[335iNavyGuy]

I've seen vargas, and people doing single turbo upgrades.

what else have you seen?

t3/t4 twin kit work as an upgrade on our cars? (n54)

[fazman]

I've heard that Vargas is all smoke and mirrors, I'll believe it more once I see someone running around with it. RB's seems to be the most common upgrade... but hard to justify $3k part upgrade for 50hp gain.

Someone needs to create a manifold which can allow space for various off the shelf turbo's. Until that happens our choices are limited. Hopefully BMW learned from the N54 and will make it easier for the new twin turbo M3/M4's

I think they would sell more cars if they made space for allowing the aftermarket support in the future (Maybe that's why they are moving the turbo's above the motor in some of the newer cars?

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by fazman

I've heard that Vargas is all smoke and mirrors, I'll believe it more once I see someone running around with it. RB's seems to be the most common upgrade... but hard to justify $3k part upgrade for 50hp gain.

Someone needs to create a manifold which can allow space for various off the shelf turbo's. Until that happens our choices are limited. Hopefully BMW learned from the N54 and will make it easier for the new twin turbo M3/M4's

I think they would sell more cars if they made space for allowing the aftermarket support in the future (Maybe that's why they are moving the turbo's above the motor in some of the newer cars?

Its too bad the front of the new F series looks like crap

[fazman]

Originally Posted by 335iNavyGuy

Its too bad the front of the new F series looks like crap

I don't care how the car looks, i just care about how tunable the car is and how much maintenance is involved. If the n55's were more tunable by easily slapping on bigger turbos, external wastegates, dump pipes, larger fuel injectors, tunes... Then i would drop my n54 and upgrade to the n55 side. Even the new M3/M4 is a let down for me since i want AWD + turbo.

Thats kinda why i'm looking at an X5M for my next car.

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by fazman

I don't care how the car looks, i just care about how tunable the car is and how much maintenance is involved. If the n55's were more tunable by easily slapping on bigger turbos, external wastegates, dump pipes, larger fuel injectors, tunes... Then i would drop my n54 and upgrade to the n55 side. Even the new M3/M4 is a let down for me since i want AWD + turbo.

Thats kinda why i'm looking at an X5M for my next car.

If you want and all wheel drive turbo, BMW is far behind audi. RWD turbo bmw is ahead. imo.

And in numbers, the S4 seems to be hands down better than a 335xi, and now that they offer it in a Coupe (now being last few years ) Its a great looking car too

[fazman]

Originally Posted by 335iNavyGuy

If you want and all wheel drive turbo, BMW is far behind audi. RWD turbo bmw is ahead. imo.

And in numbers, the S4 seems to be hands down better than a 335xi, and now that they offer it in a Coupe (now being last few years ) Its a great looking car too

I thought the S4 was a NA V8??

I'm not a fan of audi as much tho

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by fazman

I thought the S4 was a NA V8??

I'm not a fan of audi as much tho

twin turbo 3.0

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by fazman

I thought the S4 was a NA V8??

I'm not a fan of audi as much tho

Drive one and you'll be a fan lol

[techwhiz]

Originally Posted by fazman

I've heard that Vargas is all smoke and mirrors, I'll believe it more once I see someone running around with it. RB's seems to be the most common upgrade... but hard to justify $3k part upgrade for 50hp gain.

Someone needs to create a manifold which can allow space for various off the shelf turbo's. Until that happens our choices are limited. Hopefully BMW learned from the N54 and will make it easier for the new twin turbo M3/M4's

I think they would sell more cars if they made space for allowing the aftermarket support in the future (Maybe that's why they are moving the turbo's above the motor in some of the newer cars?

I'll chime in.
1. Vargas - The place is near where I live. Not smoke and mirrors. They have been doing turbos for decades. They were very prevalent in the 70's and 80's then when the hot rod scene died they started doing *BIG* industrial turbos.

2. Have you seen how tight the e90 egine bay is? The f30. There is no room.
Just swapping some of the stock stuff that needs repair is painful to get to.

3. Forget about the turbos above the motor, even less space.
The M5 has them sitting in the valley of the "V". There is no room in there.

[evo335xi]

S4 is a v6 supercharged- they do have a "t" next to 3.0 however. Very tuneable, possibly my next car.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by techwhiz

I'll chime in.
1. Vargas - The place is near where I live. Not smoke and mirrors. They have been doing turbos for decades. They were very prevalent in the 70's and 80's then when the hot rod scene died they started doing *BIG* industrial turbos.

2. Have you seen how tight the e90 egine bay is? The f30. There is no room.
Just swapping some of the stock stuff that needs repair is painful to get to.

3. Forget about the turbos above the motor, even less space.
The M5 has them sitting in the valley of the "V". There is no room in there.

I was reading a long thread about vargas turbos having a lot of drama with other tuners. My impression is, if you can't get support from the players then you are the odd man out. Doesn't matter if u have the hottest shit product, you still need the backing of others to be a winner (i didn't get that impression of vargas). But i have no personal experience with vargas and still running my stock turbos. If i'm gonna drop $3k on turbos i better be making a 700+hp to the wheel

If you are running on top of the motor, you can design a new manifold with the assumption of no hood and have plenty of upgrade space. Someone will make a CF hood with a hole in the center to run your ram air turbo!!!

[Otruba_843]

Originally Posted by fazman

I thought the S4 was a NA V8??

I'm not a fan of audi as much tho

RS4 has the V8

[fazman]

Originally Posted by Otruba_843

RS4 has the V8

Yea... That is what my friend had... I was not impressed. Another friend had the 2001 S4 back when it was new and modded it. It was nice but still not impressed.

Actually if a Japanese luxury awd turbo like the GTR was more affordable, i would be all over that. Like a $60k GTR and i would buy it used for like $40k with low miles.

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by fazman

Yea... That is what my friend had... I was not impressed. Another friend had the 2001 S4 back when it was new and modded it. It was nice but still not impressed.

Actually if a Japanese luxury awd turbo like the GTR was more affordable, i would be all over that. Like a $60k GTR and i would buy it used for like $40k with low miles.

A modded 01 S4, can easily stand ground with a modded 335i. And your friend had an Rs4 and you werent impressed? lol

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by techwhiz

I'll chime in.
1. Vargas - The place is near where I live. Not smoke and mirrors. They have been doing turbos for decades. They were very prevalent in the 70's and 80's then when the hot rod scene died they started doing *BIG* industrial turbos.

2. Have you seen how tight the e90 egine bay is? The f30. There is no room.
Just swapping some of the stock stuff that needs repair is painful to get to.

3. Forget about the turbos above the motor, even less space.
The M5 has them sitting in the valley of the "V". There is no room in there.

I highly doubt the company has been in the game as long as you say.. If the company was this big it wouldnt take them 3 months to make something as simple as a stage 2 turbo.. with the equipment they should be able to make a full setup in less than a week, even as a small company.

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by evo335xi

S4 is a v6 supercharged- they do have a "t" next to 3.0 however. Very tuneable, possibly my next car.

I was tlaking about the 2000 ish model S4, it was a twin turbo 2.7 and a 3.0 later one. now they are supercharged

[fazman]

Originally Posted by 335iNavyGuy

A modded 01 S4, can easily stand ground with a modded 335i. And your friend had an Rs4 and you werent impressed? lol

My friends v8 s4 (not sure if was an rs4) was a lease and he kept it stock. Had a nice rumble to it but i like the kick and sound of a turbo over NA.

The 2001 s4 was fast and fun... But still just not "my" thing (i liked my modded '92 eclipse gsx more).

I'm also not impressed with a FBO 335 either... I feel it lacks punch. You know what really does kick tho, a bone stock '94 supra turbo when your just cruising on the freeway and you rev match and mis shift when attempting to go from 6th --> 5th but accidentally go from 6th--> 3rd boy... Did that thing just pull unexpectedly!!!

Also just loved hearing my '92 eclipse turbo spool... Even just at 1bar on a port and clipped big 16G it sounded awesome. We just don't get those kinda sounds from the n54

[fazman]

Originally Posted by 335iNavyGuy

I highly doubt the company has been in the game as long as you say.. If the company was this big it wouldnt take them 3 months to make something as simple as a stage 2 turbo.. with the equipment they should be able to make a full setup in less than a week, even as a small company.

Not saying a competitive turbo like i describe exists for the n54... Was meaning that is what my expectations are to dump money into a turbo upgrade. Sorry for the confusion... My mistake.

[Augster]

Originally Posted by fazman

I've heard that Vargas is all smoke and mirrors, I'll believe it more once I see someone running around with it. RB's seems to be the most common upgrade... but hard to justify $3k part upgrade for 50hp gain.

Where do you get this? "Heard" all from where?

All the feedback I've read is that the Vargas Stage 2's are at minimum comparable to the RB's. Now whether 50 HP max gain is all that can be squeeze, maybe, maybe not. Again, I hear a chirp now and then from other's who've "heard" these turbos don't produce much power but don't back it up.

Are you just simply spreading FUD?

[335iNavyGuy]

Originally Posted by Augster

Where do you get this? "Heard" all from where?

All the feedback I've read is that the Vargas Stage 2's are at minimum comparable to the RB's.

Are you spread just simply spreading FUD?

I have heard they make a good product, but they are very off on all of their estimates on time etc .

[fazman]

Originally Posted by Augster

Where do you get this? "Heard" all from where?

All the feedback I've read is that the Vargas Stage 2's are at minimum comparable to the RB's. Now whether 50 HP max gain is all that can be squeeze, maybe, maybe not. Again, I hear a chirp now and then from other's who've "heard" these turbos don't produce much power but don't back it up.

Are you just simply spreading FUD?

On the n54tech forums. It seems that other forums were removing some of the conversations so terry moved it to his own forum so it wouldn't be messed with. I'm not that knowledgeable on the topic since i haven't upgraded my turbos yet... But i was left with the impression that Vargas wasn't all that great because of a lack in customer service/support... Coupled with him burning bridges with tuners doesn't help?


Its kinda like my reasoning to go with an iphone over an android phone. Sure apple doesn't have the best tech hardware in its devices. But their fit and finish is pretty spot on plus they have a solid app store which makes everything easy and lots more developers making apps for iOS. So i stick with a proven platform rather than the better hardware

[Augster]

Originally Posted by 335iNavyGuy

I have heard they make a good product, but they are very off on all of their estimates on time etc .

I "hear" good stuff too. But are you referring to estimates of availability, or performance?

I know I can hang a pair of mega turbos on my 300ZX TT and push 700+ if I wanted (but I don't; 500-600 would be plenty for me!) but I got the 335i for the four doors that I must have. Still debating on whether I should spend the green on upgrading my 335i or my 300ZX TT...