Hey guys, I need some advice. The CT supercharger is pretty expensive at 4500 bucks (full retail) for only about 40 wheel hp according to Comptech. Is it really worth the bucks? It just seems like a really expensive 40 hp.

On the flip side, I can supercharge my 330Ci for $5,000 and be at 350 HP/300+ ft/lbs torque and rear wheel drive (and also, it's manual). Also here is the comparison of the kits (most of you probably know what comes with the CT kit).

-ASA TM1-12 compact, lightweight supercharger unit with clutched operation.
-High capacity air-air intercooler system with 304 mandrel bent steel tubing.
-Uni-belt with additional OEM quality rollers.
-6 larger Bosch fuel injectors.
-Perfectly optimized, dyno tweaked MS43 ECU software.
-CNC hard anodized brackets and hardware.
-K&N high flow air filter.
-Discharge and intake assemblies made from 304 stainless steel.
-High temperature silicone hoses with clamps
-Detailed, step-by-step installation manual + CD.
-Heavy-Duty drive belt.
-Fume reduction oil breather assembly designed for boost.
-All installation hardware included
-2yr./unlimited mileage warranty.

Comptech Kit for CL
Includes:
-Blower unit
-Icebox Intake
-Fuel System Upgrades
-ESM Unit
-Battery Tray & Comptech Battery Tie-down
-All Brackets, Belt and Hardware

It just seems like the BMW kit is more worth it and beneficial. However, the CL is much more a sleeper car. I am going to boost them both, but I'm wondering if it might be more beneficial to get a custom turbo done for the CL. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from those of you that have a supercharged CL.

Oh, and those wondering why supercharge the BMW and not just get an M3, i'm on the waiting list for the next M5.

Thanks!

 

I currently don't own an SC. I am trying to do the good x-mas thing for the family. However, in janurary I will order one. I think it is because I want to increase the fun factor of my Cl-S. There are alot more options and maybe SCing your 330 will have more upfront benifits, but you can still get beat by other Beamers, especially M3's, plus your getting an M5 so forget about trying to find benifit in comapring the two options, you will demolish most oncomers in the near future. However, if you SC your Cl-S you will be in an elite club, and most of the rice boi's that try to test your car will be crushed. I think the combo of elegance, power, and exculsivness you will be privilaged to by SCing the ClS will make you happy bro. I know this didn't give you alot of proformace numbers and such, but drive a SCed ClS on the highway and the decision will be in your face.
Good Luck Pimpin.

 

The base SC kit is fairly mild but $100 more and it completely wakes it up. Here is a little analysis I did a while back:

Supercharger Myths

Debating on which one to do first is difficult as I would probably go with the 330i first. But then again, once you feel the change in character of the CL-S with SC the decision is made harder.

 

Since several of my friends drive turbocharged cars (none supercharged), I'm naturally a fan of turbochargers.

But I've also seen the problems they've been through, so it makes me a bit hesitant.

Seeing allmotor_2000 kicking ass with his turbo, and Steve laying down an ass-whooping (although she's gone now) with his supercharged and intercooled CL, I would be hopelessly lost as to which type of FI I would want when the time came.

 

It's such a great addition to the car.

Read my two threads on my experience with the blower:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...charger+Review

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=dyno


EDIT: The car is totally different with the S/C installed. The high boost pulley adds about 35-40whp OVER the stock pulley. My quarter mile times have dropped by nearly a full second and my MPH has increased by nearly 10.

The kit for your BMW puts out 8 psi where as the regular Comptech kit only makes 3.5 psi. With the new pulley I see 6.5-7psi. The BMW setup also includes an intercooler which the Comptech kit does not. Adding an intercooler to the Comptech kit would increase horsepower another 10-20whp plus allow you to add more boost (8.5-9psi) which would further increase horsepower by roughly 20 whp. Ultimately the Comptech kit will cost more if you decide to go with the intercooler but the performance will also increase.

 

Wow ... 25 and getting an M5 ... why even bother with modding the CL? I would think the M5 would handle in "street situations" that come up.

 

I'd probably go with the 330. However, when you start adding up the amount you've put into it, you just have to start thinking you should have gotten an M3 to begin with...and still have a warranty.

Don't get me wrong, I love my S/C'd CLS. But the advantages of the RWD platform really start to show once you start getting ~300whp on a CL.

