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      01-11-2015, 01:09 PM   #1
Calichase
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Vf 570-m3 vs z4m

I have been given the opportunity to purchase a used m3 vf 570 that was bought new in late 2014. It has less then 4k miles on it currently, and was maintained phenomenally. The kit also has been slightly modified, adding methanol spray and a larger frozenboost heat exchanger. The kit was tuned by Frank smith at ttfs and made 526 rwhp and 359 ft lbs on just 93 on a dyno jet at 11psi on stock pullies. I obviously don't expect anything close to these numbers because of tuning, but it is good to see that this kit can perform well and up to its expectations.

Now my question is, what would I have to purchase that is vehicle specific to the z4m? In addition to the $1000 tune i would have to get.

Hopefully someone can shed some light on this topic.

Thanks!
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      01-11-2015, 01:52 PM   #2
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id look at beedubs threads for some insight as to what he did to his ess kit (yes i know its a different kit) but there are some interesting things, like using an e46 power steering reservoir hose. im sure you have tried to email vf though, as they would have more insight, but if you also look at ratedm's old for sale thread i think he mentions briefly compatibility between the e46 and e85/86
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      01-12-2015, 02:00 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Calichase View Post
I have been given the opportunity to purchase a used m3 vf 570 that was bought new in late 2014. It has less then 4k miles on it currently, and was maintained phenomenally. The kit also has been slightly modified, adding methanol spray and a larger frozenboost heat exchanger. The kit was tuned by Frank smith at ttfs and made 526 rwhp and 359 ft lbs on just 93 on a dyno jet at 11psi on stock pullies. I obviously don't expect anything close to these numbers because of tuning, but it is good to see that this kit can perform well and up to its expectations.

Now my question is, what would I have to purchase that is vehicle specific to the z4m? In addition to the $1000 tune i would have to get.

Hopefully someone can shed some light on this topic.

Thanks!
The best place to look for information is with VF.

If you don't get the exact the information, 1 year later you will be fed up and ready to take a hit and sell the kit and the car.
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      01-12-2015, 11:44 AM   #4
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No one can answer your question besides a handful of vendors - VF themselves and maybe EAS or MaxPSI.

Buy a new VF kit, then have Frank tune it. That's your best bet. Rated M was the only forum member claiming to have a well running kit on the VF tune.
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      01-12-2015, 12:45 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tikamak
Quote:
Originally Posted by Calichase View Post
I have been given the opportunity to purchase a used m3 vf 570 that was bought new in late 2014. It has less then 4k miles on it currently, and was maintained phenomenally. The kit also has been slightly modified, adding methanol spray and a larger frozenboost heat exchanger. The kit was tuned by Frank smith at ttfs and made 526 rwhp and 359 ft lbs on just 93 on a dyno jet at 11psi on stock pullies. I obviously don't expect anything close to these numbers because of tuning, but it is good to see that this kit can perform well and up to its expectations.

Now my question is, what would I have to purchase that is vehicle specific to the z4m? In addition to the $1000 tune i would have to get.

Hopefully someone can shed some light on this topic.

Thanks!
The best place to look for information is with VF.

If you don't get the exact the information, 1 year later you will be fed up and ready to take a hit and sell the kit and the car.
To be honest I didnt want to contact vf directly for this reason. I liked the idea of buying a kit used from someone that had success, and staying away from vf. I suppose I could contact a vendor like eas as stated.
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      01-12-2015, 02:28 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Calichase View Post
To be honest I didnt want to contact vf directly for this reason. I liked the idea of buying a kit used from someone that had success, and staying away from vf. I suppose I could contact a vendor like eas as stated.
If you really want to do yourself good go buy a G power kit.
That's what i would do if i had to do it all over.

Make sure you have enough funds for suspension and brakes as well as an LSD
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      01-14-2015, 07:53 PM   #7
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I just wanted to chime in my .02 on VF so far.

I'm the lucky guy who recently purchased ratedm's VF570 kit, so I needed to order a hex cable, some extra parts, tune, etc.

Their website support chat was super friendly and responsive. The guy in chat emailed me the install instructions I asked for immediately.

When I sent in my purchase docs today for the parts needed, I got a friendly call back from Shawn within several hours who was also very nice and helpful.

I'm sure this is only the beginning of my interactions with VF, but they have definitely started off on a good note.

Looking forward to my install this winter!
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      01-15-2015, 08:58 PM   #8
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Don't mind me, I'm just lurking around
I have my biases AGAINST VF, so I'll stay silent and watch the massacre unfold on its own
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      01-15-2015, 09:02 PM   #9
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lol. Sorry to stir up feelings guys. I have done my research and with my available resources, aka Frank Smith nearby, I would prefer the vf. Many of you have provided me with great information, whether this thread or others or through pms, and I will make which ever situation I choose to work best. Sure you could make the argument that it may not be the best for everyone, or the cheapest, or the fastest or whatever. But is modifying a car really the wisest decision? Usually no! But that's not why most of us do it.

