[Tchleung]

Good points posted above, but I'd just like to add my input.

The air filter lcoation is not an issue, the air filter only blocks a portion of the brake duct. if you cut it to exact specs as they give, the filter sits snugly against the duct and does not allow air to escape. The brakes will still be getting the same cooling as it had before IMO.

There are numerous voerheating issues from cars running o the track weather it is ESS/AA/HPF//VF. Most of them do not have issues,, but every kit has had it's fair share of overheating problems on the track so I don't think this should be generalized as an issue with ESS directly.

No comment on the power achieved, excet that there are too many factors that can contribute to making less then advertised power. You can not expect a kit to make 500hp(at the motor) if the motor irself only makes 250-275(at the motor) due to other variables.

[Tiago]

Originally Posted by mousemaster

First off, the P/S line problem:
P/S line is not a problem if you know how to solve it. If you don't like the idea of DIY, then you need to find a trusted installer or just send the car to ESS and they will garantee the installation. Even BMW has good and bad dealers and is up to you where to take the car.

Secondly, I would like the brake ducts to function:
Mine are functional. A scissor and strong tape was enough to do the job.

Third: Many questions about the proper temp (55 or not), spark plug recommendations, etc:
Fourth: Overheating on the track?
Even at stock form the car has heat issues. The track sub-forum is mainly with n/a engines members and all complain about it. When you increase 50% hp, it is obvious that heat will be even worse. All cooling upgrades that we make come from track mods for stock engines.

Fifth: You got the car on the dyno and seem disappointed:
Dyno don't prove anything. It must be used as a tool for fine tuning. There is so much variables that come into play that i never bother too much about it. Track and street performance is where you see the gains.

Your problems and concerns during the install, the overheating and overall performance, lead me to think this system is not for me.

My advice for you is to never go into the dark side. Every aftermarked parts has its down side. You need to balance your preferences. ESS make amazing kits out of the box, and maybe the ones that provide less troubles. Upgrades is always possible and most of us are permanently looking for perfection but you have to understand that you cannot keep OEM reliable when you increase the power level. But if you know what you are doing, driving with good manners and have the car carefully maintained, it will last forever.

[bimmermilan]

Originally Posted by Tiago

My advice for you is to never go into the dark side. Every aftermarked parts has its down side. You need to balance your preferences. ESS make amazing kits out of the box, and maybe the ones that provide less troubles. Upgrades is always possible and most of us are permanently looking for perfection but you have to understand that you cannot keep OEM reliable when you increase the power level. But if you know what you are doing, driving with good manners and have the car carefully maintained, it will last forever.

I couldn't agree more.

UPDATE: The cat less setup is going to be removed soon because I can not stand the smell of the exhaust fumes and the rasp is out of control. I just ordered a CPI section 1 with magna flow 200 cell metallic cats and magna flow resonators (larger than a r20 resonators). Hopefully this will take care of the smell and rasp. I will update again after it is installed.

Cheers

[acescracked]

Originally Posted by mousemaster

...

Fourth: Overheating on the track? You have to be kidding me ! A system that cannot stand the heat generated on a track is just not a turn key system. So now the owner is left to nurse the system while in use or spend more money on aftermarket parts for a larger radiator, oil cooler, etc. Driving to keep it "out of the red" is ridiculous !

...

My car engine wise is bone stock and I have some issues with overheating at the track as well as alot of NA M3's at the track. Streets of Willow and Buttonwillow on a hot day I could only do 2/3rds of a session sometimes before getting close to the red.

I'm going to write BMW a letter and tell them the M3 is not a turn key car! ridiculous !

[bimmermilan]

Originally Posted by acescracked

My car engine wise is bone stock and I have some issues with overheating at the track as well as alot of NA M3's at the track. Streets of Willow and Buttonwillow on a hot day I could only do 2/3rds of a session sometimes before getting close to the red.

I'm going to write BMW a letter and tell them the M3 is not a turn key car! ridiculous !

Yeah for real....and given all the vanos hub issues and rod bearing problems of this engine I would like to know what the M engineers are smoking while making these cars.

