Recommendation for 12V portable air compressor

[SD ///M4]

I need to buy a portable 12V portable air compressor for use at autocross and track events. Viair seems to be a popular brand and they have a bewildering choice of models.

The power source seems to be either a 12V plug (15A) or battery cables (20A). The 20A models have a higher CFM rating meaning less time to top off tires but I'm guessing that's why they have to be run directly off the battery rather than a 12V plug. They have different power cable and hose lengths. Some come with a carrying bag and others don't.

Will the F8x handle a 15A plug? Is it safer to just go with a 20A model and use the battery cables? If so, can it be connected to the battery jump connections under the hood or does it have to be connected directly to the battery in the trunk?

If you have a portable air compressor, which brand and model do you have? 15A plug-in or 20A battery cables?

[MRV99]

Ryobi 18-volt One+ Power Inflator. I know nothing about it but it seams to have a lot of good reviews.

[mcvaughan]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

I need to buy a portable 12V portable air compressor for use at autocross and track events. Viair seems to be a popular brand and they have a bewildering choice of models.

The power source seems to be either a 12V plug (15A) or battery cables (20A). The 20A models have a higher CFM rating meaning less time to top off tires but I'm guessing that's why they have to be run directly off the battery rather than a 12V plug. They have different power cable and hose lengths. Some come with a carrying bag and others don't.

Will the F8x handle a 15A plug? Is it safer to just go with a 20A model and use the battery cables? If so, can it be connected to the battery jump connections under the hood or does it have to be connected directly to the battery in the trunk?

If you have a portable air compressor, which brand and model do you have? 15A plug-in or 20A battery cables?

Ryobi has worked well for me, but it's a bit slow. Make sure you also have a high capacity battery to use with it.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by MRV99

Ryobi 18-volt One+ Power Inflator. I know nothing about it but it seams to have a lot of good reviews.

I use the Ryobi 18V impact driver for my lug nuts when I'm at the track and this looked like a good solution, sharing the battery and all, so I bought the Ryobi P731 18V Inflator and it sucks. Also, if the battery dies, you need a 110V power source to recharge your battery. A 12V compressor has a power source as long as your car battery isn't dead and you're not out of gas.

A friend is loaning me his Viair 88P 12V compressor for this coming weekend at Laguna Seca, so I'll see how that works out.

[stonecliff]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

A friend is loaning me his Viair 88P 12V compressor for this coming weekend at Laguna Seca, so I'll see how that works out.

I've been using the Viair 70P via the lighter in the M4 and it is just fine. Plenty fast enough, too, for topping off the tires when needed.

[MaynardZed]

Bought this Pep Boys one on eBay and so far its been working great. Seems strangely well made for how cheap it was. I even pumped my diesel truck tires with it and they go to like 80 psi. Took awhile but was fine. Had really good reviews. I think it was $25 when I bought it, they raised it to $35 now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161413920542...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[MRV99]

That's good to know about the compressors. I was intrigued by the ryobi one but most of the tracks I have been at has compressed air there.

[CanAutM3]

I bought a portable 5 gal tank instead. The tank coupled with a hose and an integrated pressure gauge makes for extremely quick and convenient pressure adjustments. The tank filled up to the max 125psi easily lasts me through a 3 day track event. My setup shown below:

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I bought a portable 5 gal tank instead. The tank coupled with a hose and an integrated pressure gauge makes for extremely quick and convenient pressure adjustments. The tank filled up to the max 125psi easily lasts me through a 3 day track event. My setup shown below:

I have a very similar portable air tank and love it. You will not believe the number of times I have grabbed that instead of the portable compressor.

My only issue is size and space. Once you start putting all you need for a day/weekend at the track, that 5 gal tank takes up valuable space.

[Candide13]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I bought a portable 5 gal tank instead. The tank coupled with a hose and an integrated pressure gauge makes for extremely quick and convenient pressure adjustments. The tank filled up to the max 125psi easily lasts me through a 3 day track event. My setup shown below:

Looks super-convenient, but does its size allow you to carry a set of wheels to the track as well?

