ESS supercharger

[rneedham1979]

Anyone considering the ESS supercharger for the 4.8i or 4.8is?

x45/x50 N62 V8 SC

[cegeste]

I am!

I wonder if pricing will be in similar range to other solutions.

[jst2878]

Should make the 4.8 a beast

[Hit Redline]

I would guess in the 5-6k range for the stage 1 and add another 1-1.5k for stage 2. Remember its not just the hardware that you will be paying for, its the tuning and that cost $$$ to R&D so you X doesn't blow up. Then it needs to be installed and if you can't do it on your own expect to pay upwards of 2k to install.

But yes would be bad ass for sure.

[cegeste]

The ESS kit for my E39 M5 is in the $8-10k range, so I imagine it to be around the same price range.

This would be the first (that I know of) forced induction solution for the N62. Dinan only has a solution for the M62. Enlighten me fellow members if there are others...

[rneedham1979]

Yeah, 460 and 500 is no joke. I'm in an awkward position as we're looking at new vehicles but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost since we really don't "need" a new vehicle at this time and that nothing is really jumping out at us.

6-10k for 500BHP and another 5k for SS headers makes far more sense than say the new X5M or most other vehicles. Obviously the X5M is a remarkable machine but it's also more limited than the 4.8is with regards to towing etc. Honestly, if the X5m had the same tow rating and was available with the optional 3rd row seat, we would already own one. The fact that it isn't, makes it really hard to justify one.

I can only assume one would realize a gain of 25-35whp with headers, mush like the E39 M5. If so, you could very well be around the 540-560BHP mark with the 4.8is with a modest 13-15k investment, assuming you do the work yourself, which is much easier to swallow than the 90-100k the X5M will run ya....

Originally Posted by jst2878

Should make the 4.8 a beast

[JCL]

Originally Posted by rneedham1979

Obviously the X5M is a remarkable machine but it's also more limited than the 4.8is with regards to towing etc. Honestly, if the X5m had the same tow rating and was available with the optional 3rd row seat, we would already own one. The fact that it isn't, makes it really hard to justify one.

Is the UK tow rating lower for the X5M? Maybe that is an issue with the euro towbar. The North American X5M is reportedly rated higher than the non M model.

[rneedham1979]

Can you cite that info? Everything I've seen it was much lower.

Originally Posted by JCL

Is the UK tow rating lower for the X5M? Maybe that is an issue with the euro towbar. The North American X5M is reportedly rated higher than the non M model.

[JCL]

I don't have an X5M owner's manual to check. The E70 was rated 6000 lbs. Edmunds has reported that the X5M tow rating was increased to 6600 lbs.

Where was it reportedly to be reduced?

[rneedham1979]

I think the X5 has always been 6k, to include the E70. Just surfing the net although I've never found a definitive answer other than they (BMW) don't offer a tow package for it.