MyMCoupe.com
    a site dedicated to
     Scatha, a 2007 BMW Z4 ///M Coupe

Z4 M Coupe, Z4M, Z4MC, Z4MR, BMW MC
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Power Mods

     There are precious few power mods for the Z4 M, even fewer that are of high quality. There are a lot of tuners offering HP improvements, many of whom cannot be trusted to provide what they claim. Rogue Engineering makes decent affordable products. Dinan, RPI (Race Precision Inc.) and ESS are all top-level design companies and I trust their powertrain equipment and software programming.

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Mod # 70, Relocated CFR-500 Oil Cooler

     In order to reduce water and oil tempertaures during hard track driving I relocated the ESS-supplied CFR-500 oil cooler to the drivers' side brake duct area. Some modification was necessary. I also fabricated a basic debris shield. 

M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		$0
3:00
-0.02lbs
Self
     

Mod # 69, Ceramic Coated ESS CFR500 Intake Tube

     I also had Embee ceramic-coat the metal half of the CFR-500 intake tube. 

M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		$40
1:00
0.05lbs
Embee
     

Mod # 68, Ceramic Coated ESS CFR500 Manifold

     At the suggestion of Nathan from OCRC I had Embee Performance Coatings ceramic coat Scatha's ESS intake manifold. Preliminary track testing of this mod, with #67 and #68, shows approximately a -10F change in intake air temperature (measured at a less insulated location of the manifold) vs. the original setup.

M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		$108
2:00
0.25lbs
Embee		 The components of the ESS CFR500 supercharger kit, layed out in my garage.    The components of the ESS CFR500 supercharger kit, layed out in my garage.
     

Mod # 67, ESS VT-series Intake Filter

     ESS discontinued the CFR-series supercharger kits, replacing them with their VT-series. Some improvements were made in development of the VT-series and I thought I would adapt them to my CFR-Series. The easiest was swapping out the intake filter system. The new intake filter is twice as large as my original, and is now located outside the engine bay for cold ram-air effect.
M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		N/A
1:30
0.35lbs
ESS		 The components of the ESS CFR500 supercharger kit, layed out in my garage.    The components of the ESS CFR500 supercharger kit, layed out in my garage.
     

Mod # 59, ESS CFR500 Supercharger

     ESS's supercharger kit is remarkably light and BMS customized certain parts to reduce the weight gain even further. The full installation and modification story can be seen HERE. In short, this mod added 170hp for only 46lbs! The car runs like a champ, and the broad torque curve is ideal for track driving. Most impressive, Scatha still gets 24mph cruising at 80mph - with sticky NT-01 tires! Mod #52, the ESS N/A software in my M Coupe's DME, was reprogrammed for the CFR500 kit. The cost of the N/A software was credited toward the CFR500 kit.
M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		$11,999
20:00
46.32lbs
ESS		 The components of the ESS CFR500 supercharger kit, layed out in my garage.    My M Coupe's S54 motor and engine bay, torn down to install the ESS CFR500 supercharger.    One of the two custom intercooler pipes BMS fabricated, among other parts, to reduce weight of the ESS CFR500 kit.    The ESS-supplied oil cooler, with bracket and connectors fabricated by BMS.    The power steering reservoir, relocated to a bracket fabricated by BMS.    The ESS CFR500 supercharger, installed.    The ESS CFR500 supercharger, installed.    The ESS CFR500 supercharger, installed.
     

Mod # 52, ESS N/A Software

     This performance software from ESS is not mod-specific like so many others. It is adaptive software that seamlessly overwrites the BMW maximum parameters for adaptivity due to temperatures, airflow and fuel flow. I have found it to work very well, increasing power and throttle response. My MPG seems to have increased as well. Installation is easy and straightforward. The only hitch is that you must ship your DME to ESS in AZ for them to reprogram it. They are very prompt in programming and next-day-airing the DME back. Below are pictures of the DME removal, and a series of dyno plots I have put together showing the effects of various mods on my Z4 M Coupe.
M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		$1000
0:30
0.0lbs
ESS		 The DME cover removed, showing the DME and black plastic interior cover.    A closeup of one of the four locking tabs of the interior DME cover.    The interior DME cover removed.    The DME, pulled from the plastic base but not yet disconnected.    My M Coupe's DME, disconnected.    Six dyno plots, showing the effects of various power mods to my Z4 M Coupe.
     

Mod # 42, RPI Intake Scoop

     This has to be the hands-down best bang-for-your-buck power mod ever. For a mere $125 you get 12hp at 25mph airflow and as far as I can tell this increases with speed. It's a simple aluminum scoop that replaces the restrictive BMW intake scoop. They now offer DME reprogramming for additional HP, but I haven't gotten it yet.
M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		$125
0:15
0.11lbs
RPI		 RPI intake scoop, next to the smaller and more constrictive BMW intake scoop.    The RPI intake scoop, installed in the passenger side intake of my Z4 M Coupe.    Dyno chart, showing the HP and TQ increases from the RPI intake scoop.
     

Mod # 33, BMS Z4 M Exhaust

     This was designed by BMS and JP Performance. They sourced Magnaflow for the mufflers and tips, but has a custom x-pipe and tubing and is jigged specifically for the Z4 M Coupe and Z4 M Roadster. Everything is the highest quality stainless steel and fitment is spot-on. They sound great too. I did a series of dyno runs during development and with no software tuning it was not possible to achieve a horsepower gain at peak RPM, but from off-idle to over 5500rpm there is between 5 and 10HP gained over stock. Another performance advantage of the BMS exhaust is its 21lb weight savings over the BMW exhaust.
M$RP:
Install Time:
Mass effect:
Vendor: 		$1600
1:30
-21lbs
 BMS		 A close-up of one side of the BMS exhaust.    The rear of my Z4 M Coupe, showing the BMS exhaust.    My Z4 M Coupe and BMS exhaust, from underneath.    My Z4 M Coupe with BMS exhaust, in a parking lot.    My Z4 M Coupe and BMS exhaust from the rear, note the lack of the "hanging balls" of the stock BMW mufflers.    A low, rear 3/4 view of my Z4 M Coupe and BMS exhaust.