ZStig

The "upgraded" water pump pulley is only needed if you're increasing the crankshaft pulley size. This way the water pump isn't overdriven.

You don't need a new supercharger bracket, unless you're planning to go to a smaller than spec 525 pulley.

well i suppose 550 spec really as the m3 used our same bracket until recently., still i get no dusting and never have done and more power isn't something i want, i managed to actually compete with the car in 2014 within my sprint scene and the car was punching well into the big boy times with nankang semi slicks holding it back, but even with those, we took 1st pretty much all season and was removed by a tuned Subaru.

Next year i plan to be back but with a much better tire... but the nankang semi slicks have been eye openingly good, but ultimately they struggle to cope, for me, the goal is to lighten as much as possible and get my suspension setup to the best it can be.

I'm enjoying using the car with all the mods and finding the limitations of the mods I've done..

ESS have released a new single piece pipe from the s/c to the intercooler, mine is a 2 pipe piece and could be better imo, this new setup is much much cleaner SADLY....ESS want 230 bucks for a pipe the length of your forearm, by the time shipping was added were talking 300 bucks for a single pipe. Total piss take imo.

[ZStig]

Since my radiator started leaking, I replaced it with a Zionsville all aluminium radiator. I'm very pleased with the upgrade. There were no fitment issues.

My oil temperatures take significantly longer to get past the first 1/4 mark. Even then, I haven't seen the stock oil temp needle creep up to the middle line. I don't have a water temp gauge, which would tell the full story though.

I'd like to thank George for his recommendation.
http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s..._code/ZAR1.htm

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by ZStig

Since my radiator started leaking, I replaced it with a Zionsville all aluminium radiator. I'm very pleased with the upgrade. There were no fitment issues.

My oil temperatures take significantly longer to get past the first 1/4 mark. Even then, I haven't seen the stock oil temp needle creep up to the middle line. I don't have a water temp gauge, which would tell the full story though.

I'd like to thank George for his recommendation.
http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s..._code/ZAR1.htm

nice. good pickup. Your modding right now days, upgrading when things break.

[ZStig]

I also noticed Dragtimes.com was missing some fast Z4M cars, so thought I'd represent!
this is from before I did the 525 upgrade. I need to come out again

http://www.dragtimes.com/BMW--Z4-M-R...ag-Racing.html

[ZStig]

My new mod. Something to drive 4 times a week, so I'm not destroying my back and repair budgets on the BMW

2003 MDX

[gmd2003]

Originally Posted by ZStig

Since my radiator started leaking, I replaced it with a Zionsville all aluminium radiator. I'm very pleased with the upgrade. There were no fitment issues.

My oil temperatures take significantly longer to get past the first 1/4 mark. Even then, I haven't seen the stock oil temp needle creep up to the middle line. I don't have a water temp gauge, which would tell the full story though.

I'd like to thank George for his recommendation.
http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s..._code/ZAR1.htm

Glad it's working out for you ! Can't wait to get my car back together , my custom Carrillo rods are taking forever and delayed my build .

[ZStig]

I gotta sell my VT2-500 spec crank and supercharger pulley, its just laying around.

[tikamak]

Originally Posted by ZStig

I gotta sell my VT2-500 spec crank and supercharger pulley, its just laying around.

Did you upgrade to the 525 spec?

what are your measurements of the crank and supercharger pulley?
I can try to help you find someone to buy them

[badhbtz]

Originally Posted by tikamak

Did you upgrade to the 525 spec?

what are your measurements of the crank and supercharger pulley?
I can try to help you find someone to buy them

I can measure them and take pics.. I have them on the new version..

Now how to get the old one off!??!?!??


LOL

[badhbtz]

Originally Posted by ZStig

The "upgraded" water pump pulley is only needed if you're increasing the crankshaft pulley size. This way the water pump isn't overdriven.

You don't need a new supercharger bracket, unless you're planning to go to a smaller than spec 525 pulley.

Did you not replace your crank pulley with the provided one from ESS? Did you stick with stock?

[ZStig]

Originally Posted by badhbtz

Did you not replace your crank pulley with the provided one from ESS? Did you stick with stock?

Of course I didn't use a stock crank pulley, its too small. I don't remember the size man, sorry.

There are bolts that go around the perimiter that need to come off. I dont have my car with me, its in the shop as always getting fixed for stuff

[ZStig]

Jumped back on here to see how this old thread is doing. Here's my post summary:

The car was unreliable, didn't put the power down well in the first 2 gears, and ran a low trap speed in the quarter mile in South Florida heat. Wasn't worth the cost, and it sold for only $17k

If I did this all over again, I would have kept it an NA build with a CSL intake and alpha N tune, headers, carbon buckets, lightweight wheels, battery. Maybe custom e85 conversion if there's tuning for it for some extra torque. Building it to keep up with a Viper in the quarter mile was a futile effort.