A blown 330 is quite a sleeper as well. The car isn't exactly a rocket in stock form.

 

Thanks for all of the input everyone! I'm really torn up.

Now as far as why I didn't get an M3 to begin with, I bought my car before the M3 came out, way back in late 2000. The M3 had about a year waiting list at the time.
And the 330 is much much quicker than the CL is, especially on launch, the 330 leaves the CL in the dust. And I also think that the 3 series coupes with the sport package look quite a bit more aggressive than the stock CL. People STILL mistake it for an M3.

After the M3 came out, as nice as it was, I didn't think it warranted paying a sticker of nearly 58k for it (i'm an option-hog, I want it all).

The reason I bought the CL in the first place was the fact that I couldn't really drive the BMW in the snow of Nebraska, and this seemed like a nice car as a winter "beater" and the fact that it was auto and still quick....sometimes you just get tired of shifting gears in traffic. And yes VTEC was a huge reason also (I miss my NSX!).

And the supercharged 330s are actually a bit quicker than the stock M3's!

I think I will supercharge the CL, I'm just not going to buy it direct from Comptech. I'm sure I can find it cheaper elsewhere. I'm just afraid of the tranny falling out (just like most everyone) when it's blown.

And finally, yes, the M5 will handle most street situations out there With over 500 hp it better...but it's certainly not going to be my daily driver, i'm going to turn it into an HRE'd, Hamanned, JL Audio'd, ESS'd show car.



Oh and anyone in the Atlanta area with a supercharged CL, feel free to take me for a ride, i'd really like to see it in action!

 

Can't speak for the CLS 5AT guys, but after installing the S/C onto my CLS 6MT, car was so much quicker and fun to drive. Second gear now pulls like first did, third like second, fourth like third and so on...

 

So how does first gear pull now?

 

Like a rocket... assuming you don't get major wheel spin... it takes less than a second to hit redline in first without wheel spin... with wheel spin... forget it...

 

Uh oh, I feel a 330 vs CLS thread hijacking approaching...

 

I have a 5AT S/C and it actually feels slower and much less fun to drive

 

Maybe you forgot to connect the blower belt.

 

Hey now!!

 

SC the CL-S, but do the HBP at the same time. The HBP added 31 WHP for me

 

Too bad you didn't ask a couple of months ago as I could have given you a ride in a 370 WHP CL-S.

 

Perhaps you can just help me build mine!

It's not so much a 330 vs CLS thread for me, since I have both. It's nice, kinda having the best of both worlds. And I know this is really subjective, but the 330 is much more fun to drive, especially on a windy road. And what is not subjective is the fact that it's much better handling!

But still, everytime I hit VTEC, I get a grin on my face which more than makes up for the rest of the CL's faults. I really love the car and love the fact that its pretty rare!

I'm actually purchasing a Mustang Cobra to supercharge along with these two vehicles some time this week. All three supercharged at once...that will be really cool!

Again, I really appreciate the help and advice, and I really enjoy being part of this community! Thanks to everyone!

 

By the way, does the transmission give you any huge issues? Mine hiccups occasionally (hangs in second sometimes-pretty rarely though) and it's not very smooth when cold...but otherwise it's okay

 

I'd be happy to. Especially to keep my J-Series knowledge in check.

 

Tranny seem to be hangin' in there. 77k miles on my first and only tranny. About 50k of that was with headers and intake and about 8k so far on the S/C. I use SS mode about 98% of the time I drive. The 2-3 hesitation has happened a couple of times...in fact, it happended earlier today. I've actually pinpointed how it happens: Using SS, if my VSA is on and I get alot of wheelspin near the top of 2nd (typically when the road is a little wet), the car will sometimes refuse to shift to 3rd. I then put the car into full auto mode and within 15-20 seconds the car will start upshifting on its own. No CEL thrown.

 

^ YEP! That's usually when it happens to me. Whenever there is wheel spin.

 

www.c-c-c.net

 

i miss my SC CL-s

 

Go with the BMW, no question. The CL is never going to be a fast car no matter what you throw into it and the bang for the buck just isn't there. It'll always be wrong-wheel drive too.

 

this thread is almost 5 years old. Pretty sure he made the decision a while ago.

 

True dat. Love it when people bump these super old threads. Not sure how they even find them.