Im asking that any and all DIY turbo guys weigh in on this question, as you are the ones with the experience.

If you could do it all over again (remembering the headaches and sleepless nights), however please try to answer as if you would be retaining none of the knowledge gained from assembling and installing your DIY kit. You would be going in to it as you went into your kit...somewhat blind:

1) Would you go the same route of doing everything yourself, maybe jury-rigging some of your parts or connections, dealing with tuning (this is more for the AEM and TEC3 guys), trouble-shooting errors or problems, even though you might have saved a good amount of money in doing so...

or

2) Would you instead purchase something like a TT S2 kit which is already designed and tuned and simply requires a directed install, though it may cost as much as $2500 (figuring you spent $5k) more than you spent on your DIY kit?

Im trying to decide which way to go, and some tales have me leaning towards the S2 kit which is essentially headache free, while others have me excited about the prospect of building it myself and in the long-run saving some money and learning about my car.....

I thought it might not be a bad idea to try and pick your brains and get your impressions on the matter.....

I'd probably do the TTS2 kit, if I were to do it again this time around not knowing anything, but thats mainly because I have a job now.

Otherwise, if I did it again like in my past situation where I was a college student I would DIY.

Knowing what I know now though, DIY no questions asked, 2nd time around goes by much quicker especially when you have done the head more than once and have some experience road tuning :buttrock

Get more bang for your buck too in terms of type of hardware.

DIY all the way. The learning curve may be rough and cost $$ but you learn so much more. Plus theres that personal satisfaction thing.

I would got with a TT Stage II kit in an instant.

While I learned quiet a bit, the opportunity costs were too high. All the time I spent under my car trying to get things to fit, I could have spent being young and dumb.

I would do it myself again even if there was a kit for cheaper. There's alot of pride that goes into doing it all yourself. When I tell people that I have my car turboed they allways ask me "Who did you get to put it in?" Then I tell them "I did." Then they allways ask "Where did you buy the kit?" Then I say "What kit? I made it." Then the educated few ask "Who made that header?" They just stare at me when I tell them "I told you, I made it." Gives me alot of pride in all the compliments I get.

Thanks for the comments thus far, guys. If you care to add anything else, please feel free to do so. (especially if it will help me decide one way or another)

Also, if those people voting without posting would be willing/able I would love to hear your reasons as well...

Keep the comments coming everyone! :buttrock

I have yet to do it, but DIY all the way, if you can. I will be joining the DIY ranks in the near future. If you have something like a full time (or more!) job, then perhaps not. But if you have the time, or can make the time on the weekends (for a long drawn out project :p) then I would do that. If you go with a kit, I would go with the one you selected.

I have yet to do it, but DIY all the way, if you can. I will be joining the DIY ranks in the near future. If you have something like a full time (or more!) job, then perhaps not. But if you have the time, or can make the time on the weekends (for a long drawn out project :p) then I would do that. If you go with a kit, I would go with the one you selected.
Yeah, in theory, the DIY approach would be more fun and involving, yet Im not sure this necessarily plays out in reality all of the time. Thats why I made this thread to see if those guys who have done DIY feel the money saved/time spent was worth it on their kits or if they feel otherwise...

I didnt throw into the mix whether or not you have a full-time job, but its something to think about when planning a DIY approach. However, free time is free time and thats what I am figuring people are building these kits in.

Keep the comments coming!:cool

I can't really imagine buying a pre-made kit because then it'd most likely not consist of what I really want in a turbo setup. There's so much more freedom with DIY to buy what you really want.

i agree with the satisfaction part...though it did take more time, it was worth it for me. it took me about a year to piece all the parts together i needed because im still in school, theres no way id have a lump sum to dump on a kit. but if you do, then that might be something to consider to just go ahead and buy the kit. but like one of the guys said, you will have better parts and choose the parts you want. and if you have access to a welder too, itll help out a lot.


nick

I like to build my cars and I am a fabricator so the choice was pretty simple for me. Also, I am beyond the scope of the TT kits.

