2013 128i N52 build work in progress (ESS SC question)

[SteveOStyle]

I have a 2013 128i and I have been slowly modding the car...I have reached to a point where I could use some more power... I have not mess with the vanos/valvetronic timing (is it worth it? ) and the only other modification I could find is to install a Supercharger... I have been searching the forums for others who has done this but with no success I have only found posts that dated back to 2011/2016. is there anyone out there that has newer information on their experience with SC preferable ESS N52 VT1 Gen2? I have come too far to upgrade to a 135i n54/n55... so far these are all the modifications I have done to the car: front and rear 1m bumpers, BC coilovers, BMW Performance Brakes, 19 inch staggered wheels, m3 front end arms/swaybar, strut brace, Quad custom exhaust, Stage 3 intake manifold, AA Exhaust header (Will have to go back to stock if I installed SC not Happy), AFE cold intake (Will have to remove for SC), ESS tune..... Looking for others with SC installed is there any problems, performance issues, etc

[Rmtt]

I'm in the same boat. My signature shows all my mods. I have one you don't....Milvs. Do some research on them. I have posts in here where I installed mine. It's definitely worth it for the money. It's like adding a cam with a few more degrees of lift and duration. Unfortunately....there is only one guy that tunes for these. His name is Bob and is the StageFP in my sig. He's in NC, but he remotely tuned mine.

He was with BPC. If you search the 328 forums for ESS Supercharger tuning, look for posts from a guy with the username "Moser" I believe.

Bob was/is able to tune his N52 and keep the headers. I think that car ended up making slightly over 300 whp, and Bob thought with work he could get it to around 330 whp.

Bob tuned my headers, 3 Stage Intake, and Milvs each time updating my tune and emailing it to me to load myself. Most others with my mods are right at the 250 whp range. I know my car really is night and day between now and when I first bought it.

I'm seriously going to be talking to Bob about the ESS kit as I'm only 3 hours from him...and I would feel safer with him having it on his dyno for this mod.

He's done quite a few I have heard since then, but figured the headers out early on.

Good luck.

[desertman123]

Hey Steve!

MILVS are fantastic - I can't comment on the ESS SC.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Hey Steve!

MILVS are fantastic - I can't comment on the ESS SC.

Trust this guy right here. He is the one who I based my entire build from.

[carscatscoffee15]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

Trust this guy right here. He is the one who I based my entire build from.

both of these guys are spot on with their advice. There have been some issues reported if you look well enough and I think only one person has gotten it to work? I believe it has something to do with the hoses they initially send you.

I also happen to be in the same boat as you, going too far with said car to go with a 135.

Every time I see her though, I wouldn't have want it any other way!

StageFP would definitely steer you in the right direction and drove down their just to get tuned and the MILVS + 3IM installed. I have a similar set up as Rmtt the major difference being that I have the AT slushbox

[sixburgh]

I found the guy who has done a supercharger on his BMW 128i e88.
I attended a C&O eventy in Atlanta, GA
He claims to have the first N52 with Vortex Supercharger tuned by ESS in the USA.
A great car enthusiast. The guy is a wealth of knowledge.
I would want him as a neighbor.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by carscatscoffee15

both of these guys are spot on with their advice. There have been some issues reported if you look well enough and I think only one person has gotten it to work? I believe it has something to do with the hoses they initially send you.

I also happen to be in the same boat as you, going too far with said car to go with a 135.

Every time I see her though, I wouldn't have want it any other way!

StageFP would definitely steer you in the right direction and drove down their just to get tuned and the MILVS + 3IM installed. I have a similar set up as Rmtt the major difference being that I have the AT slushbox

There are actually a few on the 328i site that have them running. In the 3 Series NA thread, one user (Noir) blew an engine, but I don't think it was related to the ESS kit. He just purdhcased another engine and will be using the ESS kit on it.

Also one of the posters in his thread had had an ESS kit on their car for over 20K miles.

As for the transmission....look at it as at least you got a car that checked off everything you wanted except for one. You can fix that later.

I waited for months to find my 128I M-Sport with the 6 speed. So much so that my wife was pleading for me just to buy something already!

I was searching links everyday.

[Rmtt]

Here's one of the "3" Series thread.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1490186

[SteveOStyle]

Thank you guys for all your information..I have been very busy getting the car ready for a few shows in 2020.. I am going ahead and installing the new ess sc gen3 that was released recently. the gen3 ess replaces the gen2 ess vortex which is 20lbs lighter than the vortex... it will be installed tomorrow Friday and Saturday...will let you know the results.. I will post some pictures once its installed.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by SteveOStyle

Thank you guys for all your information..I have been very busy getting the car ready for a few shows in 2020.. I am going ahead and installing the new ess sc gen3 that was released recently. the gen3 ess replaces the gen2 ess vortex which is 20lbs lighter than the vortex... it will be installed tomorrow Friday and Saturday...will let you know the results.. I will post some pictures once its installed.

Definitely in for this. I seen they released the Gen3 unit.

Are you going to go back to your stock exhaust manifold and use their tune, or look at other tuning options to keep the headers?

[ornicar]

Originally Posted by SteveOStyle

Thank you guys for all your information..I have been very busy getting the car ready for a few shows in 2020.. I am going ahead and installing the new ess sc gen3 that was released recently. the gen3 ess replaces the gen2 ess vortex which is 20lbs lighter than the vortex... it will be installed tomorrow Friday and Saturday...will let you know the results.. I will post some pictures once its installed.

