Author Topic: SUPERCHARGER or TURBO?? questions (Read 4748 times)

davidmutchler · « **on:** June 24, 2009, 04:47:02 PM »

hey im new to this site and to BMW's guys. im rebuilding a 92 e36 318i auto with the M42B18. i was wondering what would be better? s/c or turbo? with the S/C wll i have to break into the block or head at all? or will stock hold? im not looking for a HELLA lota power. just a little more pick up and go. since this is going to be my daily driver once its finished. i have planned for it a exhaust, coilovers, chip, t/b, ignition system, and i was thinking bout F/I to. for that lil extra go. but it would be the turbo/Super and the exhaust which would be first. is this good or no? ideas? info? suggestions? help? lol now i have not found any turbo kits for the engine, and as ive seen on here its almost all custom work, and ive found only two sites for superchargers for our lil engines. KO and Downing. have anyone else used ether of these? id like to know about both if possible good and bad results please. im sorry for all the questions, just looking for some useful helpful freindly help and advice. thank you for your time and inputs

1991 E30 M42 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2009, 05:46:34 PM »

turbo= free power and nonlinear hp and torque curves

supercharger = requires power to make power, somewhat linear torque curves, but not as efficient at higher rpm

davidmutchler · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2009, 05:50:53 PM »

hmmm. so woulda turbo be better you think? and will a turbo stup work on a auto?

Hodge · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2009, 08:24:12 PM »

Whatever you do, don't buy a KO kit.

I have the Downing kit and love it. Completely worth every single penny. Very high quality parts.

Unless you know what you are doing with Forced Induction on the M42 or in general, I would stay well away until you learn learn learn all there is to learn about Turbo-ing an M42. You are only worried about the motor...but there is a clutch/flywheel to worry about, driveshaft and transmission, and differential as well. How much can these stock parts take and what kind of condition are yours in? Not to mention the effect of adding power to what is most likely bone stock bushings and other suspension bits. The cost of doing this right is fairly steep. You pretty much have to beef everything up on the car to be able to handle the power and control it as well.

I doubt my stock clutch would have lasted this long if I had just thrown the DASC on first thing. I would highly recommend building your car to do what you want, but only do it once.

For Turbo, yes you would have to go custom, since only one company I know of made a kit and that was Mosselman. They no longer make the kit. The only kit on the market worth anything today for an M42 is the DASC.

Good luck.

PS: Also don't keep the automatic, it will make everything 5 times worse.

Danny707 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2009, 11:08:26 PM »

Turboing is easy.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2009, 07:27:01 AM »

Take a driving course first. Full suspension second. Big brakes third, like a 5-lug swap with late M3 brakes. Then think about forced induction.

I'm on step one!

davidmutchler · « **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:01:52 PM »

ya. i want a good clean easy nice ride. thats my main goal. i just want a turbo or a S/c for a lil more pick up and go as a DD.

HATER-PROOF · « **Reply #7 on:** June 26, 2009, 04:34:29 AM »

I'm going to quote you-"i just want a lil more pick up and go as a DD". Now as Hodge stated in his post, I couldn't have said it any better about the DASC-(BUT! a turbo would give you more for the money depending on what set-up you chose to go with).

davidmutchler · « **Reply #8 on:** June 26, 2009, 12:33:31 PM »

well what type of boost levels can a stock M42B18 handle? because i dont really want to break into the engne to much. if i do all that im just going to get a bigger engine or a new car..

Danny707 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 26, 2009, 03:15:08 PM »

12 psi.

Ish.

HATER-PROOF · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2009, 02:31:31 AM »

"i dont really want to break into the engne to much." If this is the case, then yes-get a supercharger. A heart surgeon wouldn't be called in to the operating room for a broken leg---(metaphorically speaking)=bone spealist/supercharger.
=heart speacialist/turbo.

xwill112x · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2009, 10:36:26 PM »

5 speed swap, then come talk to us.

Boosted E30 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2009, 12:06:59 AM »

if you want some what simple power then go with the s/c cuz it took me over a year and a 1/2 to get it right and driveable for more then 2 weeks with a turbo, then you need brakes/5 lug swap as stated above along with alot of work to get the whole set up right and working well so you can have a dd car. if your not ready for spending lots of cash which will happen and alot of headaches then definaltly stay away from FI. Definatly do not do FI on a auto trans unless its beefed up for it cuz that will add to the headache part/trans problems.