Superchargers compared

The potential loss of the Harrop SC from the US market has me forlorn and considering other options. I've put together these charts to compare the boost in HP and torque that each unit has demonstrated with dyno data. I know this comparison is inherently flawed so save your rants, but it gives a ballpark for comparison. I initially included the Active Autowerkes SC on this list (Gen 2, level 2), but the only data I could find was at 93 octane and it was the worst performer of the bunch (IMO) so I dropped it.

All three SC dynos were done with 91 octane, which is what I have available locally. All 3 were DCT but gear was not always described. The VF620 is stock exhaust/cats while the Harrop and ESS G1 were with test pipes. So not exactly apples to apples but we use the data we have. The Harrop is a BPM tune.

Obviously HP and torque data will vary dyno to dyno. This variability is somewhat assuaged by analyzing the difference between the SC and base model, rather than raw numbers.



From a HP perspective, the ESS G1 and Harrop compare favorably from 4500 RPM and onward. The Harrop has a slight advantage early on. The VF620 lags behind the group, but it's with regular CATS instead of test pipes.






Again, torque comparisons show the ESS G1 lining up well with the Harrop at 4500 RPM. The early noise in the torque data on the harrop is due to the dyno of the base car showing a steep drop off of torque in that vehicle in low RPMs and not supercharged.


If anyone has VF620 dyno data at 91 octane and test pipes, I'd love to see it. For now, I'm treading water to hear whether Harrop will offer one last US production run - but considering the ESS G1.

Cheers -

Regardless of your SC preferences, I think most can agree that going SC is well worth it on this platform. Where did you pull the data from btw? I'm assuming just dyno charts around the forums or from the websites?

-Duke

How about the G-Power SC?

See the S65 dyno database for plots and data..

http://www.s65dynos.com/DynoDB.php

DukeofAlexandria wrote

Regardless of your SC preferences, I think most can agree that going SC is well worth it on this platform. Where did you pull the data from btw? I'm assuming just dyno charts around the forums or from the websites?

-Duke

It's all dyno data where a before and after is available. The Harrop is from a user on this board. The ESS G1 is from the manufacturer. The VF620 I pulled from a user who posted it on a dyno database.

This is actually the first I've heard about G-Power but I ran a search and see they are a big deal in Europe. Good stuff.

CamasM3e93 wrote

It's all dyno data where a before and after is available. The Harrop is from a user on this board. The ESS G1 is from the manufacturer. The VF620 I pulled from a user who posted it on a dyno database.

This is actually the first I've heard about G-Power but I ran a search and see they are a big deal in Europe. Good stuff.

G Power is made by ASA Kompressor, once an OEM supplier of centrifugal style superchargers. (ie, alpina b7)

I have a kit on my car.

Didn't GPower stop selling the E9xM3 supercharger kits?

pbonsalb wrote

Didn't GPower stop selling the E9xM3 supercharger kits?

Technically that is correct, G-Power stopped selling the blower kits.
GP Infinitas is the new name for the company that we can get our spares from.

https://gp-infinitas.com/en/

My understanding is that the company split and the engineering guys that started G-Power had to create a new name and distributor network (they are looking for US distributors) because the marketing guys had the rights to the name and distribution.

(The current G-Power company wasn't forthcoming about the split though, all they would say when I asked about spares was "We don't make that kit anymore." Just totally left me dangling in the wind. A forum member from Bahrain directed me to GP Infinitas.)

pbonsalb wrote

Didn't GPower stop selling the E9xM3 supercharger kits?

Gp-infinitas continues to support.

Prior to buying the Harrop SC, I also appreciated the VF-Engineering kit design approach. Especially the air to water charge cooler inside the Plenum - which is the same compressed air charge cooling philosophy Harrop uses - though Harrop use two smaller units instead of one. I just noticed VF have dropped the price on their 595hp kit (to $6995) - and they still sell their 620hp and 650hp SC kits. It seems VF are not as well known as ESS, but the hardware (Vortech centrifugal blower), aluminum castings, and engineering look pretty good for the money IMO. Thoughts?
PS:
I'm not affiliated with VF Engineering.

https://vfengineering.com/products/bmw-e9x-m3-supercharger-1
.

I love mine, got the 595kit and went to a 94mm pulley from ESS and up to 40% E-85 with an AFD system and it runs great. Will dyno very soon.

Adriano917 wrote

I love mine, got the 595kit and went to a 94mm pulley from ESS and up to 40% E-85 with an AFD system and it runs great. Will dyno very soon.

You're using an AFD kit with the vortech tune and no issues?

nycplumber wrote

You're using an AFD kit with the vortech tune and no issues?

That is correct, no problems whatsoever just keep it in the 35%-45% of e85.

Adriano917 wrote

That is correct, no problems whatsoever just keep it in the 35%-45% of e85.

I've often run E25 with the Harrop kit which includes the higher volume Bosch blue fuel injectors and the BPM Harrop SC kit tune. The car's fuel pump is stock.

Appreciate the original poster putting this together!!! I have a few questions as I, too, am looking to choose a route for supercharging my car.

I was always under the impression the Active Autowerke solutions where higher in HP and Torque with respect to other comparable offerings, mainly due to the Rotrex Supercharger. I do not have any dyno examples to back that up, was just wondering what the original poster saw that made him even look to remove those results from the data he posted?

I am still trying to gather info. However was leaning toward Active Autowerke due to various posts and peak numbers they claim in there website. Are those peak numbers from Active's website not accurately represented?

Thanks!

hofmandi wrote

Appreciate the original poster putting this together!!! I have a few questions as I, too, am looking to choose a route for supercharging my car.

