Feeler: VF Engineering Supercharger for 2003-2005 Z4 3.0i

[pokeybritches]

BIMMERPOST / Classifieds

Asking Price:

None

Item Interest

Feeler: VF Engineering Supercharger for 2003-2005 Z4 3.0i

The purpose of this feeler is to gauge interest in my VF Engineering 3.0i kit. The car runs very well, but I’m considering a move in a different direction since I have two other Z4’s with centrifugal superchargers. The earliest I will be making the swap is summer of 2015. At that time, I will start with the highest offer on this thread and work my way down the list of interested parties.

The kit retails for $4500. The blower alone is $2380 + $300 for the stealth black finish. I’m asking $3100 including extras. The buyer will be responsible for shipping and sourcing a tune, whether through VF or a third party. I will purchase any parts I need to revert to stock, so the buyer of the kit can sell his OEM airbox / injectors / parts to recoup some of the cost of the supercharger.

http://vf-engineering.com/z4-2003-06/

http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/page.php?id=30147

The car made 285 wheel horsepower (~348 bhp with an 18% correction factor) with the early VF tune and Supersprint exhaust. The tune has since been revised to produce even more power. I confirmed proper AFR with my AEM failsafe wideband (shown in the video).

No expense was spared in the maintenance of this kit. I recently had SAE-rated bearings and seals installed by 928 Motorsports (http://www.928motorsports.com/servic...ch_rebuild.php) at a cost of over $1k (supercharger removal + shipping + rebuild). Other than the standard 7500 mile oil changes, the blower shouldn’t need anything for a very long time.

Extras included in the asking price:
- Tial QR ($250) with custom adapter (several hours shop labor), original Bosch BPV included
- Custom VF boost gauge by SpeedHut ($190)
- VF flash cable ($350).

Custom VF boost gauge (pod and remaining gauges not included)




Let me know if you’re interested!

[badhbtz]

Dammit !!

I need one for the Z4M!!!

GLWS!

Whoop Whoop

[Steeler]

Not liking your AFR's Josh

GLWS

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by dbarton62

Not liking your AFR's Josh

GLWS

Haha, I still need to wire up the AFR on the pod. Hoping for warmer weather this week!

[pyo]

So tempting....and I'm local too....

[Steeler]

Originally Posted by pyo

So tempting....and I'm local too....

Do it you won't be sorry

[pokeybritches]

I plan to do the swap at a shop within a few hours. It could make for a simple side-by-side removal and install!

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by pyo

So tempting....and I'm local too....

Let me know!

By the way, I'm open to giving a test ride.

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by dbarton62

Do it you won't be sorry

Yup!! The only reason I'm considering the move is to change things up. The kit will put you into M territory... with supporting mods, you will smoke a stock M.

[pokeybritches]

Bump

[PrinceMiro]

Please take this post down lol I've looked at it a million times. I want to pull the trigger so badly, but I can't. This is torture!!!!!!

GLWS man

[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

I plan to do the swap at a shop within a few hours. It could make for a simple side-by-side removal and install!

What did you swap? Back to stock or "another direction"?

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by PrinceMiro

Please take this post down lol I've looked at it a million times. I want to pull the trigger so badly, but I can't. This is torture!!!!!!

GLWS man

FWIW, I'm thinking about doing the swap at MaxPSI lol.

If I'm remembering correctly, you have ZHP cams, which will give you even more power. Sorry to make things difficult!

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by Twixboy

What did you swap? Back to stock or "another direction"?

I'm thinking of going turbo or twin screw. As awesome as this kit is, it's pretty much what I have already with my other centrifugal setups. In the interest of full disclosure, I just bought a very expensive set of wheels, so I'm not looking to make the change right away.

[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

I'm thinking of going turbo or twin screw. As awesome as this kit is, it's pretty much what I have already with my other centrifugal setups. In the interest of full disclosure, I just bought a very expensive set of wheels, so I'm not looking to make the change right away.

Oh, woops! I read "I plan to do the swap at a shop within a few hours. It could make for a simple side-by-side removal and install!" and thought you were going into the shop to do the swap in a few hours (on 3/5) lol. This must be a very specific shop you're thinking of. I haven't read about anyone being successful at getting the ECU tuned to work smoothly with the Technique Tuning turbo kit. But maybe that's why you want to try, right?