You really can't beat a completely bolt-on, tuned, factory driveable kit for what he charges. By the time you are done adding up all the bits and pieces, most people are better off getting an all-inclusive kit. It's nice to finish an install in a day or 2.

One of the things that bothers me about the TT stage 2 kit is you spend all that money, still have to spend a fair amount of time working on the car and then within a week your going to need a new clutch. You gotta spend more money on that plus you still have to get an exhaust, so your looking at another 1,000 min unless you can weld your own exhaust.

Most of the people with a DIY kit that spend less than 6k still got a new clutch to hold the power and a decent exhaust.

One of the things that bothers me about the TT stage 2 kit is you spend all that money, still have to spend a fair amount of time working on the car and then within a week your going to need a new clutch. You gotta spend more money on that plus you still have to get an exhaust, so your looking at another 1,000 min unless you can weld your own exhaust.

Most of the people with a DIY kit that spend less than 6k still got a new clutch to hold the power and a decent exhaust.

qft theres still the support parts you need on top of the "all-inclusive" kits which when you really think about it aren't all inclusive

I'm under 4k with $1450 of it in tuning/maf/injectors and that includes cometic headgasket and arp headstuds ;)

Nick

I guess it depends on how fast you want your car back on the road and how much time you have to dedicate to working on the car. If I was a fabricator/welder or knew someone who was, I would DIY, but I'd rather pay a little more and avoid potential headaches.

It's nice to finish an install in a day or 2.


never done it but I can only imagine!!

Actually it only took me 4 days and one of those I didn't work on it...so three...I guess it just seemed like it took FOREVER...only working on it a few hours at a time.



I don't have a turbo BMW...or even a BMW for that matter, but I do have a turbo Escort. I did everthing myself (the actual install had a friend's help) except the manifold and charge pipe fabrication. But when people ask me about it, the first question is (well besides "why?" lol) is "There's a kit for that?" It is really nice to say "No, I did it myself." But the the downtime was just way too much for me.

I'm going to check out some BMW's tomorrow and if I get one, it WILL be turbocharged within at least the next three years (sooner if I end up with enough money....$ is by far my limiting factor) I'd probably get the TT stage 2 kit. Most people I know anyway will just be impressed that I installed it myself, and will always know me as the guy with the turbo escort. That would be nice...Them-"Didn't you have a turbo Escort?" Me-"Yea" Them-"Now you have a turbo BMW??" Me-"Yea" Them- "WHATS NEXT?!?!?"

Downtime for installing a direct bolt up kit like TT should take less than a week with my busy schedual...I had COUNTLESS hours of downtime with my Escort.





Afterthought: My install only took 16 hours and tuning took another 8-10, but yea, the downtime for the shop to have it to make the chargepipes, and me messing it up/messing around with it....just too much.

goofynick tell us more. specs, hp, etc. did you buy mostly used parts?

goofynick tell us more. specs, hp, etc. did you buy mostly used parts?

he has a huge thread here in teh FI section, can't be too far back........maybe page 3 or 4...........or you can use the handy little search button!!!!!;)

well this is my first attempt at a turbo build on my m3 but so far I don't regret choosing the DIY route. You can save big money on a DIY turbo if you are patient for the deals. Not to mention the tremendous learning experience you go through while doing all the research and attempting new things. DIY is the way to go especially when you have a forum this helpful with so many resources that can provide the info you need.

well this is my first attempt at a turbo build on my m3 but so far I don't regret choosing the DIY route. You can save big money on a DIY turbo if you are patient for the deals. Not to mention the tremendous learning experience you go through while doing all the research and attempting new things. DIY is the way to go especially when you have a forum this helpful with so many resources that can provide the info you need.

A good forum like this is KEY!

I think it is like this...

