ESS supercharger
 

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

x45/x50 N62 V8 SC

I am!

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

Should make the 4.8 a beast

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.

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...

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....

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.

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

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?

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.

They offer a tow package. They advertise Trailer Stability Control in the X5M model introduction. They have photos of an X5M towing on the BMW website. I just checked, and have seen multiple references to 6600 and 6615 lb towing limits with the X5M.

Look in the X5M forum on this board for details on the BMW hitch (North American receiver style, in this case).

Another thing added to my list on day three of ownership!

Nice. Still no third row though, any idea why they chose to drop that option?

Are they going to develop something similar for the M62 for us pre-LCI 4.4/4.6 guys?

Isn't the Dinan kit in a similar price range ($11k) for the 4.6is ?

I understand that the floor pan is different between the 2 row models and the 3 row models, and the X5M was designed and built on the 2 row floor pan, so it can't just be added. Given how limited the 3rd row is in functionality, it wouldn't matter at all to me if I wanted an X5M.

Yes, but a roots blower is far superior to the centrifugal unit used by Dinan.

While functionality may be limited, you still have the ability to seat 7 if the need arises, which is one of my wife's main concerns.

As long as two of them are small children, and none of them have any significant luggage.

When I need to carry six people once or twice a year, I have rented an Expedition or Navigator.

did any of you get the SC installed on the 4.8is? Any experience in terms of
1) how well it works (additional power?!)
2) how much it cost
3) increase in fuel consumption

Thanks in advance

I'm doubtful you'll find anyone in the auto-forum world that has done this...however, i encourage to continue your search and let us know what you discover. I say this as a friend and myself searched high & low for forced induction back when the 4.8iS was first released. We were told by Dinan, ESS, and other smaller/indy tuners that the 4.8iS system was under research and details would soon follow...this was 2005 i believe.

We followed up with Dinan and others...they spoke of the success they had with the 4.6iS but they were no longer pursuing development for the 4.8iS. Even the indy tuners stopped showing interest. We took their word for it at the time but now i'm curious as to why exactly they lost interest.

As an alternative to the new release X M's...i'm more interested in the V10 from the E60 tuned by Dinan with a custom trany...tucked neatly into the shell of an E53 iS model :drool:

Happy hunting!

found this on a different board. I sent the ESS sales reps an eMail today

ESS X5 N62 Supercharger system - XBimmers.com | BMW X6 Forum X5 Forum

ESS x45/x50 N62 Supercharger System Teaser! - bimmerfest - BMW Forums

All too familiar...pardon my pessimism. If they're beyond research and seriously pursuing development, this time around, there's no better time than the present.

They probably gave up but because the X5 is such a fragile beast.

The post is only 3 months old, so I hope (for them) that they have something to show soon :-)

This is still in development. The link in first post was broken as ESS updated their website. I have fixed the link now.

Coming Q2 2011.

keep our finger crossed.. the ESS sales replied with a vague answer that I should check their website for any product updates. So hopefully it'll be Q2 2011 :-)

x45 N62B44 TVS1 : 430HP - - E53 X5 4.4i
x45 N62B44 TVS2 : 465HP - - E53 X5 4.4i
x50 N62B48 TVS1 : 450HP - - E53 X5 4.8is
x50 N62B48 TVS2 : 480HP - - E53 X5 4.8is

Deja vu...I'll believe it when it's factually released. Till then...

http://i26.tinypic.com/2nbbn2c.gif

Any further feedback from ESS on their supercharger?

Per their site, still an ongoing development. FWIW...this is the 3rd time since the 4.8iS release, that ESS has announced a SC system for the N62...perhaps this time the charm.

I'd love to stick a SC on my 4.4i. I'll wait to see what the cost and performance is, because I wonder if I might be able to sell my X put the $ together with the SC cost and get a red 4.8is :D

Just wait a few more years and get the E70 with V8 TT, a simple S/W update will push it to 500HP. I upgraded a turbo car to bigger turbo once and it was a headache with bucking, surge, over boost etc can't imagine going from NA engine to SC (in terms of tweaking to make it run consistently).

:dunno: I've had an ESS S/C on my E39 540 (same motor as early 4.4's) for about 5 years, now. I've taken it on 1,000 mile road trips and many, many drives. The worst thing that has happened to me is reduced gas mileage from stomping the go fast pedal!

FWIW, at 125k miles here.... 123k of them with blower. Nothing to tweak, really. I blame it on proper parts selection & maintenance.

Hope you guys get good news from ESS soon. :)

Subscribed for whoa nelly news...
 

:popcorn:

Keep us posted.

