E46 330i Automatic - M54B30 Turbo

[pbonsalb]

I can't find anything but a 1.06 A/R T4 Twinscroll housing for the GT35. Are you sure you're not thinking of a T3 divided housing?

I assumed divided was available in 0.82, if it is not, then I would use a different turbo. I also would not buy an 800 rwhp turbo to make 500 rwhp -- again you are leaving response on the table. The only exception might be if you go EFR, since the oversize turbo will have the same response as a slightly smaller turbo due to the lightweight Ti turbine. But as others have noted noted, EFR are big and heavy for their flow.

I would not look at dragstrip response only unless the car is a drag car only. In daily driving, a responsive turbo is extremely enjoyable. There are streetracer kids who are always rowing the gears or driving around at 5000 rpm, but that is not my style and I want a turbo that responds if I put my foot down even if I am one gear off the ideal gear. Sure, I'll row the gears when I need to, but I don't want to drive a car that is a dog unless I am wringing it out. If you really want only 500lbs rwtq, find a turbo around the 6262 size and it will do the trick nicely. This is my old open 0.82 GT3582R on an open manifold, with S52 cams, on an S52 motor, with 93 pump plus meth. Torque response is showing up a little funny due to wheelspin on the dyno -- it was actually much better than it looks (I have an older dyno of it making 500 lbs at 4000 rpm). And a newer 6262 size turbo should do a bit better.

Attachment 604117

[PEI330Ci]

I assumed divided was available in 0.82, if it is not, then I would use a different turbo. I also would not buy an 800 rwhp turbo to make 500 rwhp -- again you are leaving response on the table. The only exception might be if you go EFR, since the oversize turbo will have the same response as a slightly smaller turbo due to the lightweight Ti turbine. But as others have noted noted, EFR are big and heavy for their flow.

I would not look at dragstrip response only unless the car is a drag car only. In daily driving, a responsive turbo is extremely enjoyable. There are streetracer kids who are always rowing the gears or driving around at 5000 rpm, but that is not my style and I want a turbo that responds if I put my foot down even if I am one gear off the ideal gear. Sure, I'll row the gears when I need to, but I don't want to drive a car that is a dog unless I am wringing it out. If you really want only 500lbs rwtq, find a turbo around the 6262 size and it will do the trick nicely. This is my old open 0.82 GT3582R on an open manifold, with S52 cams, on an S52 motor, with 93 pump plus meth. Torque response is showing up a little funny due to wheelspin on the dyno -- it was actually much better than it looks (I have an older dyno of it making 500 lbs at 4000 rpm). And a newer 6262 size turbo should do a bit better.

Attachment 604117

I totally get what you are saying, that's why I selected the GTX30 in the first place....when I could have had a GTX35. But now that my daily driver has 500+ tq @ 2000 RPM, my goals have changed. (I prefer to drive the Touareg over the BMW for most things now)

I picked 500rwtq because I have stock rods...but that's likely to change this winter. The faster I make the car, the slower my ego seems to think that it is. I remember trapping over 122 MPH in the black car, and thinking the car was a dog up top....

[NOTORIOUS VR]

It depends on context.

Here's the full comment from him:

"35r is lit hard at 4000. 4088 is more like 4600, but it hits easier and
doesn't explode the tires. So it depends on your goals."

I'm also looking to throw some nitrous into the mix, so having a turbine/housing combo that can flow a bit more is a benefit to me in the long run.

I don't know if that is too accurate... I'd say the 4094R is lit hard around 4000-4200 the latest

[chikinhed]

I have been enjoying the EFR 9180 a lot so far. I think it would be a great turbo for someone that was torque limited to set up the boost control to produce a flat torque curve at 500 wtq from 3500 rpm to redline. (Calm down SC guys....)

I also can't wait to measure EBP with this turbo and manifold.

[Butters Stoch]

I would think that a 500/500 or 550/500 car weighing 3600 would be trapping around 125-128. I like trap speeds over dyno numbers cause its real world. The dyno is great to see power band, and area under the curve. My M52 stock 300k block T3 gt35r was consistently trapping 125-128 on pump gas no meth. It was about 500-550whp. Dyno was 501 at 19psi. I ran around 21 to 22ish at the track.

[e30polak]

Because you can make 550 lbs rwtq with a 0.82 GT3582R on an S52 on pump gas plus meth at about 24 psi tapering to 21 psi at peak rwhp. Responsive and does the job. Even more adequate for your 500 lb goal. I would not leave response on the table using a bigger housing.

I guess it's dyno dependent, I've seen numerous cars hit 550wtq at 18 psi on an s52 on 91 octane...

[pbonsalb]

I have not seen very many posted here make 550 lbs rwtq at 18 psi on an S52 on a Dynojet in SAE.

[PEI330Ci]

Another option is the GTX3576 to address the back pressure issue, but keep the compressor range the same. (600hp)

[PEI330Ci]

My solution to running a big turbo to get groceries:

[wazzu70]

I will never understand why Garretts new line of turbine housings used a divided T3 inlet. WTF.

The GTX3576 would be interesting to test and be in the spirit of the build. I don't think you will beed anti-lag with a GT35 though!!

[Def]

I will never understand why Garretts new line of turbine housings used a divided T3 inlet. WTF.

The GTX3576 would be interesting to test and be in the spirit of the build. I don't think you will beed anti-lag with a GT35 though!!

I think because they have a bit of legacy with divided T3 housings since that was about all that was available for the GT30 etc. sized turbos for a while using old diesel housings (that cannot really hold up to high performance gas engine usage - dividers melt etc.). But I agree, it seems most the industry has moved towards the divided T4 housing for this size turbo, and I think Garrett should have used that as the standard for most their new housings. Maybe make 1 "legacy" T3 divided housing for a few fitments if they thought it was that popular.

