E53 X5 4.6is 2003 to twin turbo charge it or supercharge?
 

Hello everyone, I just bought a 4.6is 03 model few weeks ago. The car is in a pretty good condition just some very minor faults that i have already started fixing up. I bought the car a) because i have always loved them and b) to have cayennes and RR sports etc looking at the lovely backside of the 4.6is.

So my question is; to twin turbocharge the car or supercharge? Has anyone done anything similar or in the process of doing it. Id love to hear your thoughts. Ill have some pics up of the car very soon.

Thanks!

Sounds like a cool idea, but it may require even more maintenance due to the excess load being placed on the motor/internals...

Don't Do It....


keep it the way it is just do Bolt Ons stuffs...and Preventative maintenance is a must than making more power to our X5

You would be better off just buying an X5M.

I did tons of research regarding your question. I didn't go either route. The reasons being that unless you can find a Dinan kit there is nothing out there that is designed for the 4.6 engine. That means there will hardware that must be fabricated that adds significant cost and downtime. It is difficult to find someone that will do the necessary changes to the tune and I couldn't find anyone with past experience doing so.

Since I don't have the equipment or the expertise to do the fabricating and that much additional power could grenade the engine if not done right, I costed it out with those I deemed experts. There was a local shop that would go either way. I also spoke to STS. Both estimated the cost would be 10 to 12 thousand dollars and three plus weeks to do the install. With STS I would have to take it or have it shipped to their headquarters. Neither was comfortable giving me an estimate of how much or how long it would take to tune it nor what the gains would end up being.

The route I took was nitrous and meth injection. The cost was less than 1/3. The performance gains in HP and torque are greater and adjustments are easily done at very low cost. The nitrous has been in place for over a year. Current shot is 150. The meth is there to increase the fuel octane so the risk of a lean condition is not a concern. I haven't broken anything on my engine or running gear. Thus far there is no indication I have compromised reliability.

I now feel comfortable working on and making adjustments to the system. I have done some upgrades for convenience, safety and additional gains. I have planned out what I would need to do to increase the shot to 200 though I currently don't feel the need for more. It's a thrill every time I use it.

I drove several X5Ms even one with the Dinan mods before I invested in nitrous. It is a totally different animal to me but I am somewhat interested in owning one since more engine and driveline mods are available to get it the way I would want it. I would not sell the 4.6 and would continue to add performance.

Looking at the location money possibly isnt an issue??

If I had come to the conclusion that the overall risk/reward going to turbos or supercharging was better I would have done so.

I forgot to mention that all possibilities stress the engine more. Nitrous only does so when it is fired. One of downsides I have learned is you have to prepare to use nitrous and there is that tank to refill.

Oh come on, just because the guy is in Dubai doesn't mean he's rich...lol!

Yea I know......It was a long shot.....I fugured we would never hear from him again so why not? LOL!

Do you have a build thread about your nitrus system? Just curious...