J

I emailed ESS and here is what i got back:

We do in-house installations of this kit at our Phoenix, AZ installation center now. The DIY version will be available later this year.

If you ship the car in to us, we can do the complete package installed at the prices listed in the attached brochure.

Regards,

Asbjorn Bohn
ESS Performance Products USA Inc.
E-Mail : [email protected]
Web : ESS Tuning | BMW Tuning Parts | BMW Racing, Tuning, Aftermarket, Performance Parts | Engine Power Chips | Performance Upgrades Chip
Tel : (480)389-4377

Price tag is $7500 - $9000 depending on what stage you want.

Who is going to pull the trigger first?

Awesome news! Thanks Sterling. For a second I considered getting a green card until I realised the only Australian ESS dealer is in Victoria:D time to convince the other half:rolleyes:

Pretty hefty price tag, considering that E53 is getting close to 2 generations behind. Come spring 2012 we will see the last model year for E70.

I didnt read through the entire post but is there a supercharger out there for the
4.4 N62????

Yep

Very interested for my 2006 4.8is
 

Any speculation as to what sort of 0-60 times the supercharger would yield for the 4.8is? I'd be especially interested in a Group Buy>

Thanks

Bruce

How well does the transmission, transfer case, torque converter, etc handle the added power of a supercharger? It seems to me the stock transmission is rated for a certain input HP/torque. Are most people installing a SC without modifying any other part of the drivetrain?

There is no data available for that, as this is the first SC for a 4.8is. Member J.Belknap has a SC on his 4.6, and it has reportedly been very solid, but that is a different vehicle.

Any updates?
 

I continue to be interested in this for my 2006 4.8is. I plan to get in touch with Motor Works West to see if this is something they can do. I'd still like to get a sense as to the improvements in 0-60 that can be expected with the ESS SC. Will we be able to stay close to the almighty X5M? :thumbup:

Thanks.

Not so fast, Mario!
 

Looking at some published specs, a 4.6is with an ESS supercharger will increase the stock hp and torque to 445hp/460tq... good for 5.2 seconds to 60mph... (almost identical 0-60 performance numbers produced by a stock 2003 E39 M5, which is very impressive for a 6000lb+ vehicle!)

On the other hand, the X5M produces 555hp and 501Nm torque... (good for a whopping 4.5 second leap to 60mph!)

Impressive specs, yes! ...but the short answer is still NO; you will get spanked by an X5M! :nanana:

Unless you change Headers and change diff ratios :) there is also option for you to throw out cats and put straight pipes, but I don't know about inspections.

Probably just a little bit better than those 4.6 numbers posted (still about a second slower to 60). e53 only weighs about 250 lbs less than X5M, and ESS stage 2 makes 480 (vs. 555). Would love to do this if I had $9k to throw away. Come on Powerball!

Scott

Instead of upgrading the 4.8is with the ESS supercharger for 9k$, how much would a conversion to a whole different engine cost (perhaps the S70/2)?

Exponentially more. Entirely new powertrain, removing all the awd components, etc.

0-60 correction
 

I found this website to be very interesting; BMW 0-60 Times & BMW Quarter Mile Times | BMW E36, X5, BMW M3 0-60, M5, M6, M1, 330, Z4 and Cabrio Bimmer 0 to 60 stats!
In my previous quote, I thought there was published information to support the idea that an ESS SC X5 4.6is would be within striking range of an E39 M5. Apparently I was mistaken.

The SC X5 would have performance numbers more similar to a 2001 540i/6 speed rather than ANY 2000 or newer M-car (with the exception of the M3 convertible)

The idea of having a 445+ hp X5 sounds very intriguing, but I would not be happy if I spent the money and still get my A** handed to my by a stock E39 M5 (that I could have bought for not whole lot more than the cost of the SC conversion).
:rolleyes:

Agree 100%. And with the easily-boosted turbo X3 and X5s become more plentiful on the used market every day, the cost/benefit on adding a supercharger to an aging E53 makes less sense each month.

This product missed the market by about 2 years IMO, but maybe makes some sense for an E70 owner that is stuck with a 4.8i that otherwise can be trounced by an F25 X3.

+1

Sad though cause that'll make aftermarket mods kinda dry.

Mods
 

Maybe I'll just throw an Eisenmann exhaust on with a CAI and throttle body and be done with it?

Hi!

Gettring more power from E53 is an understandable idea, because in terms os handling there's no comparison between newer BMW models with obvious emphasis on comfort and high-tech and older BMW models, where the driving pleasure was standing on the first place.

