Anyone here S/C the 318's???

[DougZ]

I see that a lot of people on this board have S/C'd their sixes, but has anyone done with the four bangers? I know a lot of people say save the money, and get the car with the bigger motor...but that is not always a possability. I only know of one company that makes a S/C for the 318's, and that is Downing Atlanta. The cost on that kit is about $3500. Not too bad to get up to 50% more horsepower out of that little motor. I have also seen that a lot of the kits made for the sixes are regular vortech superchargers, and the same duct work that I used to make my own CAI. Is anyone on this board knowledgeable enough to figure out how to make a S/C set up just by buying the blower and hooking up the accessories?? I now a guy that could fabricate whatever hardware I would need to mount the thing, but the fuel pressure requirements, and computer tuning is what I don't know about.

Any ideas about rigging one up...or any other company that makes one for the 318's. I have the 1.9 L.

Thanks for any information.

[Austin]

I heard rumors that a company use to make a "whipple" blower for the 318 and it had full boost at around 1500rpm which made it great.

[Shawn Fogg]

"I heard rumors that a company use to make a "whipple" blower for the 318 and it had full boost at around 1500rpm which made it great."

BEGI used the Lysolm screw in their kit for the M44 but I believe they sold the kit to another company which went out of buisness. It didn't have full boost at 1500 though, it was more like 2-3 psi around there. A Z3 friend of mine has the BEGI and from dynos the Downing/Atlanta kit (Eaton roots style) actually had more low end torque then the BEGI.

Shawn

[DougZ]

Shawn: Do you have anything on your Z3 yet?? I am going to put something on my 318ti sooner or later, but I do not want to spend more than I actually need to. As of right now, the Downing Atlanta S/C is the only one on the market for the 1.9L four cylinder right now.

Your "Fogged Airbox' is still working great on my car by the way. Thanks.

[Stockman]

Originally posted by DougZ
I know a lot of people say save the money, and get the car with the bigger motor...but that is not always a possability.

May not want to hear it but I am going to agree with saving your money..

I just totalled a 318.. insurance is giving me back more then how much I am paying for a 1 year older 328

I would say to sell your 318 and add the money from the SC to get a better car

[Shawn Fogg]

Doug,

"Do you have anything on your Z3 yet??"

Nope, it is totally stock. :)

" the Downing Atlanta S/C is the only one on the market for the 1.9L four cylinder right now. "

There is the Mossleman turbo too but I don't know of anyone running one.

See:

http://ackthud.com/shawnfogg/

for some details on the D/A and so on.

"Your "Fogged Airbox' is still working great on my car by the way. Thanks."

Your welcome, have fun with it!

Shawn

[DougZ]

Shawn: on whose car is the S/C on your page installed?? is it a Z3 or a 318ti??

[Shawn Fogg]

"on whose car is the S/C on your page installed?? is it a Z3 or a 318ti??"

Mine... I was kidding about it being totally stock.

Shawn

I know a company that has a Downing-Atlanta setup for the 318 sitting on a shelf that was almost completely installed and then removed because the customer backed out. I can find out what they will take for it or give you the link to their site so you can deal with it.

[Austin]

Any info on the blower forsale ??

Rhine West (http://www.rhinewest.com/)

Ask for David (the owner) Tell him Rick Tames sent you.

[Stylin]

Stealth from DTM has a D/A SC on his Ti.. Acutally we just had a Menlo meet this past Sat. Seth's car is looking very nice recently. Definitely one of the nicest Tis around. His car has been very reliable from what I know plus that lil thing moves.

[Beau]

Most likely it's the same unit BEGI used in the old Miata setups, a bit oversized for the application you're talking about. Do you have an Eaton M45? The Autorotor compressor flows more air.

On my old 1.8 liter Miata set at an intercooled 10 psi it made 4 psi right off idle, 8 psi at 2k, and 10 psi by 3.5k... very similar boost/power profile to a car running an intercooled Eaton at 8 psi - of course with more boost and power.