I was always under the impression the Active Autowerke solutions where higher in HP and Torque with respect to other comparable offerings, mainly due to the Rotrex Supercharger. I do not have any dyno examples to back that up, was just wondering what the original poster saw that made him even look to remove those results from the data he posted?

I am still trying to gather info. However was leaning toward Active Autowerke due to various posts and peak numbers they claim in there website. Are those peak numbers from Active's website not accurately represented?

Thanks!

I'm not using my personal laptop at the moment so I don't have access to the file, but my memory is that I couldn't locate a well matched dyno result for Active. I was trying to get results that included test pipes and 91 octane. Happy to add the dyno data and repost if others have it.

Here is an interesting fact: In My original post I am only the 4th individual to use the word 'forlorn' on the forum.

Probably 4 years ago, AA posted a roughly 600 rwhp Dynojet for its highest rated kit. I remember the posts. Could be the dyno was a link from AA that is no longer good; not sure. Try this:

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=744393&highlight=Rotrex+dyno

That is a C38-91; there is a later post, probably the one I was thinking of from more like 4 years ago that tested a C38-92 and made more line 600 rwhp. Someone else will have to find it

hofmandi wrote

Appreciate the original poster putting this together!!! I have a few questions as I, too, am looking to choose a route for supercharging my car.

I was always under the impression the Active Autowerke solutions where higher in HP and Torque with respect to other comparable offerings, mainly due to the Rotrex Supercharger. I do not have any dyno examples to back that up, was just wondering what the original poster saw that made him even look to remove those results from the data he posted?

I am still trying to gather info. However was leaning toward Active Autowerke due to various posts and peak numbers they claim in there website. Are those peak numbers from Active's website not accurately represented?

Thanks!

Also check out the 60-130 record thread to see people putting their supercharger kits through the tests

M3POST's official 60-130 and 1/4 mile thread
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=630463

pbonsalb wrote

Probably 4 years ago, AA posted a roughly 600 rwhp Dynojet for its highest rated kit. I remember the posts. Could be the dyno was a link from AA that is no longer good; not sure. Try this:

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=744393&highlight=Rotrex+dyno

That is a C38-91; there is a later post, probably the one I was thinking of from more like 4 years ago that tested a C38-92 and made more line 600 rwhp. Someone else will have to find it

That one includes meth injection, so it's a different level kit than the G1, Harrop, and VF.

Here is the newer test that yielded 600 rwhp:

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=809354

Yes, little Rotrex need more boost to make this power and boost creates heat so WMI is specified. Still a valid comparison to compare the offerings from each. Even ESS now specifies WMI for its top level kit since changing to the smaller blowers that need a little more boost to make the power.

If you want to compare base kits, I can’t help you.

hofmandi wrote

Appreciate the original poster putting this together!!! I have a few questions as I, too, am looking to choose a route for supercharging my car.

I was always under the impression the Active Autowerke solutions where higher in HP and Torque with respect to other comparable offerings, mainly due to the Rotrex Supercharger. I do not have any dyno examples to back that up, was just wondering what the original poster saw that made him even look to remove those results from the data he posted?

I am still trying to gather info. However was leaning toward Active Autowerke due to various posts and peak numbers they claim in there website. Are those peak numbers from Active's website not accurately represented?

Thanks!

I would think another important aspect to consider is:

What is the system like to live with overall, on a daily basis?

I say that, because I imagine that dyno sheets can get generated on a day when the environment may be somewhat controlled, at least compared to what you may have to live with on a daily basis?

Performance:
I only have experience with the G-Power (air to air intercooler) kit, so I can't say anything, one way or the other about any of the other kits out there, but this kit absolutely performs on a daily basis.
It just doesn't seem to matter what the weather is doing.
(I'm not saying the dyno number is the same under all temperature scenarios, but if there is a power drop when it's over 100f ambient, it's not apparent to me.)

Reliability:
The thing has been darn near bulletproof since 2009 (60,xxx miles).
I recently had to replace the Audi blowoff valves (torn diaphragms) at $52 each.
I also installed new blower belt rollers and air filters last year.
The other rubber bits are starting to show their age, so those will also be replaced soon.

I just love this car every single day!

(Yesterday I took another 700 mile drive to visit my mom, and the feeling I got was that the car is nearly on par with a motorcycle when maneuvering thru traffic, except for the width of course.)

Davisca455 wrote

I would think another important aspect to consider is:

What is the system like to live with overall, on a daily basis?

I just love this car every single day!

(Yesterday I took another 700 mile drive to visit my mom, and the feeling I got was that the car is nearly on par with a motorcycle when maneuvering thru traffic, except for the width of course.)

I agree with your assessment. I just did my first extended drive with the Harrop kit across the Oregon high desert for 4 hours at temps 90-100 degrees. I was impressed how the kit hung in there, engine oil temps were higher than NA stock set up but still in acceptable range. The car's ability to pass and maneuver were such that I gave a sport bike trying to draft me fits. Harrop is a very nice fit with the e93's extra weight, holding most of that power onto the payment instead of thrashing the tires.

I regret, though, that Gintani stopped making their kits for this model; I may very well have gone that direction.

hofmandi wrote

I was always under the impression the Active Autowerke solutions where higher in HP and Torque with respect to other comparable offerings, mainly due to the Rotrex Supercharger. I do not have any dyno examples to back that up, was just wondering what the original poster saw that made him even look to remove those results from the data he posted?

Lots of dyno data at the S65 Dyno Database link below. Use the filters to find what you need.

http://www.s65dynos.com/DynoDB.php
.