[bdkevoIX]

Hey folks,

After hearing all the failures related to turbo, wastegate, etc etc,
I'm beginning to think the OEM twin turbo design is maybe poor.

Sure, the powerband looks fantastic it almost looks like a V8 power-curve.
However, those small snails being pushed hard create very high EGT and ultimately fail those turboes IMHO.

Stacking oil coolers will only do so much.

I think the ultimate solution to this would be the turbo upgrade.

I do know there was one done here on e90 but it was more of a custom job.

I guess my question is,

Is there any vendor currently working on upgrading the 335i turboes to either single or double in a completed 'kit' form?

[Sal@AUTOcouture]

my guess is we'll be seeing them next year the soonest

[Former_Boosted_IS]

Originally Posted by AutoCouture

my guess is we'll be seeing them next year the soonest

It really is absurd that it is taking so long. There must be real hurdles to overcome or this would have been done much sooner. The amount of money to be made is enormous.

[ZJP]

It would be nice to see something like a Twin GT28RS Ball Bearing turbo kit in the near future. Who knows....

[benyl]

Originally Posted by Former_Boosted_IS

It really is absurd that it is taking so long. There must be real hurdles to overcome or this would have been done much sooner. The amount of money to be made is enormous.

Fueling is the hurdle.

My understanding (it could be wrong) is that no one has found any DI injectors that work and add more fuel for the extra air.

The only way would be to use a custom intake manifold and do port injection for part of the fueling with the stock DI to take up the rest. Sounds error prone to me.

Find some one to make injectors or modify the existing ones (STi side feeds can be modded) and you will have turbo upgrades galore.

[Former_Boosted_IS]

Originally Posted by benyl

Fueling is the hurdle.

My understanding (it could be wrong) is that no one has found any DI injectors that work and add more fuel for the extra air.

The only way would be to use a custom intake manifold and do port injection for part of the fueling with the stock DI to take up the rest. Sounds error prone to me.

That is if you want to go north of 400 rwhp. I think we are safe up to 400 rwhp, so why not offer an upgrade that will allow us to get there safely with a greater margin of error?

[ArmyBimmerDude]

Space is probably another hurdle

[flukey]

i think the stock transmission limits are too low for it as well.

[ArmyBimmerDude]

Originally Posted by Former_Boosted_IS

It really is absurd that it is taking so long. There must be real hurdles to overcome or this would have been done much sooner. The amount of money to be made is enormous.

This isn't a $2k Japanese engine. Its a $15k+ German engine. How many people do you think have the balls to do a turbo upgrade that'll cost $10k+ when all is said and done. Spend $7k to replace their tranny. God knows what else.

The amount of money to be made is not enormous unless the turbo kit comes with warranty ala Dinan. Its the reason people buy civics and turbo them.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by flukey

i think the stock transmission limits are too low for it as well.

what gives you that idea? I have not heard of 1 single transmission failure? the MT at least should be capable of holding a good amount of power especially w a clutch upgrade.

I think the problem is simply no one has sunk their teeth into this yet, at least not w/ the intention of a "simple" upgrade kit that would not require additional fuel. The cost may be in the 5-8k range....but there would still be plenty of buyers IMO. People are spending that much just on all the Dinan products that might only get them 330-350whp.

I would love to see a moderate upgrade kit available, something that would allow 375-425whp w/ out stressing the turbo's. I'd be on the waiting list I think.


maybe in the next year or so if no one has stepped up to the plate I might look into a custom setup that could be replicated.

[TwinTurboXI]

if you build it,... they will come

[E82tt6]

Its my understanding that Helix is making good progress with their turbo kit.

[TMR]

Twin GT28's would be awesome. I agree, we get a kit and run it towards the 380-400whp where our current fuel limit is and when a upgraded fuel system comes out, we can then just install the fuel system, retune and turn up the boost. But in the mean time, we would be able to be at 380-400whp without worrying about our turbos going caput. I am also sure tin GT28's would make more top end power too. Just my thoughts i guess.

[Curt2000]

I would be worried about the stock tranny as well...noone really knows how much it will hold. And the tranny might not even be the long pole in the tent it could be axels, drive shaft, diff...we wont know until people start to break stuff...and it will be expensive

[Accel Junky]

It's the same with every new car. Nobody knows what the engine, trans, diff will hold. Eventually someone tries, something breaks after a while, progress is made and it becomes common knowledge.

Look at the Supra, it took a while before the limits of the stock block for a street car were found. Granted, they are lofty, but still.

[TMR]

I say tranny will be ok. Look at the M3's that are boosted. You are correct one something, NO ONE knows and im am certain, a kit comes out and many will jump on it.

[all8up]

Originally Posted by benyl

Fueling is the hurdle.

My understanding (it could be wrong) is that no one has found any DI injectors that work and add more fuel for the extra air.

The only way would be to use a custom intake manifold and do port injection for part of the fueling with the stock DI to take up the rest. Sounds error prone to me.

Find some one to make injectors or modify the existing ones (STi side feeds can be modded) and you will have turbo upgrades galore.

Considering the VW/Audi is also a DI motor, here is their solution to fuel...
http://www.goapr.com/VW/products/fsi_fuel_pump.html

1K, yikes! I can only imagine what it will cost for us...

[Kev]

RDSport has a turbo upgrade, but no one has seen it in real life action yet......

[addy85]

From what i've heard the biggest obstacle is space and actually tuning the motor

[Accel Junky]

Originally Posted by addy85

From what i've heard the biggest obstacle is space and actually tuning the motor

Forgot about the whole tune thing. That is the biggest thing that ticks me off about BMW's. It's never as easy to have a customized tune for your setup as it is with Japanese cars.

[benyl]

Originally Posted by Sniz

what gives you that idea? I have not heard of 1 single transmission failure? the MT at least should be capable of holding a good amount of power especially w a clutch upgrade.

The 335D only comes in Automatic in Europe as the Manual cannot handle the torque.

Turbo'd E46M3s don't have much torque either...

[Vince@ V K Motorwerks]

We have been doing some research for the fuel system. We are looking into getting a bigger fuel pump, a booster pump, or tandem pumps. The stock injectors are something we like to work on once we are able to put more fuel through the lines.

There is a big risk of screwing up your car since no one really knows what the true limits of the tranny, drive train, and engine really are. However, I personally like to go with the motto: the bigger the risk, the greater the reward. (calculated risk that is)

As for the turbo upgrades there are going to be two major issues as addressed earlier, one is room and another is fuel. Tuning is another but that isn’t really as difficult since we have some very good tuners on this forum that will probably be happy to lend a hand.

I am thinking about having my heads and the manifold ported but still debating if that is a viable solution.