Is there any risk of blewing an e36 M3 engine by supercharging it properly? I can't help but notice that almost all supercharged cars that are for sale, says one thing in common. "rebuilt engine". I have a dinan supercharger kit just sitting there waiting for the install but i'm hesitant because I'm scared of it blowing up my engine. I would sure hate to mess with something that is running good already. :help Also, i just put street cams in my car. Is this going to effect the supercharging in anyway?

Most importantly, the place where I intend to install my supercharger don't have the software for it. Can I drive my car to dinan 20 miles away after the installation for the software. Or is this dangerous to do. Or should I just send the ecu there to be safe..

Weren't you selling your Dinan SC? I believe I saw it in the Parts For Sale....

Boris

I think the E36 M engine is quite good. The E46 3.0 is very similar to it.
FI will always add more stress to an engine, but I've read that the most stress comes from high rpm's. More specifically, the reversal of the piston motion at high rpms. A supercharger doesn't add that much boost (6-9psi?)
That said, improper tuning where the engine runs lean will damage any engine due to heat and predetonation. If Dinan is doing the tuning, I think that's pretty safe.
I don't know if you can drive 20 miles. Why not have it flatbedded and trucked over? It's close. :)

I wouldn't worry about the whole engine "rebuilt" clause that people insert. IMHO, I think people rebuild their engine primarily to run more boost.

If I were going to run more than 1 BAR on my vehicle, I would definitely have the engine rebuilt. I'm pretty confident with proper tuning and software, AND DILIGENT maintenance (I mean -- total anality in regards to the car (is that even a word? .. sounds primal ...hehe)

I think you'll be fine. Many people will go, OHHH...I would have installed a supercharger/turbo but I don't want to ruin my engine and decrease it's reliability and longevity. That's a bunch of horseshit. People with 100K have put on f/i with no problems. Plus, that's so subjective ... I mean, CRAP .. okay, so I don't get 300K out of my engine .. big fcuking deal ... I only get 200K out of it ... damn, I must be a dumbass for adding f/i. Think of it this way.

You know the quote, "People that think money is the root of all evil, don't fcuking have any" <-- great quote BTW ...

Similarly, "people that think f/i on bimmers decreases reliability and longevity, don't fcuking have f/i."

So, don't listen to naysayers. I doubt many of us would say, "crap, we should have not done f/i." I think if there ARE some people that would say it, it's only b/c of the tuner/company AND NOT b/c of f/i. The tuning/s/w, etc... that's the most important part. I would ignore what NA people say ... b/c if you told them, I'll give you a free turbo/supercharger and install it, how many of them fockers do you think would go...OHHH...no way man ... I don't want to damage my engine....

You just have to be more diligent in maintenance and DO NOT take chances. IF you know you are lean, then don't go WOT, and heck, stay below 4K rpm's. Don't increase the boost to get 30 more rwhp -- when your tuner says, don't do it. I think people run into problems b/c they don't listen to advice. E.g., warm up the car at least 20 minutes (i.e., drive it) before attempting to go WOT). Change the oil every 3K! Inspect the car .. inspect hoses, etc...etc...

Preventive maintenance can be costly; but, I think it prevents premature engine failures. If the s/w and tuning is good, I would have no worries running 6-13 lbs of boost on a car. That's just my opinion after talking with Karl and my mechanic.

I agree with "Alex330ci". I would flatbed that baby and not worry about it. 20 miles should be about $100? That will buy you a peace of mind for days to come. :)

Just an FYI... as long as you're not going WOT, and are driving fairly low RPM and not pushing on the car, it'll stay in closed-loop mode.. and even if not, you're not pushing enough boost to do anything.. you can easily drive it 20mi to Dinan.... in fact, that's what I'd do... no reason to flatbed.... but STAY OFF THE THROTTLE! Don't pass 3-3.5k rpm... etc...

And... basically what NoSoup said... don't worry about engine damage... that comes from bad tuning... the engine will outlast your need for the car.

Boris

>>Just an FYI... as long as you're not going WOT, and are driving fairly low RPM and not pushing on the car, it'll stay in closed-loop mode.. and even if not, you're not pushing enough boost to do anything.. you can easily drive it 20mi to Dinan.... in fact, that's what I'd do... no reason to flatbed.... but STAY OFF THE THROTTLE! Don't pass 3-3.5k rpm... etc...<<

But, dont forget that after his installation he'll have much larger injectors, and a scaled HFM, with stock software. So, the software will order up too much fuel becasuse of the larger injectors. The O2 sensors, since hes in closed loop, will notify the software that it needs to order up less fuel. Since the HFM is rescaled, I have no idea how it will coorespond to the stock software. What if the standard scales in the stock software arent enough to compensate for the larger injectors? CE ligth, or worse, Limp Home mode. True, he can drive a short distance even in limp home. But he at least should be aware of the possibilities which might occur.

Yeah, if you have assurance that short 20 mile drive won't affect your car, then you should. That way, you will save about $100.

If I were you, I don't think there is anyone who can give that assurance to me. So $100 is worth a peace of mind and not worrying about it.

Good luck and keep us updated!

thanks guys, the funny thing is the guy who sold me the unit says he ran the car for a month before ever getting software for it. he says it drove better before the software!

>>thanks guys, the funny thing is the guy who sold me the unit says he ran the car for a month before ever getting software for it. he says it drove better before the software<<

|???

Sounds impossible. There's no way, if he had stock software before the supercharger, and he got the standard dinan kit. The software maps in order to read the increased HFM and fuel injector values would HAVE to be different. Also, the timing would HAVE to be dealt with.

I drove mine 115 miles to the nearest dealer. As long as you don't put it under load or (WOT), you'll be ok. Even the dealer said it was ok.

I was originally going to post - just drive easy, no wot. But for 20 miles, it seems prudent to play it safe and truck it.
Perhaps the "guy that sold it to you" was doing some creative marketing when he said he never updated the software. I mean, come on, Steve Dinan knows BMW's and tuning. This guy is implying he knows better?
All you have to do is foul the plugs a bit to cost more than the flatbed.
It's your call. Good luck with whatever you decide, but I wouldn't hesitate to install the blower and Dinan's software for it!

When I installed my kit, I removed the DME and brought it to a dinan shop. They program it, and I have the DME back the next day. All I have to do is reinstall it in my car.

No need to flatbed my car..

Originally posted by 99M3
When I installed my kit, I removed the DME and brought it to a dinan shop. They program it, and I have the DME back the next day. All I have to do is reinstall it in my car.

No need to flatbed my car..

Yeah - if you can take out the dme than that's the obvious answer (if it were a snake it would've bit me).