POLL: Gauging interest for M60/M62/M62TU roots supercharger kit

[BlueCrabMafia]

Some of you may already be aware of this thread:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...-Get-blown-ITT

I am starting this one because I need to gauge the interest of people on whether or not they would be buy a roots supercharger kit for the M62/M62TU platform. The back story (short version) is I and a few others are looking to develop a kit using a GM roots supercharger from the Cadillac STS-V. The kit will include the supercharger/intercooler, CNC adapter plates to fit it to the BMW motor, cooling parts for the water to air intercooler, tuning for you ECU as well as any other bits and pieces you will need. This will be a complete bolt on kit that will have everything you need.

The initial development is being done on a 2000 E38 740i Sport with the M62TU motor. However this should easily be adaptable to any M6X motored vehicle which includes E31's, E34's, E39's, X5's and even Land Rover's. I need to gauge the overall market for this kit for varying financial reasons/decisions. Your votes in the poll will help us bring this kit to market and provide a roots style kit for somewhere in the neighborhood of $4000 (give or take). That is priced well below the current kits available and a more manageable number for cars with declining values. The kit will designed to deliver somewhere between 5-7psi which should be good for an additional 75-125hp and will have the capability to be turned up to even further levels.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will answer them as best as I can.

EDIT: This will work (in theory) for the M60 as well.

[BoldUlysses]

E34s have the M60, not the M62. A kit would have to address any differences between the two engines.

[93FIM5]

Sounds like a solid idea and would be great to see more options for the M6X crowd!

-Greg

[BlueCrabMafia]

You are correct and I should have put M60 in that list because it uses the same manifold design as the M62.

[BoldUlysses]

Is there any concern about hood clearance?

Would we have to source the blower or would that be provided in the kit?

If I understand the theory correctly, the advantage of a roots over a centrifugal blower is more immediate power off the line, but less efficiency higher in the rev range?

[moroza]

Displacement, cam timing, and the ECU are the only relevant differences I can think of between the M60 and M62. Intake manifolds are interchangeable and the heads are identical for clearance purposes as well.

[BlueCrabMafia]

Is there any concern about hood clearance?

Would we have to source the blower or would that be provided in the kit?

If I understand the theory correctly, the advantage of a roots over a centrifugal blower is more immediate power off the line, but less efficiency higher in the rev range?

I would have to get a look at a E34 540i, however this kit should sit relatively low in the valley and not much (if any at all) taller than the stock manifold. The biggest fitment concern will be the length of the snout of the charger, but I don't think it will be an issue.

The supercharger will be provided with the kit. That is one of the reasons for the poll, so I can gauge interest to see how many kits we would be able to sell. The more kits we can sell, the lower the costs associated with putting the kit together.

Yes, the roots will provide torque down low and almost instantly and will be less efficient up high. These are big cars though and torque is what will get you off the line faster.

Displacement, cam timing, and the ECU are the only relevant differences I can think of between the M60 and M62. Intake manifolds are interchangeable and the heads are identical for clearance purposes as well.

Correct. This was initially going to be a M62TU only thing, but then we got to looking at it and realized it would trickle down to other platforms. We are starting with the M62TU, but adapting it for the M62 and M60 should be relatively easy.

Here is a picture of the charger we are using for the R&D of the kit.

[93FIM5]

So this setup uses Laminova water to air cores then?

[xlr8tin]

Interesting stuff. What kind of time frame where you looking at, as I'm sure this will be a factor as to how many are interested. I for one would be interested, but will have to start getting funds together if you did this and price was good. I'll be watching this thread

[BlueCrabMafia]

So this setup uses Laminova water to air cores then?

If you look at the picture I posted, the black section on top of the supercharger is the intercooler. There is a piece not shown that bolts to the front of it with 2 cooling lines running out of it that will run to a heat exchanger/coolant pump setup.

Interesting stuff. What kind of time frame where you looking at, as I'm sure this will be a factor as to how many are interested. I for one would be interested, but will have to start getting funds together if you did this and price was good. I'll be watching this thread

Time frame isn't a factor really. Once I green light the CNC machinist it will take him about 45 days to fabricate the adapter plates. Then we move onto mounting and fitment in the car, pulley setup, heat exchanger mounting and finally tuning. Time to a finished product will probably be 2-3 months from the word go. However we are looking at this as a long term project and will be acquiring enough parts to provide kits for a good duration.

