How many ESS G1 kits sold? How reliable are they compared to the old 625 kit?

How many G1 owners are there on M3post? The G1 is a fairly new supercharger so I'd assume they haven't sold too many.

The 625 kit seems tried and true..."over 1700 sold" according to ESS website.

I'm worried about the reliability of the G1 vs the 625, given that it's so new and ESS made their own blower instead of buying a blower from a well known blower manufacturer....

Thoughts?

BimmerNugget wrote

How many G1 owners are there on M3post? The G1 is a fairly new supercharger so I'd assume they haven't sold too many.

The 625 kit seems tried and true..."over 1700 sold" according to ESS website.

I'm worried about the reliability of the G1 vs the 625, given that it's so new and ESS made their own blower instead of buying a blower from a well known blower manufacturer....

Thoughts?

Curious to hear as well

I have a 625 kit. The thing is the vortech blower is rated for boost that the m3 will never see and it's heavy and noisy. A proprietary blower designed for the low boost application is enticing, also the g1 doesn't spew fluid under high g applications apparently.

When I went S/C I was going to go to the ESS G1, but unfortunately they were sold out and read/heard bad stories about ESS’s customer service. The VF kit is well put together and customer service was excellent, I do have seen a little of oil seepage from the Vortech unit and sometimes I do wish I went to the G1 unit, but overall I’m happy with it.

I am also debating on going 625 or with the G1 myself. Following this thread!

Formula_Autohaus wrote

I am also debating on going 625 or with the G1 myself. Following this thread!

Yup the choices are real!!!

I went G1 (not installed yet) because it looks like it slightly outperforms the 625 and does not suffer the typical oil seepage that the 625 blower does. It is also lighter than the 625 kit.

Another reason is that there is ZERO permanent modifications to the car with the G1 kit. Not all SC kits can say this.

Scharbag wrote

Yup the choices are real!!!

I went G1 (not installed yet) because it looks like it slightly outperforms the 625 and does not suffer the typical oil seepage that the 625 blower does. It is also lighter than the 625 kit.

Another reason is that there is ZERO permanent modifications to the car with the G1 kit. Not all SC kits can say this.

Same here recently ordered the kit as well! We do have to cut the bumper a bit to allow either the inter cooler or some pipes / hoses to fit

Scharbag wrote

Yup the choices are real!!!

I went G1 (not installed yet) because it looks like it slightly outperforms the 625 and does not suffer the typical oil seepage that the 625 blower does. It is also lighter than the 625 kit.

Another reason is that there is ZERO permanent modifications to the car with the G1 kit. Not all SC kits can say this.

Only permanent modification you need to do is cut the plastic frame to fit the front mount.

Why don't we ask a shop that has installed tons of 625 and G1 kits?
europeanautosource
tom @ eas

If I were in the market for a supercharger, first of all it would only be a ESS supercharger due to their expertise in this sandbox and secondly it would be the G1 kit for sure. Quieter, lighter, doesn't leak oil


People are big on 'customer service'. I'm big on a good product. I could care less that a fake tuner that sells random software gives 'great service'. Perhaps a restaurant that serves dog poo also provides 'great service' but I'd prefer to eat actual food whether or not the waiter smiles when bringing it.

SAMM3Y wrote

I have a 625 kit. The thing is the vortech blower is rated for boost that the m3 will never see and it's heavy and noisy. A proprietary blower designed for the low boost application is enticing, also the g1 doesn't spew fluid under high g applications apparently.

Proprietary blower would be G power like what i have on my car, at idle the supercharger is literally silent.

I cant bare to listen to the noise of a vortech head.

I put a G1 kit on my m3 in March of 2020. I have zero complaints and no issues with the kit so far.

I have about 8000 miles on the kit so far.

Install was straight forward and fairly simple (however i grew up in a garage and have been working on cars my entire life so might be bias)

Choosing between the tried and true 625 and the new G1 is REALLYYYYY tough...it's like, do I really trust ESS to make their own "in house" blower?

Did they really make the blower, or just outsource it to a blower maker and slap their name on it AKA private label...TBH i'd trust the latter more.

At the same time, I do like the efficiency of the new G1 blower. Lighter, smaller, produces roughly the same power as the old 625 kit, and better low end power....decisions decisions ....