Also, just curious why you want to put a twin screw on the M54 if you already have a better version running in your Z4M?

[pokeybritches]

While I could only hope to ever get about 360 whp with a full TS2+ setup (my ESS Z4M will have 430-440 whp after my new mods go on), it would give me more bottom end than either of the M's. I have no intention of ever selling the car. I'm looking for something with different sound and power delivery. I've narrowed it down to three paths:

1. TS1 in the next few months, and then upgrade to the TS2+ later (probably next year). This is the most appealing option at the moment, because I can get 75% of the power for 25% of the total cost increase of moving to a TS2+ setup. The increase in bottom end may overwhelm the 3.64 final drive I have in the car now. To go straight to the TS2+ would probably cause me to revert back to the stock diff until I can scrape up the funds to get a LSD in either a 3.38 or 3.46. I have spent $$$ and a lot of effort gathering up the correct exhaust parts to support a supercharger. With a turbo, most of those would be replaced and sold. I've heard you have to ship the manifold back to ESS to have the laminova cores installed, which would be some rework. But the car's lifetime is limited, and I'd like to enjoy it with the TS setup for an extra year or two by going TS1 now. I'm thinking it would cost me $3500 if I sold the VF setup at my asking price (which is actually very reasonable considering the upgrades). Who knows, maybe a TS1 is all I need (yeah right!)

2. Wait and do everything all at once for the TS2+, going straight to cams and diff swap. This would be cheaper in the long run, unless I chose the incorrect final drive. I've never driven a twin screw setup, so I don't know what ratio would be ideal. I'm 99% certain an open 3.64 final drive would frustrate me with wheelspin.

3. Go for the turbo. No one has done this. If I was able to unload my exhaust components, this actually could cost me about as much as the TS1. If the torque is too much, I could dial down the boost. The cons are that the car won't be as smooth as stock (single O2 conversion), and who knows how many parts would be fabricated or how much retuning would be required. Turbo lag is minimal with the TT turbo, but it will never match the response of a TS setup, especially at 2-3k rpm. Fortunately I already have a good quote from a shop to do the conversion, and they work closely with the developer of the kit. There is that draw of being the first turbo M54 Z4...

[pokeybritches]

Bottom line though, the VF kit is an excellent supercharger setup that won't leave you disappointed, especially for the price. The options I was talking about are big $$$. Some of us just want to have a car that will show an M its tail lights, and this kit will do it for you, especially with some supporting mods.

[torchmedia]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

But the car's lifetime is limited, and I'd like to enjoy it with the TS setup for an extra year or two by going TS1 now.

How do you mean? Just general parts availability?

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

I've never driven a twin screw setup, so I don't know what ratio would be ideal. I'm 99% certain an open 3.64 final drive would frustrate me with wheelspin.

Both of my Cobra's were twin screw setups, it creates an entirely different type of monster (which is awesome). Will bring instant fear to the heart of your un-expecting passenger I know I'm talking about a completely different drivetrain, but mustang guys mostly seem to end up with a final drive of 3.73 as a good balance between street & highway application. 4.10's scream on the highway, 3.55's too sluggish on the street.

[pokeybritches]

I'm very jealous of the Cobras. I intend to build one at some point, though that dream is at least a decade away.

I'm with you that the boost buildup is completely different between a twin screw and centrifugal. The centri is lots of fun (accelerates like a high speed roller coaster) and puts down about as much peak power as the TS1 (they are within 1 psi max boost), but the TS has the bottom end of a V8. All that bottom end comes at a price, and it's almost twice as expensive as the centri setup I have up for sale

[pokeybritches]

Bump. $2800 without the extras.

[007M]

Hey Pokey,

Are you looking to sell the pod and other gauges at all?

Thanks,
GT

[pokeybritches]

I'm not looking to part them out at this time. Sorry

I'm talking with Frank Smith's shop about bumping up the boost and adding WMI, and if the quote comes back satisfactory, I'll be taking this kit off the market.