[xlr8tin]

Well, that would be great news for me since coming up with that much money at this time is tough. But say 6+ months and this could be a different story. I'm sure I'm not the only one. When I picked up this car a supercharger was on my mind.

[richinvan]

I likely would be interested in purchasing a DIY kit that *didn't* include the blower eventually.

[ShapeShifter]

Just be careful, when it comes time for folks to pony up the cash on things like this, you usually hear crickets. I hope it works out, I see a good market for this.

[PorscheH6]

Wow, I would love a supercharged automatic 540 that makes 7psi right off the bat vs. north of 5.5k rpm.

[Costa Mellios]

Totally in for this. Always wanted a roots type blower on my m60. Also, will you be developing a tune to work with this, or are you just creating the hardware. What type of crank pulley will you provide? And will it clear the amount of space the E34 engine bay has with a m60 in it?

I am super interested in this. It's still basically within the same price range as a centrifugal supercharger set up for our cars.

[me78569]

Really cool. Does it clear the hood?

I always thought a shaker hood on an e34 would be pretty awesomely mad max.

[BlueCrabMafia]

Really cool. Does it clear the hood?

I always thought a shaker hood on an e34 would be pretty awesomely mad max.

I need to take a look at a E34 540i. I used to own a 525i and 535i, but never a V8. Anybody in MD wanna let me look over there car for an hour?

[Leonator134]

I'd love to have one.. but not at $4. And if that's the price to pay to play then I guess I'm out

Great idea though, roots bowers have the air of badassery.

[K Fox]

...since coming up with that much money at this time is tough. But say 6+ months and this could be a different story. I'm sure I'm not the only one. When I picked up this car a supercharger was on my mind.

^^This. I'm going to be very, very interested in this by spring of next year. I have a lot going on before then, but once I'm out of school I'll have both much more play time, and more $$$ to play with. I was going to do something like this on my own (all quiet like), but if you actually get this done and working well, I'll just start with yours. Please do consider peoples desire for different parts though (if possible), and think about offering perhaps higher power setups, or just having the provision for that upgrade down the road. Thanks for posting here though, and please do keep us updated.

Fox

[gixxerboy63]

If this had been available a year ago, I would have been all over it.

[me78569]

I need to take a look at a E34 540i. I used to own a 525i and 535i, but never a V8. Anybody in MD wanna let me look over there car for an hour?

Greg and I did measurements for this exact thing. I cant for the life of me r emember the valley to hood clearance

[atl530i]

If I had the funds to do a supercharger, I would definitely be interested in it. Voted maybe but currently am happy with the stock setup for now.

[Eemueekmu]

Interested.

[BlueCrabMafia]

I'd love to have one.. but not at $4. And if that's the price to pay to play then I guess I'm out

Great idea though, roots bowers have the air of badassery.

I understand money concerns, but the next closet available kit on the market now runs $5500+. We are trying to come in as low as possible price wise, but $4000 is our target goal. Hopefully we can come in under that.

^^This. I'm going to be very, very interested in this by spring of next year. I have a lot going on before then, but once I'm out of school I'll have both much more play time, and more $$$ to play with. I was going to do something like this on my own (all quiet like), but if you actually get this done and working well, I'll just start with yours. Please do consider peoples desire for different parts though (if possible), and think about offering perhaps higher power setups, or just having the provision for that upgrade down the road. Thanks for posting here though, and please do keep us updated.

Fox

The kit will be capable of higher outputs. On the GM the supercharger runs 12psi stock and is capable of more with smaller pullies. We are aiming at 5-7psi for stock setups. If certain customers want more boost, we will be more than able to accommodate them.

Greg and I did measurements for this exact thing. I cant for the life of me r emember the valley to hood clearance

I don't think valley pan to hood clearance will be an issue, it's the snout sticking out of the front that will need to be checked to make sure it clears the radiator and hood.

[ShapeShifter]

If you want to come up to bel air this weekend, you are more than welcome to measure away. I already have the cover off too.