NA vs FI

[asirvr4]

Okay not starting this as which provides more power gains at the end but as a stage 1 or track/street friendly.

I want make the perfect general combo list to help me & others which route to go.

NA:
-CF airbox intake (Evolve airbox)
-cams with performance followers, valve springs and retainters (Shrick 288/280)
-exhaust headers (Fabspeed installed)
-headers section 2 (OEM or ?)
-X-pipe (OEM, RE or ??)
-catbacks (RE installed)
-4.10 final diff
-Okada plasma ignition
-Alpha-N tune (from Evolve)

FI:
Supercharge is not my taste. So turbocharging is the way.
-MaximumPSI stage 1 turbokit (includes all necessary parts)
-full exhaust system.
-Tune for our ECU MSS70 turbo application unavailable.


From the NA list I only have the headers section 1 to get rid of I decided to go turbocharging.
I am not sure if I should continue with NA or save up for FI.
I think both would come at the same price approximately.


Please say whatever you like.. Even flames accepted.

[Walkurie]

Taking the NA route, myself. In the middle of installing the OEM Euro headers and Euro cats, Evolve CSL airbox and tune right now. Thinking of the 4.10, eventually. Went with ACS cans. Not sure about cams, plasma ignition or even the Dinan throttle bodies. This is a daily driver, and need to stay within smog specs.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by tbalutis

Taking the NA route, myself. In the middle of installing the OEM Euro headers and Euro cats, Evolve CSL airbox and tune right now. Thinking of the 4.10, eventually. Went with ACS cans. Not sure about cams, plasma ignition or even the Dinan throttle bodies. This is a daily driver, and need to stay within smog specs.

How do you plan to get it through visual inspection with the Evolve CSL airbox (Not CARB legal)?

[Shipkiller]

He lives in Oman. They do not have CARB rules...

[asirvr4]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

He lives in Oman. They do not have CARB rules...

We suppose to have but we don't. So it isnt a big deal. Just have to be careful not to draw much attention.

[seank]

Prices of each mod may help others with the decision making as well as hp/tq gains for each price.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

He lives in Oman. They do not have CARB rules...

Sorry, my question was directed toward "tbalutis", who is living in CA.

[Shipkiller]

Rgr that...

[asirvr4]

Originally Posted by seank

Prices of each mod may help others with the decision making as well as hp/tq gains for each price.

Both ways will cost you about 12k approx. Turbo will gain you more hp/tq, but acceleration should be similar somehow.

[Shipkiller]

Maybe I am missing something and probably I am, but is not the turbo option just a dream since no one makes a specific kit for our cars?

Yes, you might be able to physically be able to modify an E46 kit to physically fit the Z4M but the biggest issue is DME tuning on the MSS70 DME.

Am I wrong? Is there something out there that can be used now that HorsepowerFreaks is gone and with that so is their experimental kit?

[ZStig]

A turbo kit is more like $20-$25k. No kits, all custom. Nobody has tuned our ecu for turbo yet, only standalone ecu systems $$$$

[tikamak]

If you're confused between a turbo and NA, i would say go for a supercharger system, keeps the NA curve and makes your vehicle much more powerful.

This is the route I took and everytime i park the car, my hearbeat is through the roof from excitement.

[pokeybritches]

Why are you trying to decide between a kit that doesn't exist for our cars or $12k in NA mods?

There are plenty of supercharger kits that give way more bang for the buck. If you have the money, check out the G-Power kit. I've had zero issues with mine, and it feels like an NA car with far more power.

[Steeler]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

Why are you trying to decide between a kit that doesn't exist for our cars or $12k in NA mods?

There are plenty of supercharger kits that give way more bang for the buck. If you have the money, check out the G-Power kit. I've had zero issues with mine, and it feels like an NA car with far more power.

Except the incredible music when you hit the loud pedal

[ZStig]

the sounds of supercharger sucking in air are fun too

[Bayonet]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

Why are you trying to decide between a kit that doesn't exist for our cars or $12k in NA mods?

second that......but this thread does remind me of this guys z4m
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=889263

i wonder if they ever worked out the kinks

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by dbarton62

Except the incredible music when you hit the loud pedal

Haha very true. I would say that the Vortech on the non-M sounds better than the ASA blower on the M, though it could because my M's exhaust drowns out the supercharger. The Vortech is probably the best-sounding supercharger out there.

[Rated M Roadster]

Originally Posted by Bayonet

second that......but this thread does remind me of this guys z4m
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=889263

i wonder if they ever worked out the kinks

Yes, it runs; but has a $4k stand alone ecu.

To the OP, unless you want to spend $4k, on just the ecu, in order to run a maxpsi kit (that makes very similar power on 91/93 octane as many of the higher hp SC kits that are actually available), then I would suggest just going with a SC.

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

Haha very true. I would say that the Vortech on the non-M sounds better than the ASA blower on the M, though it could because my M's exhaust drowns out the supercharger. The Vortech is probably the best-sounding supercharger out there.

It's true , they sound very cool!!!

[asirvr4]

Okay, back to this old thread.

I have made my NA vs FI options much simpler.
Already have fabspeed headers installed.

NA:
-Evolve cf airbox with alpha-N tune.
-cams with performance followers, valve springs and retainters (Shrick 288/280)
-4.10 final diff

FI:
ESS VT2-525 supercharger kit


Let's discuss cost, maintenance, acceleration, response and track driving.

[Calichase]

Why not do a vac stroker kit for the n/a build if hypothetically speaking? Not the most cost efficient method but it can allow for a small amount of power in a situation were every ounce counts

[dorifto88]

From my limited understanding, if you decide to go n/a id guesstimate that your ultimate peak HP would be around 340-350. If you look at some people's builds on m3forum those guys are peaking at 360-370. I'd no way assume a z4 can achieve those numbers however because generally speaking mod for mod we produce less power due to the ecu tuning required. If you dive into stroker kits then things would be different_ but I do not believe I have seen an m3 owner with a stoker go over 400 whp.

If you decide to go forced induction, you might have some issues to deal with depending on driving style. I know if I ever went s/c I'd need a new radiator, fuel pump, and oil cooler at the minimum. Rated made 470 whp I believe, which is nice, though I'm not sure how consistent his numbers are pull after pull. I think eas made 420 who or something like that, though again I don't know how consistent those numbers are over time. No matter what it is my impression that your car will heat soak... It's just trying to find ways to limit it