The E53 still represents the inital idea to combine sporty feeling with practicality and as it cames to the market 1998 it was the class determinig car with no rivals. Only Cayenne could match the onroad capabilities of E53 couple of years later. Though, the design is a very personal issue, let me say the E53 stays the most masculine-looking SUV ever made. That's why i'm think there are plenty of reasons to invest money in a car, that's getting older meanwhile.

Still there's a problem with power inhancements, especially regarding the 4.6 and 4.8 models - the automatic transmission is working on its limits - those are 350 hp and 500 Nm (370 lb ft), that's the reason BMW never offered E53 with S62 engine from M5 E39, like nowadays X5 M and M5 share the same engine.

So BMW had to get the engine for the sporty 4.6is from Alpina, but even this engine's still too powerfull for the auto transmission (ZF 5HP24) - this gearbox is layed out by manufacturer for approx. 200k km (125k mi) in Europe-specific driving conditions. Only due to the rather calm driving habits in North America the gearboxes could last longer.

So, everywhere exept for USA it wouldn't be a great idea to get more than 350 hp (even though BMW claimed 360 hp for 4.8is, there's much less in fact) from the top of the line engines of E53 family. 400 and more HP would destroy the geabox in couple of weeks, as long as you're driving on the european highways in a speed range of 100-150 mph. I also doubt, the gearbox will last long in a stop-and-go urban traffic.

Please excuse me, if all i wrote was too obvious.

Regards,

Nick

Some might beg to differ with the calm driving habits of North Americans comment. :D :rofl:

:iagree:

Hello!

But its not really my opinion, its a general assumption of manufacturer, which certainly could differ in great number of personal cases.

What I meant, was that the road system and traffic regulation in USA are more strict, as in Europe, I personally went from NY to Miami by car in 2009 and if there wasn't a need to stop for gas, I could stay the whole 1,5k miles in the highest gear at moderate rpms (so it doesnt matter how much HPs you have if you only use 20% of them) - it is impossible in Europe. Dont to mention the cops everywhere, you can drive across Italy about 1000 miles you won't see any policemens. Even the urban traffic in US seemed to be more regulated, whith all the "this line only for left-turning"etc. - marks on the tarmac.

Regards,

Nick

According to page 1 found here:

"GA6HP26Z (designed for maximum torque of 600 Nm)"

Even the 6-Speed auto is capable to keep up with 600 Nm, there are stiil alot of transmission issues on 4.8is.

My 05 diesel (6 speed ) was remaped and the exhaust modified to 615Nm 3 years ago and I personally haven't experienced any problems, and torque is by far more of a problem to the the drive line than Kw ( HP ) A point I made to one of our members who asked me about performance increase to X5s was I would think it far less of a strain on the transmission or any other part of the drive line by remaping or supercharging than it would be towing at somewhere near capacity for extended periods, My E53 has a towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes (metric) think about the exponential forces of pulling that up an incline or the increased load at speed due to wind resistance of the towed vehicle. In AUS the same trans has been used for many years in our GT Falcon (Ford) which developes around 428hp/433fp (590nm) so obviously Ford decided the 6 speed was well capable, and still has a tow capacity above this. Cheers.

The ultimate hp/torque capacity of the transmission as specified by the transmission manufacturer likely has to do with the strength of the internal components, things like shafts and bearings.

When discussing things like trailer towing and duty cycle, we are getting into the system limitations, not just the limitations of the transmission itself. Just by way of examples, the system includes a cooling circuit, and software that could manage torque limits by softening shifts. If another manufacturer used the same transmission and didn't manage the engine controls to reduce power during shift events, the transmission would see very different load profiles. Conversely, if the vehicle manufacturer didn't need 600 nm of capacity in a specific application, they wouldn't put the cooling system and other components into the truck to accomodate that limit, even though the transmission itself may be capable of that torque limit.

Not launching (rolling resistance) helps too... it gets as much torque as you give it.

so has anyone done it yet? they have the supercharger up for the E60 550i (same 4.8i engine) but nothing under the E53 X5 4.8is section.

BMW - E60/61 5-Series - 550i - ESS Tuning | BMW Tuning Parts | BMW Racing, Tuning, Aftermarket, Performance Parts | Engine Power Chips | Performance Upgrades Chip

TVS2 package: "Adds 120 hp/80 ft. lbs. torque" :thumbup:

$$$$$$$

Sorry to ask here, but since this thread has no big deal talking about ESS S/C,
I have an E60 3.0d 04, would the remap fit? where could I get it and is it possible
to get shipped without bringing in the car? As I am not in US. and much would it cost?