[bonhamsurf]

I've got to chime in on this one. I have the ESS Vt2-500 on my 2003 vert, and I made 433 rwhp at 304 lbs torque. SAE Corrected in Hawaii weather, which means almost 90 degrees and humid.
I personally love the kit, and I've had no problems from the kit, although other problems have come up.
1. Ignition Coils - I blew a couple of ignition coils shortly after installing the kit, but they all had considerable mileage on them. My solution was to replace all ignition coils with Bosch OEM ones and than I purchased the HPF Dry Carbon Vented engine cover with airflow horn, and since then, I've had zero ignition coil problems. My car is a daily driver AND I race pretty often in Hawaii weather, so it gets used pretty hard.
2. Engine Overheating - One time since I installed the ESS kit has my temp gauge gone up. But this was due to the fact that my car is lowered a little and coming down a steep off ramp I bottomed out a bit. This pushed my intercooler up against my front engine fan and the fan was not able to run all of the time. It could only turn a slowly and sometimes not at all. I removed my front bumper, loosened the two allen wrench bolts on the intercooler bracket, pulled it away from fan, tightened hard, and never any engine temp issues again.
3. The ONLY flaw I have found in the ESS kit thus far is their choice of hose clamps for the intake manifold and the intercooler hoses. Whenever I've tightened them down hard, they have broken. They are a soft metal clamp, and it is possible I am over-tightening them. However, I went to Home Depot and purchased stainless steel ones from the plumbing section at about $1.80 each and these don't break!!

I love my kit. It's super fast and strong. I'm running a 2003 Vert, and except for a GTR, I've won every race I've been in, including every 911 Carrera S, Fort Shelby GT500, turbo'd whatever.
Of course, I am going to upgrade to the VT2-550, gotta have more!
Here's my dyno....

E46 M3 SMG ESS VT2-500 Supersprint V2 Headers Rogue mid pipe, x-pipe, el diablo dyno valve open - YouTube

E46 M3 SMG ESS VT2-500 Supersprint V2 Headers Rogue mid pipe, x-pipe, el diablo dyno valve open - YouTube

[Ramp1]

I can't wait to get an ESS kit...next year's budget. Awesome cars guys.

[Tiago]

Originally Posted by bonhamsurf

I've got to chime in on this one. I have the ESS Vt2-500 on my 2003 vert, and I made 433 rwhp at 304 lbs torque. Of course, I am going to upgrade to the VT2-550, gotta have more!

Is your car 6MT or SMGII? Can you make a small review of the HPF stage 2 clutch? How did you break in it? Any rattles at stop and go or parking manuevers?

I have one in the shelf of my garage waiting the stock clutch to start to slips.

[bonhamsurf]

Originally Posted by Tiago

Is your car 6MT or SMGII? Can you make a small review of the HPF stage 2 clutch? How did you break in it? Any rattles at stop and go or parking manuevers?

I have one in the shelf of my garage waiting the stock clutch to start to slips.

Tiago, my car is a SMGII. THere is a decent discussion about this subject at
this link, and below I have copied my input there as well...

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/sho...=#post14021485


I have a 2003 SMG with ESS Vt2-500. I decided to go with HPF Stage 2 feramic clutch. From what HPF and ESS told me, upgrading you clutch is NOT necessary until over 600hp. A new stock clutch can handle it, and this is what ESS uses in their cars running the VT2-500 and the VT2-550.
However, I still did the HPF Stage 2 clutch. Figured if I'm gonna replace it, might as well make sure it's done bigger. Overall, I'm glad I did. There is definitely chatter when taking off slow from a stop, like in a residential area. Especially when the clutch is hot. HPF told me to have the clutch retrained when it's hot, but I honestly don't have time to do it, and it doesn't bother me enough so I haven't tried that.
The thing that makes me happy is that I have 433rwhp and when I slam from gear to gear on a launch, I am not worried about anything breaking back there, so if I had to do it again, I would.
Couple of notes. I do have the ESS SMG software tune. Love it and worth the money!
DO NOT get the flywheel changed, especially with SMG, this is where the chatter gets insane, I talked to many people before I decided on my setup, IMHO.
Good luck!

[BMWManiac]

Bimmermilan, did you say that the 4 door E36 M3 with AA GT35r was your brothers car? By any chance, did he buy that car from a guy in Kentucky? I was surprised by his numbers on the dyno, especially the torque. At 15 psi, I was making 425rwhp/444rwtq at 14.5 psi with the NickG tune package (AA's GT35r kit though)

I'm also looking into possibly going the VT2-500 kit for my Z4M. Looking on the Z4M forum, it seems that the guys with this kit are putting up the same numbers as yours...almost identical! I, too, wouldn't get to focused on the numbers. If the car runs great/perfect, then what you got is the right number.