Frequently Asked Questions regarding supercharging.

A supercharger system represents a significant investment. Potential supercharger buyers need to gain as much knowledge about the various types and brands of superchargers as possible before making a buying decision. The purpose of this FAQ is to answer as many questions as possible about supercharging in general and the ESS kits in particular.

Q: What does the different ESS supercharger system designation mean ?
A:
PD1: Powerdyne based stage 1 system, non intercooled -no longer in production.
VT1: Vortech based stage 1 system, non intercooled.
VT2: Vortech based stage 2 system, intercooled.
VT3: Vortech based stage 3 system, intercooled with upgraded engine internals.
TX1: ASA TM1 based stage 1 system, non intercooled.
TX2: ASA TM1 based stage 2 system, intercooled with higher boost pressure.
TS1: Lysholm TwinScrew stage 1 system.
TS2: Lysholm TwinScrew stage 2 system with patented Laminova liquid intercooling.
TS3: Lysholm TwinScrew stage 3 system with patented Laminova liquid intercooling and upgraded engine internals

Q: What exactly does a supercharger do?
A: A supercharger forces additional air and fuel into the engine under pressure. This occurs when the engine is under full throttle or under load, not at normal cruise or most normal driving. A large displacement engine makes more power than a small displacement engine because it can convert larger amounts of fuel and air into energy. A supercharger allows a smaller engine to do the same thing but only when extra power is actually needed.

Q: What is boost?
A: Boost is the amount of pressure (in pounds per square inch) that the supercharger provides. The air that goes into an unblown (unsupercharged) engine is drawn in by the vacuum created when the piston goes down in the cylinder bore. This air goes into the unsupercharged engine at atmospheric pressure which at sea level is 14.7 psi (pounds per square inch). On a blown engine the boost is the amount of additional pressure the inlet charge has over atmospheric that goes into the engine. So if your blower makes six pounds of boost that means your inlet charge is atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi) plus the 6 psi of boost for a total of 20.7 psi.

Q: How much boost can you normally run?
A: 6-8 PSI is normally a safe level for most stock engines. Running more than this will usually require a reduction in compression ratio. Every engine is different and some engines are more tolerant of boost than others.

Q: How difficult are ESS Supercharger systems to install?
A: All ESS Supercharger systems have been designed with ease of installation in mind. All systems comes with a detailed, illustrated step-by-step installation instruction, and the entire system has been designed as a 100% bolt-on system with no adjustments necessary. The installation can be performed using normal hand tools in 6-10 hours (I6 systems) and 14-20 hours (V8 systems). If you do not have good mechanical skills, it is recommended that you let a competent auto mechanic perform the installatio. Returning the car to stock status again is easy, with no evidence of the supercharger system ever being there.

Q: Doesn't running boost on an engine put more strain on the engine's parts?
A: Not necessarily. RPM is what kills engine parts. Typically, an unblown engine has to run up to 7,000 or 8,000 rpm to make any real power. At these high speeds you need a special crank, rods, pistons, rocker arms, valves, valve springs, and on and on. But a blower substantially increases power and torque at much lower rpm's. You usually don't have to run a blown engine over about 6,000 rpm to make maximum power. At these speeds stock engine components are more than adequate. Additionally an engine sees maximum load on the components at the moment the piston changes speed from going up in the cylinder to going down. There is a commonly held theory, too complicated to go into here, that increasing the combustion pressure, which a supercharger does, actually reduces this maximum load when piston travel changes from up to down. Under this theory, at comparable rpm's a blown engine is easier on parts than an unblown engine. In actuality, as long as detonation is controlled, you rarely have any engine failures with a blower.

Q: What happens if my blower drive belt breaks? How do I get home?
A: With a ESS Supercharger if the blower drive belt breaks the car will drive exactly like it did without the blower. It will run perfectly normal. However blower drive belt breakage is very rare. These belts typically last for 50,000 miles (80,000km) or more. These drive belts are industry standard which can be obtained at any auto parts store.

Q: What kind of warranty does ESS provide?
A: ESS offers a two year, unlimited mileage warranty. For complete details please contact us.

PLEASE NOW REFER TO THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM FOR THE FULL ESS PRICE AND APPLICATION LIST

 

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If you have a BMW and want uncompromised performance, then supercharging offers the best overall option of any form of tuning.


Supercharging offers the most versatile, reliable and best value form of engine power increase possible.

WE WILL BEAT ANY OTHER QUOTE, try us. Call or E-Mail us.

