Supercharger or Turbo for 4.4?

[willy_manily]

Does anybody have a supercharger or turbo on their 4.4 00-03 x5? how do they go? I may get one for mine what is a good one to go for?

[2002Silver4.6is]

From what I have heard on here guys really like their Dinan superchargers. I think it is a bit expensive for the gains you are getting. I had a supercharger on an Expedition. Off the line the difference was neglegible. From 40-120 mph wow.... that is where the supercharger really kicks in, at the upper rpm range. All in all I thought it was a waste of money. It was not enough kick in the pants off the line where I really wanted it.

If you are really thinking about performance, why not sell the 4.4 and buy a 4.6?? Right there you would gain 60 hp!! Put on an intake, exhaust and a chip and you will be at 370 - 380 hp, 100 more than you have now!! That is a huge difference. Figure $500 for the chip, $1,700 - $2,300 for the exhaust and $300 - $600 for the intake.

Why on the Dinan website, in the description of the supercharger system, does it state that the hp and torque for the supercharged 4.4 and the 4.6 are the same? 451/439?? The torque chart it shows a top torque output of 404 ftlbs? It would make sense that the supercharged 4.4 would have less hp and torque than the supercharged 4.6.......

[2002Silver4.6is]

Found the answer. The supecharged 4.4 puts out 421 hp while the 4.6 version puts out 451. Still seems like they are still a bit too close. The 4.6 has a 60 hp advantage in stock form.

At 421 hp for the 4.4 it has a 50% gain in hp (140hp) If the 4.6 has the same 50% gain it would be putting out 510hp. I wonder if they are running different sized pulleys so they have different amounts of pressure. Even if the gain was the same amount of hp as the 4.4 the 4.6 would be up to 480hp....

From the write-up on the supercharged 4.4:

Countless hours of development, refinement and testing have resulted in a supercharged engine that produces 421 horsepower and 404 lb/ft. torque.....

[Sedoy]

The best deal for the money is ESS supercharger kit:

Price: $7250

Boost pressure: 6 PSI
Horsepower: 400 DIN (Stock 282/286/290)
Torque: 560 NM (Stock 440)
0 - 60: Man : 5,7 sec
Installation time : 12-14 hours

[Schanck]

Willy

CAPA Performance in SA are the Australian Distributors for ESS

This is what I will be getting ..... does seem they mark up from what you can purchase direct from Europe ..... but still have to pay shipping and instal

Schanck

[willy_manily]

haha thanks for the information, i dont think ill get a 4.6 because in around about 10 months im getting a new x5 4.8. But thanks anyway

[NINCHS]

ess and dinan use the same supercharger according to the write up and reviews on the homepage.

[X5Flyboy]

On my 2001 I did the Dinan S2 upgrade (everything, except the supercharger). It acts like a muscle car now and regularly shuts down Mustang 5.0s off the line. Since I usually keep it limited to the speed limit, I felt the supercharger was too much $ for what little use it would be used

[2002Silver4.6is]

Originally Posted by willy_manily

haha thanks for the information, i dont think ill get a 4.6 because in around about 10 months im getting a new x5 4.8. But thanks anyway

If you are getting the 4.8 in only 10 months why would you consider putting all of that money into the 4.4??? Save the money and put it into mods for the 4.8!

[otoupalik]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

The best deal for the money is ESS supercharger kit:

Price: $7250

Boost pressure: 6 PSI
Horsepower: 400 DIN (Stock 282/286/290)
Torque: 560 NM (Stock 440)
0 - 60: Man : 5,7 sec
Installation time : 12-14 hours

I would be careful with that unit. We have seen a few in the shop, one on an X5 and it was not something I would do to my X5.

We are a VF distributor and I have their kit on my MZ3. I am contemplating putting it on my 02 X5 (like the 4.6, but I am already invested in the 4.4 with the mods and maintenance).

I would only look at the Dinan or VF. I am partial to VF, as I think the kits are a bit nicer and a much higher value proposition.

VF does all of their own molds in house, and the kit looks and feels VERY OEM.

Here is some more info: (link to the 540 info as the X5 is "still in dev" officially)

VF 540 S/C Info (4.4L)

As to the user I quoted, the VF has more power, is located in CA and they have applied for CARB approval. Oh, and they are less money. $6000 for stage 1. I think that is the best bet for the money.=)

Thanks
brad