Kisenwether wrote

I put a G1 kit on my m3 in March of 2020. I have zero complaints and no issues with the kit so far.

I have about 8000 miles on the kit so far.

Install was straight forward and fairly simple (however i grew up in a garage and have been working on cars my entire life so might be bias)

Nice! Did you put on the 93 octane pulley or 91 octane? Are you catless (with test pipes)?

Now, TELL ME how the G1 feels and sounds LOL...

SYT_Shadow wrote

Why don't we ask a shop that has installed tons of 625 and G1 kits?
europeanautosource
tom @ eas

If I were in the market for a supercharger, first of all it would only be a ESS supercharger due to their expertise in this sandbox and secondly it would be the G1 kit for sure. Quieter, lighter, doesn't leak oil

People are big on 'customer service'. I'm big on a good product. I could care less that a fake tuner that sells random software gives 'great service'. Perhaps a restaurant that serves dog poo also provides 'great service' but I'd prefer to eat actual food whether or not the waiter smiles when bringing it.

Don't have exact figures, but there are tons of VT2 kits out there and still going strong with the new G1 kits of today.

ESS kits are simple to install and just perform well.

BimmerNugget wrote

Choosing between the tried and true 625 and the new G1 is REALLYYYYY tough...it's like, do I really trust ESS to make their own "in house" blower?

Did they really make the blower, or just outsource it to a blower maker and slap their name on it AKA private label...TBH i'd trust the latter more.

At the same time, I do like the efficiency of the new G1 blower. Lighter, smaller, produces roughly the same power as the old 625 kit, and better low end power....decisions decisions ....

ESS has been in the supercharging business for over 20 years, they know a thing or two. The Vortech V3 series design is going on 25 years, it's fantastic we're getting new blood for a car that is no longer in production. That's not to say there is anything wrong with the Vortech units (still being sold alongside the G1), but improvements can always be made.

I have had my G1 since they first were offered. I have had no problems at all with the blower itself. I have changed pully sizes to get more boost (Right now I am at 9.5) and I am more than happy with it. I never had a 625 but a friend has one and mine is not as loud and mine is more compact. As far as ESS and their customer service I have nothing bad to say at all. When I was switching exhaust like my t-shits they would always respond with the correct tune. I have conversations with AJ and another fella there and they were always polite when I may have not! I have since gone with a custom tune and she runs strong. Both the 625 and G1 I think are solid kits and easy to install. Just my 2 cents!

BimmerNugget wrote

Nice! Did you put on the 93 octane pulley or 91 octane? Are you catless (with test pipes)?

Now, TELL ME how the G1 feels and sounds LOL...

I live at higher elevation so we decided to run the 93 pulley to try and get a little boost back, However still on 91 octane. Only thing I would have to worry about is if I ever went to lower elevation I would need to swap pulleys. But its a long way in any direction for that to happen for me.

I'm test pipes with Corsa rear section.

I love it, kept the car linear and it basically drives about the same just has that extra power. Hearing is subjective from person to person but I hear a light chatter and higher pitch whine of the supercharger (only at idle, any throttle input makes it go away) but I have also had a friend listen and didn't hear the same. It doesn't bother me at all just something I noticed for myself.

As far as the driving side of it, I do find myself turning traction all the way off and just letting it eat the rear tires 1st - 3rd.

amrazM wrote

Proprietary blower would be G power like what i have on my car, at idle the supercharger is literally silent.

I cant bare to listen to the noise of a vortech head.

Are you on one of the newer Gpower kits with the clutch? No blower rattle at all?

I’m following this thread, trying to decide.

I'm just gonna drop this here....

JBerry_ wrote

I’m following this thread, trying to decide.

A good performance indicator would be the 60-130 thread.

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

Spoiler: ESS is mentioned a lot. Expect even better from the G1 kits.

tom @ eas wrote

A good performance indicator would be the 60-130 thread.

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

Spoiler: ESS is mentioned a lot. Expect even better from the G1 kits.

Thanks, this is neat! But why are you on the VF kit lol

BimmerNugget wrote

Thanks, this is neat! But why are you on the VF kit lol

We used to offer VF, but dropped the brand long ago in favor of ESS. So we're in a rare position in which we can speak from having direct experience handling both brands.

We also have our own ESS times posted in both 60-130 and 1/4mi and a ton of airstrip run (standing 1/2 mile) data we never got around to submitting.