DIY

Pros
-being able to say you did it yourself
-learning a lot as you go about the project
-you can save up money while figuring out what you want to do
-you can save money in the long run as compared to buying a kit

Cons
-downtime
-headaches
-time spent gathering information/parts


Kit

Pros
-perfectly running streetable car in a weekend's worth of work

Cons
-spend more money in the long run as compared to DIY
-needing a lump sum of $$ to drop on kit


Time and Money....time and money....that what it all really comes down to.

I really appreciate everyone's input so far and welcome anyone else who has yet to chime in, to do so.

I think my main concern with a DIY setup (as done by me) is my tendency to get frustrated easily. I know it would be cheaper to go DIY, but I am worried more than anything about the headaches involved, not to mention the worry I would face after "completing" the kit, as I would worry something would have gone wrong or been done wrong (ie. piping being too low, tuning not quite right..)

I have a MIG welder and am competent with it (my welds arent the prettiest, but they are plenty strong)...but dont know if that alone is enough for me to dive into the DIY realm.

Keep the comments coming!

:) i really enjoyed the diy route. i had never really worked on my car before so it was a big challenge for me. i researched for almost a year before starting. it sure paid off. i had no problems really removing the head, cams, and installing the turbo stuff. i left the fabrication of the ic piping and exhaust to a professional shop. i had initailly planned on trying to tune the car myself. i got it to run on my own, but with school i do not have time to do that so the shop is going to do it.

all in all it was a great experience. i learned tons and it really was fun doing everything myself. when i get it back from the shop, in the next day or two hopefully, i will really see how well i put everything together and whether it is really worth it or not.

i have a video of it running but not sure how to put it up. help please

a WELL Planed out DIY any day of the week.

ALOT of headaches but in the end, its worth it.

It took me a week to make the header, a night to plumb the turbo and mount some other bits, a night to hook up the aem and route the wiring/gauges/etc, a day to make the exhaust, a night to hook up the methanol, a day to mount and plumb the IC, a night to modify the pump and lines, etc... The actual hardware for a simpler kit should be less than a week to DIY, especially if you are working on it full days.

The headaches are when you break a stud, ruin a head gasket during the install, mess up cam timing, drop something in the intake, run out of 3" mandrel bends, strip the oil pan when you tap it, lose of can't find a -3AN to 1/8"npt 45 degree fitting on sunday night, etc...

Then when it is all finished, you get a "custom" chip from someone. Fire it up, it runs!!! Go to drive, and notice your AFR's peg the wideband once you hit boost. Take the chip and get it reflashed, try again. Better, but needs motre work here or there. Reflash, rinse and repeat.

It is the total time from when the car initially comes down, to when it is a finished install with factory driveability that people don't count. That took a few months for me to get the car to how I wanted. Don't get me wrong, I was hitting boost 30 minutes after I got the car running, but it wasn't a precise trune. That is the difference with a DIY kit, or going with a well engineered kit from a known source.

All the time I spent under my car trying to get things to fit, I could have spent being young and dumb.

:lol :lol

I would do it myself again even if there was a kit for cheaper. There's alot of pride that goes into doing it all yourself. When I tell people that I have my car turboed they allways ask me "Who did you get to put it in?" Then I tell them "I did." Then they allways ask "Where did you buy the kit?" Then I say "What kit? I made it." Then the educated few ask "Who made that header?" They just stare at me when I tell them "I told you, I made it." Gives me alot of pride in all the compliments I get.

Agreed. Personal satisfaction is well worth it.

Greddy emanage ultimate is another tuning option. Around $700 for everything needed tuning wise and it is a piggyback not a standalone. It's not plug and play either but thats part of the DIY part. Also the ability to upgrade and retune yourself is worth it I think.

Everything posted above is so true...its gotta be rewarding to finish your own kit, but then as Mike says, there are bound to be parts that you dont have or things that get dropped into the motor, etc...

If I went DIY, I would probably want to go with a Standalone, and then I would have a hell of a time working with that, and I just know that I would have problems like this:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=614311 (CosmoM3's issues of strange boosting..)

Granted, hes going to get it worked out, as it always is, but its still one of those headaches and things that makes the DIY approach an ongoing process long after you are "done" with the install...