I track an E90 and once I pack the wheels, two toolboxes, jack, folding chair, tarp, helmet box, etc into it there is not much space left in the trunk or rear seat.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by MRV99

I have a very similar portable air tank and love it. You will not believe the number of times I have grabbed that instead of the portable compressor.

My only issue is size and space. Once you start putting all you need for a day/weekend at the track, that 5 gal tank takes up valuable space.

Originally Posted by Candide13

Looks super-convenient, but does its size allow you to carry a set of wheels to the track as well?

I track an E90 and once I pack the wheels, two toolboxes, jack, folding chair, tarp, helmet box, etc into it there is not much space left in the trunk or rear seat.

I can fit all this with room to spare and still have the front seat available for a passenger:

• Helmet
• Air-tank
• 4 track wheels-tire
• Jack
• Tool box
• Torque wrench
• Chair
• Cooler
• Suitcase

Gotta love that M4

Trick: I use the compartment below the trunk floor (where the useless ///M mobility thingy usually resides) to carry my jack and spare bake pad boxes.

[Candide13]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I can fit all this with room to spare and still have the front seat available for a passenger:

• Helmet
• Air-tank
• 4 track wheels-tire
• Jack
• Tool box
• Torque wrench
• Chair
• Cooler
• Suitcase

Gotta love that M4

Trick: I use the compartment below the trunk floor (where the useless ///M mobility thingy usually resides) to carry my jack and spare bake pad boxes.

Damn that's impressive; we need pictures!

Unfortunately, I don't think the compartment below the trunk floor in my E90 would fit my floor jack.

BTW, the original compressor from my mobility kit works perfectly fine for topping off tires. I did get an extra 12V compressor that looks sturdier, but this still might be of interest to OP.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Candide13

Unfortunately, I don't think the compartment below the trunk floor in my E90 would fit my floor jack.

That compartment is indeed much larger on the F8X

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I can fit all this with room to spare and still have the front seat available for a passenger:

• Helmet
• Air-tank
• 4 track wheels-tire
• Jack
• Tool box
• Torque wrench
• Chair
• Cooler
• Suitcase

Gotta love that M4

Trick: I use the compartment below the trunk floor (where the useless ///M mobility thingy usually resides) to carry my jack and spare bake pad boxes.

Impressive! I have not packed my F80 yet but In my E90 I would pack 4 tires, tool bag, helmet, chair, jack, soft cooler, towels, jack stand and luggage and was completely full.

[ctgeorge]

Check this out. Unsure how long it will last..

https://www.airdragonfb.com/?uid=CBC...F46508854BD1C2

[OhioRiderAaron]

I use a cheap slime 700cim one. Not great, but gets the job done and is relativity small. Recently I've just been using the compressors at the track since they're faster and save me from potentially getting brake dust into the cabin. The one at NCM is automatic and is pretty damn accurate.

[coolmody]

I have a VIAIR 85P compressor that uses the cigarette lighter adapter. I love it and would highly recommend it. It's small, lightweight, quiet, and fills up the tires very quickly. The M3/M4 powers the compressor easily through the cigarette lighter adapter. A lot of track guys always ask to borrow it as well, and it's worked on every car so far.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by stonecliff

I've been using the Viair 70P via the lighter in the M4 and it is just fine. Plenty fast enough, too, for topping off the tires when needed.

Originally Posted by coolmody

I have a VIAIR 85P compressor that uses the cigarette lighter adapter. I love it and would highly recommend it. It's small, lightweight, quiet, and fills up the tires very quickly. The M3/M4 powers the compressor easily through the cigarette lighter adapter. A lot of track guys always ask to borrow it as well, and it's worked on every car so far.

At Laguna Seca this past weekend I talked to someone who was using a Viair 70P. It had a long power cord (10') with a 12V plug and a short (3') air hose, which looked like the perfect combination. Rated at 120 PSI and 1.06 CFM and 15A. It came with a carrying case. He said that he's used his for years with no problems.

According to Amazon, the 85P is a newer version of the 70P. It has the same 10' power cord with a 12V plug and 3' air hose. Rated at 60 PSI and 1.26 CFM and 15A. Comes with a carrying case.