[PEI330Ci]

People said get an M3, I got a 330.

People said get an S54, I stuck with the M54.

People said to go with a turbo, I went with nitrous....a lot of it.

People said get a GT35, I got a GTX30.

People said to use a tune from Nick G, I put Motec in.

People say get an EFR, but I don't have a history of following good advice.


I really appreciate people's time to share their experience and opinion. I might chose something different, but it's not because I think the advice or a person's opinion was wrong. I just do different things....often for the sake of being different. And I enjoy that....

[Butters Stoch]

My vote is for 6466 I couldn't be happier with it and the steed. With the 666 tubular manifold I wasn't 100% happy. But now 150% happy. It will make 800whp if I want to put in a race gas tune, it will make 700 on pump+meth.
But my goals are 700 on pump.
Better times were 500 on pump.
But if your feeling greedy , get a 6466.

[pbonsalb]

People said get an M3, I got a 330.

People said get an S54, I stuck with the M54.

People said to go with a turbo, I went with nitrous....a lot of it.

People said get a GT35, I got a GTX30.

People said to use a tune from Nick G, I put Motec in.

People say get an EFR, but I don't have a history of following good advice.

I really appreciate people's time to share their experience and opinion. I might chose something different, but it's not because I think the advice or a person's opinion was wrong. I just do different things....often for the sake of being different. And I enjoy that....

It is entertaining to watch you spend more time working on your car than driving it, and reverse course on so many things because you did not listen to others, but that is ok because it is your journey in life you are on, not ours.

[PEI330Ci]

It is entertaining to watch you spend more time working on your car than driving it, and reverse course on so many things because you did not listen to others, but that is ok because it is your journey in life you are on, not ours.

Bad bowl of cheerios?

Working on this car for 7 years wasn't originally the plan. It was originally supposed to be a parts car, but when it arrived it was too nice to tear apart. Then it was supposed to be a street car, while I rebuilt the 330Ci race car. I had a kid, moved, and built a new shop, all while my career sent me to 5 Continents. Also, the 330Ci race car project was running in parallel to the 330i Turbo project for the first 2 years, but eventually I chose to stop it. At times, 6 months would pass without any work on the 330i. There were also a couple of times where I came really close to just walking away....

I can recall only 1 thing that I reversed course on, after others had advised me not to do it. That was the automatic transmission. Interestingly, I also had advise from quite a few people that it was a great idea. People like Nick G loved the idea, and even had an Turbocharged 330i ZHP with an automatic in his garage for quite a while.

The best adventures are usually things we're not supposed to be doing....

[pbonsalb]

Automatic, turbo, building motor

[PEI330Ci]

Automatic, turbo, building motor

How many turbos have you put on your car in the last 7 years. :P

[someguy2800]

Sometimes you change not because you made a poor choice, but because your fun with the current thing has run its course. Such as with me switching to an auto. After a full season racing with the 6 speed and getting it dialed in I was ready to do something different. If I could do it over I would still do the 6 speed before going auto. Wheelies with a stick are awesome.

[TheJuggernaut]

And people ask me why I don't update my build thread anymore. I'm just dying to take all this advice.

[pbonsalb]

How many turbos have you put on your car in the last 7 years. :P

I have had a running turbo car for 8 years and have made some changes along the way -- including 4 turbos. I think I like the current one the most -- EFR9180 with internal and external WG.

[PEI330Ci]

Sometimes you change not because you made a poor choice, but because your fun with the current thing has run its course. Such as with me switching to an auto. After a full season racing with the 6 speed and getting it dialed in I was ready to do something different. If I could do it over I would still do the 6 speed before going auto. Wheelies with a stick are awesome.

That's how I started "upgrading" a perfectly running Technique Tuning kit in 2010.

And people ask me why I don't update my build thread anymore. I'm just dying to take all this advice.

You should try back-purging with Methane...

I have had a running turbo car for 8 years and have made some changes along the way -- including 4 turbos. I think I like the current one the most -- EFR9180 with internal and external WG.

Lets just say that I didn't spend the majority of my time the last 7 years in Australia, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East. I'm betting my car would have a lot more done to it, but it still would have lived on jack stands. Some people just like to work on things, and I have been one of them. Recently, I'm finding my appetite to just drive the car to be of great priority. I don't know if it's because I'm getting to be an old guy....but I just want to go hammer on the car in a different way now.

It is very likely that one of the 4 turbos you've run will go on my car next.

[pbonsalb]

You do very impressive, thorough work. I am not criticizing that. And its OK if you prefer to work on it than drive it. Some get their happiness from just garaging and polishing their cars, others like working on them, some want to drive them as much as possible.

[TheJuggernaut]

You should try back-purging with Methane...

BRB will report back

You do very impressive, thorough work. I am not criticizing that. And its OK if you prefer to work on it than drive it. Some get their happiness from just garaging and polishing their cars, others like working on them, some want to drive them as much as possible.

So kind of you to give him permission

[hakentt]

I guess it's dyno dependent, I've seen numerous cars hit 550wtq at 18 psi on an s52 on 91 octane...

you are so full of it

I have not seen very many posted here make 550 lbs rwtq at 18 psi on an S52 on a Dynojet in SAE.

That's because e30polak is always full of it

[e30polak]

you are so full of it

That's because e30polak is always full of it

I'll work on getting the dyno graphs. No need for me to lie, these were Mustang dyno numbers. Dyno may have read high, every dyno reads differently.

I love how you have nothing better to do than quote my replies, you're the one that's full of yourself...everyone here knows that.