BTW, here's a recent dyno plot of an Autorotor on a 1.8 liter Miata at 11 psi. Engine unopened, with Haltech. 252 hp to the wheels.

http://home.networkone.net/~mark/rotor_dyno2.jpg


- Beau


Originally posted by Shawn Fogg
"I heard rumors that a company use to make a "whipple" blower for the 318 and it had full boost at around 1500rpm which made it great."

BEGI used the Lysolm screw in their kit for the M44 but I believe they sold the kit to another company which went out of buisness. It didn't have full boost at 1500 though, it was more like 2-3 psi around there. A Z3 friend of mine has the BEGI and from dynos the Downing/Atlanta kit (Eaton roots style) actually had more low end torque then the BEGI.

Shawn

[Shawn Fogg]

"Do you have an Eaton M45? The Autorotor compressor flows more air. "

No, the D/A kit on my car uses an Eaton M62.

Shawn

[bmw325is]

I know someone with the racing groupim with who has a downing atlanta supercharger. He likes it a lot. It keeps up with the m3's on the track. I think it would be a pretty good idea. I might take a supercharged 318 over and m3 simply because insurance is cheaper and it's more of a sleeper.

The test car that they have their supercharger has i think it was about 125,000 miles on it ( not sure what the exact number was) and it runs fine. He said he gets good gas mileage with it and he only feels the power when he hits the gas otherwise it drives like a 318.

I say go for the supercharger.

[J10B]

I have one on my z3 1.9, and yeah u don tfeel it unles u hit the gas, No problems so far.

[DougZ]

Thanks for all of the input guys. I think I might end up doing it over the next year or so. I know I have to do brakes and want a new suspension set up before that. Both of those together are going to run me about $1000. Then I will have to get up the ~$3500.00 for the DA S/C.

How long did it take you guys that did put the kit on to do overall?? I am thinking that a buddy and I can do it under 6 hours as long as we don't hit ant troubles.

[J10B]

I would do the D/A first. Especially if u can get it cheap. I shouldnt take too long if u run into problems drop me a line. I'll tell you right now, the fuel lines require crush washers and D/A only sends 4 you of course need 4 but if u take them off for any reason ur gonna need new ones. So buy a bunch from the dealer. THey are the same crush washers they use for oil changes and cost aobut 3 cents. each. Also build the supercharger assembly the day or week before u get going.

[Kos-motate139]

Originally posted by bmw325is
I know someone with the racing groupim with who has a downing atlanta supercharger. He likes it a lot. It keeps up with the m3's on the track. I think it would be a pretty good idea. I might take a supercharged 318 over and m3 simply because insurance is cheaper and it's more of a sleeper.


If that car's in AZ with the typical warm sunny days, that's a pretty good testimony as well.

Comparing my 318ti to my M3, it totally turns in faster and rotates better. I think it's got a much better polar moment of inertia, with the M42 pushed back in the engine bay and no trunk hanging out over the rear wheels. The SC doesn't add any weight like dropping in an M50 would.

And I just noticed in DA's add last night, their SC is CARB approved. Dang... :)

[Stealth]

Downing/Atlanta SC'ed 318ti = Quick little mo-fo that handles like none other.

if you do the install yourself i've heard times of around 10-12 hours

dont listen to everyone who says save your money cause you can be hangin with M3s and still enjoying the ti

[1995red318i]

i am hooking up a 16g turbo on my 318i:evil2
have till wait till august, but it'll be awesome:buttrock
only going to run 6 psi, might bump it up to 8 once in a while, but it should be good for 50hp peak@6500 or so:D
the whole setup is costing me $1000-1200 for the turbo, intercooler, etc... all brand new parts:redspot

[SilverStreak]

www.koalamotorsport.com does engine transplants for the 318 too... :D

[jblack]

Brett at Koala Motorsport also has installed the Downing Atlanta system, so he can be consided "da man" on steering you the right way on how to get you where you want to be.

[SilverStreak]

I've heard nothing but good things about Brett at Koala.

[jblack]

He installed my suspension and brakes about 18 months ago....never an issue. I'd do the S/C or Engine Swap (I waffle daily on this) but I just bought an E46 M3, so the cash is tapped for the time. He's going to be at Mid-Ohio this weekend for the Northern Ohio Driving School and Club Race. He has forgotten more than anyone I know about BMW's!