ESS is without a doubt the best and most compatible brand to go for. Although ESS also operate out of the USA, they are a Norwegian company and therefore primarily design their kits and software with European specification cars in mind, so unlike other USA made kits, ESS kits and ECU software work perfectly on European Specification cars, and as counter intuitive as it may sound, they also work perfectly on USA specification cars; this is due to how the ECU software architecture works in these cars.

ESS Tuning was founded in Aremark, Norway in 1995, and have been providing supercharger solutions for the mighty BMW platform ever since, acquiring a legendary reputation as the largest BMW supercharger system manufacturer in the world, as well as a well-known innovator in the chip and tuning sector with extensive expertise in Bosch and Siemens engine control systems.

There's no room in ESS's world for half-done solutions. Their products undergo the strictest production standards and unmatched testing - all part of their goal to achieve uncompromised performance. ESS ensure that only OEM grade components and materials are used in everything they make. Fit and finish is vital, thereby making sure that everything comes together underneath the bonnet with no fabrication required. In addition, all extra power made from ESS kits is delivered in a smooth and balanced manner, just as the factory would have intended. All ESS systems are designed to reach maximum performance at safe boost levels on stock, unmodified engines. Each kit is totally complete, down to every last detail, to make installation and ownership easy and problem-free. ESS also provide a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty on street supercharger kits and have fast technical service and support. ESS products are engineered and manufactured to the highest level of quality. ESS's goal when developing a new tuning product is to enhance the performance characteristics of the car without compromising comfort, drivability, durability, emissions and fuel consumption under normal driving conditions. Simply put, ESS don't release any product until it passes their rigorous standard. When you purchase an ESS product you can rest assured you get a completely tested product that is proven to perform to specification under all conditions.

Uncompromised Performance means ESS Tuning bring you the whole package: Speed, Comfort, and Reliability. Nothing is left to chance.

All ESS kits include the E Flash ECU reprogramming device - which allows you / the installer to reprogram your ECU on site instead of sending it away to Norway and awaiting it's return. The E Flash also provides you full fault code diagnostic scan and fault code clearing facility, furthermore you can also use it for any future ECU reprogramming you may require, for instance if later upgrading to a higher kit level.

At bottom of this page you can see the link for our ESS model application Price list in £gbp inc vat, HOWEVER PLEASE NOTE these prices vary according to current Euro / US Dollar exchange rates so please use this list as a guide ONLY, please call us for best up to date price - which is often less than listed on the below pricelist.

We offer the full range of the excellent ESS products.

BMW Models catered for :-

E46 3 Series
- 330i M54B30 :- Twin Screw Stage 1 TS1 and TS2
- M3 E46 :- G500 Supercharger System (Gen.4), E46 M3 G540 Supercharger System (Gen.4), E46 M3 G580 Supercharger System (Gen.4)

E9X 3 Series
- 325i(3.0l) /328i/330i :- ESS N52 G1 Supercharger System (Gen.3)
- M3 E9x M3 VT2-625 Intercooled Supercharger System; S65 G1 Intercooled Supercharger System and S65 G1+ Intercooled Supercharger System

E39 5 Series
- All M54 & M52 TU Engines, 528 & 530i :- Twin Screw Stage 1 TS1 and TS2
- M5 :- M5 G1 Supercharger System

E60 5 Series
- M54 & M52 TU Engine 530i :- M54B30 Twin Screw Stage 1 TS1 and TS2
- N52 TU Engines, 525i,528i and 530i :- N52 G1 Supercharger System (Gen.3)
- N62 Engines 545i / 550i :- N62B44 G1 Supercharger System
- M5 :- S85 G2-680 Supercharger System (Gen.3)

E63 6 Series
- M54 & M52 TU Engines 630i :- M54B30 Twin Screw Stage 1 TS1 and TS2
- N52 TU Engines, 625iand 630i :- N52 G1 Supercharger System (Gen.3)
- N62 Engines 645i / 650i :- N62B44 G1 Supercharger System

E8x Series 1
- 128i and 130i :- N52 G1 Supercharger System (Gen.3)

Z4 E8X
- M54 & M52 TU Engine 3.0 i :- M54B30 Twin Screw Stage 1 TS1 and TS2
- All N52 TU Engines, Z4 3.0i and 3.0 si :- N52 G1 Supercharger System (Gen.3)
- Z4M S54 Engine :- VT2-525 Supercharger System

If you cannot see your model listed, please contact us, as the ESS range can change / be updated from time to time; and if an ESS kit not available we may be able to specify next best alternative brand .

WE WILL BEAT ANY OTHER GENUINE QUOTE.

PLEASE CALL / EMAIL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS.