My official China TD04 16T eBay turbos

[derekgates]

@derekgates these are a better option already balanced, already proven and not not much more than you would be spending to be a guenia pig. In my opinion https://dynamicautowerx.com/shop?ol...750rs-hybrid-turbochargers-pure-vargas-rb-mmp

Sheesh this thread got drama filled.

Too many people have been burned on turbos for the N54 that it causes all kinds of lashing out. Big name turbo makers included.

I, too, have a depreciating car that is barely worth 3x the turbo costs to replace my smoking/non boosting turbos. I have been looking at Pure/VTT/RB and the costs are just insane. I'd rather let my 335is sit in the garage than spend $2.5+ on a gamble, even from known brands.

I was excited to read this thread and have the possibility of sub $1k turbos for my car. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32856448488.html looks like it is the ticket... but is the $1k worth the risk of them blowing up? Hmm.... That car might sit for longer...


View attachment 30513

But I'll be OK, I have a reliable BMW in the background to take over daily driving duties.

Interesting. I haven't seen or heard of those yet. ~$1800 fully optioned is not too shabby at all. Added it to my list! Thanks for sharing.

I think we all want reliable, pavement twisting turbos for cheap. When I compare our platform to other platforms I see the turbos aren't THAT bad, I think the shock comes in due to the insane installation and the risk of being burned (bad balancing, kinked oil lines, leaks, etc etc etc)... I certainly cry about the price of these cars and watching the resale drop, like every car, hurts more for us due the upkeep costs being so high.

The China turbos are verrrrry tempting. My SO said 'hell no, why risk that?' when I brought it up during our drive to dinner a few minutes ago.

 

[RuskiRacer]

Interesting. I haven't seen or heard of those yet. ~$1800 fully optioned is not too shabby at all. Added it to my list! Thanks for sharing.

I think we all want reliable, pavement twisting turbos for cheap. When I compare our platform to other platforms I see the turbos aren't THAT bad, I think the shock comes in due to the insane installation and the risk of being burned (bad balancing, kinked oil lines, leaks, etc etc etc)... I certainly cry about the price of these cars and watching the resale drop, like every car, hurts more for us due the upkeep costs being so high.

The China turbos are verrrrry tempting. My SO said 'hell no, why risk that?' when I brought it up during our drive to dinner a few minutes ago.

I was once contemplating some well reviewed eBay turbos as well but the thought of having to do the labor again within a couple month period if they fail is a big turnoff. On3 is a good option if your tryna go single turbo on the cheap as well. I get what your saying with depreciation that's what's holding off alot of people I know from getting new turbos.

 

[RuskiRacer]

Interesting. I haven't seen or heard of those yet. ~$1800 fully optioned is not too shabby at all. Added it to my list! Thanks for sharing.

I think we all want reliable, pavement twisting turbos for cheap. When I compare our platform to other platforms I see the turbos aren't THAT bad, I think the shock comes in due to the insane installation and the risk of being burned (bad balancing, kinked oil lines, leaks, etc etc etc)... I certainly cry about the price of these cars and watching the resale drop, like every car, hurts more for us due the upkeep costs being so high.

The China turbos are verrrrry tempting. My SO said 'hell no, why risk that?' when I brought it up during our drive to dinner a few minutes ago.

My friend has the stage 4s installed on his 335is currently I can ask him to make a thread on them.

 

[langsbr]

On3 for cheap single turbo? MAYYYBEEE their manifold, but the only thing the On3 tiny turbo has going for it is that its a top mount and can be removed 10min after install.

For a Single turbo, speedtech is probably the best value option available.

 

[RuskiRacer]

On3 for cheap single turbo? MAYYYBEEE their manifold, but the only thing the On3 tiny turbo has going for it is that its a top mount and can be removed 10min after install.

For a Single turbo, speedtech is probably the best value option available.

Some people like having the top mount aesthetic and the easy access. on3 turbos are junk , and speed tech is the only single turbo route I would go top mounts have to much heat near the valve cover and all the wiring and hoses for my liking

 

[Eyelobes]

My turbos are dying and I paid $7000 for my e90 and it came with FBO @ 104k miles. Paying half what I paid for the car on new turbos isn't something I'm going to do. It will be the stage 2 DynamicAutoworx turbos for me, done in my garage

 

[derekgates]

My friend has the stage 4s installed on his 335is currently I can ask him to make a thread on them.

Hellllll yeah, that would be nice. However, those Stage 4s ARE NOT CHEAP!

On3 for cheap single turbo? MAYYYBEEE their manifold, but the only thing the On3 tiny turbo has going for it is that its a top mount and can be removed 10min after install.

For a Single turbo, speedtech is probably the best value option available.

Damn son, brutal. Speedtech, huh. I thought CES or DocRace was the way to go?

My turbos are dying and I paid $7000 for my e90 and it came with FBO @ 104k miles. Paying half what I paid for the car on new turbos isn't something I'm going to do. It will be the stage 2 DynamicAutoworx turbos for me, done in my garage

Yes, exactly. I paid quite a bit more for my 335is but that was in 2014. Currently, it is barely worth $10k as it has 106k miles. Is $2k turbos really worth it along with coolant needs and whatever my DCT is crying for? HMMMM. These China turbos get more and more interesting.

However, alternatives like the RB OEMS or RB Twos, DynamicAutoworx, cast Pures, cast VTTs, etc. are still on my mind. I just hate pouring money into this car to have something else come up.


This thread has been fun to read. I certainly appreciate all of the feedback in here. Thank you @vegasboy for starting this!

 

[Eyelobes]

Agreed, even with $1500 turbos, still need the install kit, inlets, outlets, oil drain and feed lines... Plus i need to do my oil pan gasket. Indy quoted me $5500 and wanted to pull engine and trans and use vatt oems. So doing it myself with a power upgrade was a much better sell to the wife lol. Still around $2300 all in.

 

[135iTX]

I think its easy to get caught up in the mentality that just because the car was an inexpensive purchase, that its a poor idea to spend more for quality proven parts (RB's, Pure, Etc). Think about it, you are gambling a massive amount of time and energy on unproven turbos from a completely unknown manufacturer.

Is the $500 or so extra dollars not worth it to know you bought something that you can beat on every day without worry? Not to mention you will have direct support from the company making them.

I was really tempted to do China Turbos for a while, but after wrenching on this car for three years the biggest lesson ive learned is that buying the part once beats the hell out of having to buy it twice. If I was on an absolutely strict budget and HAD to replace my turbos, I would realistically go OEM replacement just knowing I could thrash them, make decent power, and not have to worry about it.

 

[Eyelobes]

The problem with twin turbos is that there hasn't been a proven long term solution. Even the singles face issues with heat, sensors etc. Safest bet would be to get new oem and drive them until they die again. If they are balanced and the bearings aren't shit i don't see an issue, if anything it is better for the consumer to break up the oligopoly that currently exists in the turbo world; competition drives innovation forward and prices down.

Personally, I'm not looking to push the platform to it's absolute limit, I'm just a guy doing stuff from his garage. I don't have the time or resources that those building shop cars and breaking records do.

I want a fun car within the limits of my automatic.

But that's me and i won't persuade anyone to follow my footsteps not would I expect anyone to do the same to me. God speed with your time, money and car is what I would give and also expect to get. Threads like this are great for people considering an option and to hear input from those with experience with the topic at hand, and not so much a bunch of vendors pushing products or individuals who bought a particular brand and dump on everything else without first hand knowledge

 

[135iTX]

The problem with twin turbos is that there hasn't been a proven long term solution.

I have been in and out of the N54 community since 2007, and I would say that RB and Pure turbos are absolutely proven on this platform.

 

[Eyelobes]

Yes they are, but still don't last forever, turbos are a high wear item. And it's a bit above a$500 premium. 17t or above, with ancillary items will be well over $1000. I suppose I could get pure600s but with the lack of data they provide, and what is seen from their site, just looks like a chinesium reseller. And even those are twice the price of ispeedytech. If there are alternatives than can go over 500whp with methanol for half, or even a 1/3 is the price.... I'm not looking for mmp1000 levels here, I have an automatic

 

[135iTX]

Yes they are, but still don't last forever, turbos are a high wear item. And it's a bit above a$500 premium. 17t or above, with ancillary items will be well over $1000. I suppose I could get pure600s but with the lack of data they provide, and what is seen from their site, just looks like a chinesium reseller. And even those are twice the price of ispeedytech. If there are alternatives than can go over 500whp with methanol for half, or even a 1/3 is the price.... I'm not looking for mmp1000 levels here, I have an automatic

I would take RB Ones over any China offering, and would bet they make more power in real life vs. a larger China turbo.

What are your goals with the car? I did the turbo debate for years, but being FBO with an aggressive ethanol tune and a good tire, my car consistently runs 11.5-11.8 all day long in the quarter with no drama. Ive absolutely smashed on big turbo N54 setups on pump, most FBO 5.0's, Dodge 392 Scats, C6/C7 Corvettes (stockish), various SS Camaros, etc.

For an Auto DD, I wouldnt want to go above 550-600hp- with the right setup and powerband you will be faster than 99% of street cars.

I think alot of people overlook realibility vs. all out dyno numbers as well. Almost every track event I go to that has high HP n54's, they are dealing with missfires and limp codes while I can hot lap all all day long.

 

[Eyelobes]

Currently was at 360whp/420tq FBO with mhd2+ on 93 only before turbos started the howl of death. We don't have e85 in my city and closest pump is 45 minutes away. Ultimate goal would be DI meth and about 600whp at the abs Max, 500 more realistically

 

[135iTX]

Meth will definitely make up the gap but its not gonna be as safe as good fuel. I bet with an aggressive map and Meth even with howling turbos you could probably get 420whp on your setup, Maybe 480-500hp on RB Ones

 

[Tzaks]

UK gets sets of injectors $600-700ish.

I'm so ready to try the Chinese turbos, just tough when Pure Stage 2 cast is $1980.

6-700$? I'm based in UK and the cheapest place I found had index 12's for £150 which is ~185$. Could you please share with me the place that sells them for that cheap? Sorry for offtopic

 

[RuskiRacer]

6-700$? I'm based in UK and the cheapest place I found had index 12's for £150 which is ~185$. Could you please share with me the place that sells them for that cheap? Sorry for offtopic

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-fuel-injector-13537585261 . More expensive but you have the peace of mind of a lifetime warranty on them.

 

[Torgus]

I have been in and out of the N54 community since 2007, and I would say that RB and Pure turbos are absolutely proven on this platform.

I agree 100% and those are the ONLY two companies I would consider for twins on my ride. Ever notice how much drama follows pure around vs. say VTT, MMP, FrankenTurbo? There is a reason. When you see smoke there is usually a fire. Given the cost of labor, your self or a shop, I just can't see going with anything but the most reliable. Again, I would love to see an inexpensive reliable solution for twins.

As far an On3, my local go to BMW mechanic who does a lot of aftermarket work just did an On3 install and said it was the worst single turbo kit he has ever put on an n54. Fitment issues etc. Once that junk chinese turbo let's go and you replace it with a garret/precision etc. You will have basically spent the same price for a much better designed top mount like ACF or DR. As I like to promote ACF: they have a better manifold & waste gate design then DR and are slightly less expensive. I am always surprised more people don't run ACF because of that. DR is more popular because of you tube in my opinion. ACF does ZERO to promote their ST kit and probably makes more money by supplying BMS and others with parts in all honesty.

A single turbo is in inherently twice as reliable as twins and takes all of 15 minutes to change turbos and reflash. In the morning you could have a 5858 for a road course or autoX etc. and then slap on a 6870 and load up your tune and do a 1/2 mile event.

As far as meth, I suggest every one tries it at least once. You are not guaranteed to get hooked unless you start to use it on the reg. The taste gets a bit to get used to but who does not like nazi dope?

 

[Eyelobes]

Again, this isn't a thread to say oh this is better, blah blah. This is an informative thread for those looking into the same thing, to give insight into whether the benefits outweigh the risk. This thread is for those, like me, who have been to the RB, MMP, VTT, Pure sites as well as DynamicAutoworx, 1st-racing, ispeedytech eBay vendors. Single, top or bottom mount, in my opinion isn't even in the same topic, hell, anything not within the eBay vendors isn't even in topic for this thread. Now if the topic was, should I buy blah vs blah...

On the meth topic, e85 isn't sold anywhere in Augusta, GA, so if I want something to boost octane, will have to be meth.

 

[Torgus]

On the meth topic, e85 isn't sold anywhere in Augusta, GA, so if I want something to boost octane, will have to be meth.

Meth is cheap and works well. I would argue it is less expensive to get to 700whp with meth than it is E85.

Meth is cheap and works well. I would argue it is more expensive than Heroin and less addictive.

In all seriousness meth works great to boost octane and lower air charge temps. Anyone who does not have easy E85 access should be running it. At 50/50 a 5 gallon pail lasts a while.