[SilverStreak]

I have talked to him about doing a Quaiffe LSD with 3.23 gears (3.46's have me shifting into 5th gear for the 1/4 mile with my trap speeds) but Ohio is a bit of a way for me to go...

[WJones]

Originally posted by SilverStreak
I have talked to him about doing a Quaiffe LSD with 3.23 gears (3.46's have me shifting into 5th gear for the 1/4 mile with my trap speeds) but Ohio is a bit of a way for me to go...

vacmotorsports in Philly could hook you up with that as well.

www.vacmotorsports.com

[SilverStreak]

Thanks! Good to know! :buttrock

[Anetsberger]

I want to turbo my 318 as well. Perhaps a super would be a wise route though... I'm still not sure. I plan to track and I hear that turbos are better for that. The thing is I plan on doing it all custom, probably with used parts or something I can get cheap. My F/I budget is about $1500 right now. I think the mechanical end of hooking either assembly up is the easy part (except a maifold for a turbo) where the electronics and fuel delivery modifications would be the most difficult to accomplish. Any input?
Tom

[Kos-motate139]

Originally posted by Anetsberger
I want to turbo my 318 as well. Perhaps a super would be a wise route though... I'm still not sure. I plan to track and I hear that turbos are better for that. The thing is I plan on doing it all custom, probably with used parts or something I can get cheap. My F/I budget is about $1500 right now. I think the mechanical end of hooking either assembly up is the easy part (except a maifold for a turbo) where the electronics and fuel delivery modifications would be the most difficult to accomplish. Any input?
Tom

It varies a little with the specific track, but HP tends to be what you want. I think autocross is helped more by torque, but HP doesn't hurt.

Interestingly, if you look at the stats for the DA Supercharger, it ends up giving a bit more HP than the mosselman turbo system, and the turbo gives more torque. Backwards from what you'd expect, but it just depends on setup.

Looking at one of the other discussions on FI & cams, I wonder if the cam profile on the M42/44 takes to a SC or a Turbo better. It's obviously developed a lot less often than the I6, and probably acts significantly differently.

I'm slapping myself every time I read this forum, I think I need to just race my 318 in DSP and do track days this year, looking at my budget. Maybe next year I'll SC it & go to Street Mod, and just do some local club racing.

The other choice would be to get a Spec Miata at the beginning of next year...damn that class is taking off! :eek: Another relatively inexpensive, pretty reliable car to race, and plenty of racing to do... :95

[Austin]

I've looked into this alot and even into custom built turbos for the price and what you get out of it I have always found Downing Atlanta to be a better anwser. I have not drove a FI 318 yet but would like to. Think I'm gonna go for the DA supercharger seems to ahve alot more research time put into it and good price.

[edacosta]

Does anyone have a 1.8 (not 1.9) that's blown?

[Shawn Fogg]

I know of a few '95 (M42) 318ti guys that have the D/A kit. Very similiar to the M44 setup.

Shawn

[1995red318i]

Originally posted by Shawn Fogg
I know of a few '95 (M42) 318ti guys that have the D/A kit. Very similiar to the M44 setup.

Shawn
so then does m42=1.8
and
m44=1.9
:dunno

[jblack]

That is exacly right.

[Eman]

Brett's the man. He did my 318 ..m3 engine swap.

I'm thinking about getting a 318 and putting supercharger on it. Funny I talked to him just last Wednesday about this same topic. He said he do it for 4gs S/C is included. Just wondering if you need to upgrade the brakes.

[1995red318i]

Originally posted by Eman
Brett's the man. He did my 318 ..m3 engine swap.

I'm thinking about getting a 318 and putting supercharger on it. Funny I talked to him just last Wednesday about this same topic. He said he do it for 4gs S/C is included. Just wondering if you need to upgrade the brakes.
i dont think you would necessarily bigger brakes. you would probably get about 175 rwhp or so. that's is a nice power to weight ratio on a 318, but still not so much horsepower where you need bigger brakes.

now if you did a m3 engine switch, that may require some new brakes.

so everyone reading this thread knows about the da s/c group buy we're working on right?