I have checked into a few of the vendors and vf got back to me with a list of parts that are different among the m3 and z4m. However I think I will pass on this opportunity until atleast next year, if not the year after that. I May sound foolish but I do not want to become even power hungry and have no options. I would like to Enjoy what I have now and then in a year or two explore my options again when I am potentially in need for more power. In the mean time I can enjoy the car! However it will be a few months with this weather.
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      01-16-2015, 08:10 AM   #10
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Smart decision!
Honestly, if I were to do it all over again, I'd keep the car relatively stock. Maybe just do transmission, suspension, wheels/tires, catback, differential, and a custom tune by Frank.
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      01-16-2015, 08:43 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mfanatic325 View Post
Smart decision!
Honestly, if I were to do it all over again, I'd keep the car relatively stock. Maybe just do transmission, suspension, wheels/tires, catback, differential, and a custom tune by Frank.
What's your reasoning for preferring to keep it relatively stock?
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      01-16-2015, 12:38 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mfanatic325
Smart decision!
Honestly, if I were to do it all over again, I'd keep the car relatively stock. Maybe just do transmission, suspension, wheels/tires, catback, differential, and a custom tune by Frank.
I have all of that plus headers and dkf now, except for franks catless tune which will be coming in the spring. Interesting you say that though
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      01-16-2015, 02:07 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mfanatic325 View Post
Smart decision!
Honestly, if I were to do it all over again, I'd keep the car relatively stock. Maybe just do transmission, suspension, wheels/tires, catback, differential, and a custom tune by Frank.
Lon, you just need a trouble-free kit. Come out to the east coast some time!
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      01-16-2015, 02:28 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David70 View Post
What's your reasoning for preferring to keep it relatively stock?
Pretty sure it's because his kit never worked right, and the developers themselves weren't able to correct it. The increase in power wasn't worth the loss in driveability. He was kinda left out to dry. And all of that came at a huge $$ cost and headache. Alpha N tunes are a lot more finicky and require a higher level of skill to be successful. You lose the MAF sensor, so the tune determines load via throttle plate position (alpha) and rpm (n). Every condition and parameter has to be programmed into maps, since adaptability is compromised. Large hardware changes (like headers) require a retune of all of those maps. If a tuner doesn't take the time or have the skill set to make adjustments, you end up with a car that runs like crap.

ESS has had their own issues in the past, where they required Euro headers only due to minor differences in O2 sensor location. I got my SS V1 stepped headers at a ridiculously cheap $450 with modifications to fit the Z4M already made, because they threw a CEL on the previous owner's car with his ESS tune. IphoneEngineer (I believe)had a CEL with AA headers and ESS VT2-500 tune. They may have fixed the problem now, but the point remains that Alpha-N is difficult to do, and FI requires Alpha-N.
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      01-17-2015, 06:51 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pokeybritches View Post
Pretty sure it's because his kit never worked right, and the developers themselves weren't able to correct it. The increase in power wasn't worth the loss in driveability. He was kinda left out to dry. And all of that came at a huge $$ cost and headache. Alpha N tunes are a lot more finicky and require a higher level of skill to be successful. You lose the MAF sensor, so the tune determines load via throttle plate position (alpha) and rpm (n). Every condition and parameter has to be programmed into maps, since adaptability is compromised. Large hardware changes (like headers) require a retune of all of those maps. If a tuner doesn't take the time or have the skill set to make adjustments, you end up with a car that runs like crap.

ESS has had their own issues in the past, where they required Euro headers only due to minor differences in O2 sensor location. I got my SS V1 stepped headers at a ridiculously cheap $450 with modifications to fit the Z4M already made, because they threw a CEL on the previous owner's car with his ESS tune. IphoneEngineer (I believe)had a CEL with AA headers and ESS VT2-500 tune. They may have fixed the problem now, but the point remains that Alpha-N is difficult to do, and FI requires Alpha-N.
pretty much nailed it.
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      01-17-2015, 01:36 PM   #16
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Josh knows me so well



But yeah, pretty much all the hassle and costs didn't make it worth it for me personally. It was mostly VF's fault, leading me on to thinking that they could take care of me. But after multiple attempts, and thousands of dollars spent, I finally learned that I should have just gone with Frank in the first place.
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      01-17-2015, 09:26 PM   #17
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ive driven cars with 700hp, and i'm very content with my NA m coupe. these cars are monsters and mountain carvers with a bbk, headers, tune, suspension! and did i mention reliable? i just drive it and do regular maintenance
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      01-25-2015, 10:44 AM   #18
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I have a kit with less than 1K miles on it for sale. PM if you are still looking for a kit.
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      01-26-2015, 11:41 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubsesd View Post
ive driven cars with 700hp, and i'm very content with my NA m coupe. these cars are monsters and mountain carvers with a bbk, headers, tune, suspension! and did i mention reliable? i just drive it and do regular maintenance
Agreed, minus the bbk bit. For a canyon carver that doesn't see the track a bbk is merely an aesthetic mod for big $$$. The stock ZCP brakes are MORE than enough for canyon/mountain drives.
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