Can you please tell us what is the P/N (photos are welcome) of the injectors?

"-Larger Bosch fuel injectors with identical spray pattern and angle as OEM to ensure 100% perfect driveability with valvetronic reduced valve lift."

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by SteveOStyle

Thank you guys for all your information..I have been very busy getting the car ready for a few shows in 2020.. I am going ahead and installing the new ess sc gen3 that was released recently. the gen3 ess replaces the gen2 ess vortex which is 20lbs lighter than the vortex... it will be installed tomorrow Friday and Saturday...will let you know the results.. I will post some pictures once its installed.

Can't wait to see both you and the car at shows this season!

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1490186

Some info for you.

Originally Posted by ornicar

Can you please tell us what is the P/N (photos are welcome) of the injectors?

"-Larger Bosch fuel injectors with identical spray pattern and angle as OEM to ensure 100% perfect driveability with valvetronic reduced valve lift."

To my knowledge they're S65 injectors.

[SteveOStyle]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

Definitely in for this. I seen they released the Gen3 unit.Are you going to go back to your stock exhaust manifold and use their tune, or look at other tuning options to keep the headers?

Unfortunately I have to go back to stock headers or similar I purchase these on ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/264424647450 they look a lot better than stock and lighter and they are stainless steel I am gutting the cats before installing them... I hope the car will sound real close to the AA headers …

Originally Posted by ornicar

Can you please tell us what is the P/N (photos are welcome) of the injectors?

"-Larger Bosch fuel injectors with identical spray pattern and angle as OEM to ensure 100% perfect driveability with valvetronic reduced valve lift."

I will get that info tomorrow or Saturday when im at the shop and post it

i will be also installing Seibon hood and csl trunk lid this weekend and a new set of Bavgruppe custom headlight with demon eyes..I will post some pics after all is done.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by SteveOStyle

Unfortunately I have to go back to stock headers or similar I purchase these on ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/264424647450 they look a lot better than stock and lighter and they are stainless steel I am gutting the cats before installing them... I hope the car will sound real close to the AA headers …



I will get that info tomorrow or Saturday when im at the shop and post it

i will be also installing Seibon hood and csl trunk lid this weekend and a new set of Bavgruppe custom headlight with demon eyes..I will post some pics after all is done.

Maybe you already have this figured out, but if you "gut" them will you not introduce the same problem as the AA headers with the ESS tune? ESS runs a MAF delete tune and that was the reason they couldn't get it to work with headers. Now I don't know if it was flow issues, or position of the sensors changed relative to the exhaust ports.

But if the headers you bought have the same sensor port locations as the AA and you are going to gut them.....it's basically the same thing unless I am missing something.

[SteveOStyle]

To my understanding I know it's where the sensor is located the aa header has it located too far away from the cylinder head so the O2 sensor gets a delayed reading...the cats are after the sensor so they shouldn't be an issue ...the person doing the install is a ESS dealer he has installed many ESS sc let's hope he is correct...fingers crossed the header I purchase is similar to the stock headers

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by SteveOStyle

To my understanding I know it's where the sensor is located the aa header has it located too far away from the cylinder head so the O2 sensor gets a delayed reading...the cats are after the sensor so they shouldn't be an issue ...the person doing the install is a ESS dealer he has installed many ESS sc let's hope he is correct...fingers crossed the header I purchase is similar to the stock headers

Well good luck and keep us updated!

[Kubricks]

I have the ESS SC for 2 years now, the car is DD and is running great still, you can find some reference on my post in 3-series forum.
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1385828

If you have questions feel free to ask.
In all honestly it's much easier to just go for an N54/55 for power, unless you really love your current car like I do lol.

[wolfe]

Originally Posted by Kubricks

I have the ESS SC for 2 years now, the car is DD and is running great still, you can find some reference on my post in 3-series forum.

If you have questions feel free to ask.

Awesome to hear a success story with this kit! In the two years you've had it installed, did you ever find a way around the no brake + throttle issue?

[The Wind Breezes]

You have barely begun to mod the car from your list in the OP. All things considered, yes, it will be a lot easier AND less expensive for you to just get a 135i.

[Kubricks]

Originally Posted by wolfe

Awesome to hear a success story with this kit! In the two years you've had it installed, did you ever find a way around the no brake + throttle issue?

Hey there.
I solved the issue by disabling the brake signal to the ECU. The ABS and DTC still works so I guess it's fine.

I am sure there are more sophisticated way to deal with the issue but here we go.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by Kubricks

Hey there.
I solved the issue by disabling the brake signal to the ECU. The ABS and DTC still works so I guess it's fine.

I am sure there are more sophisticated way to deal with the issue but here we go.

I've been through your thread. Did you ever upgrade to a different pulley, or did you stay with the same. If I remember....you were at 300hp to the wheels.

Also just wondering if you had any seal issues after discovering the vent plug "mishap" from your initial install. I remember reading about it, but didn't recall if that fixed your issue.

I'm so tempted to look at the new kit that's out as I do have Milvs and headers, but only live about 3 hours away from my tuner.

Thanks!

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by Kubricks

I have the ESS SC for 2 years now, the car is DD and is running great still, you can find some reference on my post in 3-series forum.
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1385828

If you have questions feel free to ask.
In all honestly it's much easier to just go for an N54/55 for power, unless you really love your current car like I do lol.

+1.....I love my little 128. Wouldn't think of trading or selling it!