A friend loaned me his Viair 88P for the weekend. It has a 10' power cord but with battery clamps to attach to battery posts (or the + and - terminals in the engine compartment) rather than a 12V plug, making it less convenient. It also had a really long (16') air hose, which made it bulkier and more cumbersome. Rated at 120 PSI and 1.47 CFM and 20A. It didn't have a carrying case. Overall, not as convenient and easy to use as the 70P.

All are much smaller and take a lot less space than an air tank. The 88P easily fit into the under trunk storage area in my M4 with room to spare. The only drawback that I can see compared to an air tank is that the Viair compressors use a screw-on chuck which is less convenient than the push-on chucks found on air tanks plus the slightly longer set-up time.

I just ordered an 85P from Amazon.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I can fit all this with room to spare and still have the front seat available for a passenger:

• Helmet
• Air-tank
• 4 track wheels-tire
• Jack
• Tool box
• Torque wrench
• Chair
• Cooler
• Suitcase

I carry pretty much the same things for a track weekend. I have the same tire and wheel set up (Apex 18x10, Nitto NT01 275/35-18 front, 18x11 305/35-18 rear) and these fit vertically on a seat protector in the back seat. It's a tight fit and the rear tires have to go in the middle, but I can put my seat in the normal position. I put a tarp on either side of the wheels to prevent any damage to the side panels. A 12-can cooler goes on the floor in the back seat behind the passenger seat. It would fit in the trunk, but it allows me fairly easy access while I'm driving if I want to grab a water or soda. My backpack for personal items, electronics, meds, and my GoPro and accessories, goes on the passenger seat, but can fit in the trunk.

In the under trunk storage area, I normally keep tote bags for groceries which come in handy for emptying out the inside the car, including the glove box, console, and door bins. I also keep a BMW mechanics utility tool set there, and for track days, the Viair 85P portable 12V compressor will easily fit.

I take a 2-ton aluminum racing jack that sits at the far end of the trunk right up behind the back of the rear seats. It's secured in place by a length of chain with snap hooks using the metal tie-downs at the back of the trunk. The 2-piece handle and the torque wrench case fit next to the jack. I'm thinking that I can get by with my old, smaller 1.5 ton jack though.

I have a large plastic Costco bin to hold tools, including a Ryobi 18V impact wrench with a large Li-On battery and the battery charger with a spare small Li-On battery, jack pad adapter, a plastic case with compartments to hold spare lug nuts and lug bolts, a tape and die to chase threads if necessary, a 17mm deep socket with 6" extension, white grease pencil to mark brake pads and wheels, and a razor scraper to get vinyl numbers off the windows. Other things in the bin include latex gloves, shop rags, shop towels, can coolers, duct tape, Mechanix gloves, driving shoes, infrared heat sensor, handi-wipes, first-aid kit, sunscreen, etc. The plastic bin goes in after the jack and leaves enough room in front for a 20" rollaboard suitcase.

Brake pads fit in a small cardboard box that also holds the small two-sided hammer and pin punch necessary to change the brake pads. I swap in the track pads at home and take the stock pads as backup. My helmet bag also fits in the trunk. I keep a spare bottle of oil in the BMW oil storage bag which fits perfect in the wide elastic strap on the right side of the trunk. A folding chair and storage bag fits diagonally across the top of everything else.

All of this stuff fits with no problem. It's pretty much the same stuff that we took in my wife's 2011 335is Coupe which served as our shared track vehicle for five years until I got the M4 last year. When we shared her car, we used duffel bags instead of soft-sided luggage, which takes up less room.

I meant to take pictures before unloading the car after an HPDE at Laguna Seca this past weekend but I forgot.

Edit: I took pictures of the track tires loaded into the back seat at another track event a year later, so I'm adding them here:

[Cajun1]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I bought a portable 5 gal tank instead. The tank coupled with a hose and an integrated pressure gauge makes for extremely quick and convenient pressure adjustments. The tank filled up to the max 125psi easily lasts me through a 3 day track event. My setup shown below:

Do you think a smaller 3 gallon model would make it thru a 2 day event?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Cajun1

Do you think a smaller 3 gallon model would make it thru a 2 day event?

Depends on your usage. It is probably enough for minor pressure adjustments but likely not enough if you want to re-inflate your tires for the drive back home.