VF Engineering

VF Engineering designs its supercharger kits with power output and reliability in mind for select European applications. For the BMW M3, the entry level VF540 and mid-pack VF620 kits are modular and upgradable to the top of the line VF650 kit. If further tuning refinement is required for any of the kits, including alternate maps for race fuel, the logs can be downloaded and sent to VF Engineering. Typically, within 24 hours, VF Engineering can have a new Hex Tune ready to be flashed onto the ECU by the user.

To validate the potential of its kits, VF Engineering asked Joe at Trinity Autosport to bring his M3 to DSPORT to be tested. The Trinity Autosport M3 featured a six-speed manual transmission (as opposed to a DCT driveline). This test car came equipped with a VF620 kit and a Race Precision, Inc. GTC exhaust system. This race-only exhaust system mates directly to the headers and deletes the catalytic converters. Once strapped to the DynoJet 424xLC2 dynamometer, the supercharged M3 reached a peak boost pressure of 9.0 psi and produced 570 whp.

By comparison, Ricky’s M3 was set up for street use, retaining the factory catalytic converters and a more street friendly exhaust. The restriction in the exhaust likely prevented optimum power production, limiting peak output.

Functional, Indeed

There is no better proof than first hand experience, and driving Ricky’s M3 showed that he achieved his goals. Even with over 150 extra horsepower under the hood, the DCT transmission (a vast improvement over the E46 SMG transmission) shifted smoothly and with civility. A mash of the gas brought the blown S65 V8 roaring to life, as the raw acceleration to redline raises your blood pressure through each gear. Yet the car did not send your heart into your throat by becoming unsettled or feeling the least bit out of control. The Moton/Eibach suspension setup felt more confidence inspiring than stock, keeping the tires planted, regardless of sweeping turns or hard rights. To quantify the M3’s strength on paper, it returned to DSPORT headquarters for testing. There, the M3 was strapped to the DynoJet 424xLC2 dynamometer, spinning the rollers to the tune of 506 horsepower.

Practice Makes Fastest

The seat time that Ricky logged behind the wheel paid off, as he reached several of his goals with the car. He captured the 2011 Speed Ventures/Redline Time Attack season victory in his class along with the being the fastest street tire class M3 at 2012’s Mfest in Las Vegas. He earned these achievements while fulfilling his first directive, maintaining streetability. Ricky stated, “I’m happy with the way that the car came together. It’s still a fully streetable car that looks good (to me) and can be driven around town by anyone. I don’t even need to be concerned about scraping the Aeromotions carbon-fiber splitter going up and down driveways, as it was built to be strong enough for someone to stand on it. That’s function plus form.”

Hardcore, Not Hype

Interestingly, this M3 build almost didn’t happen. Ricky’s focus on function over form led him to general disgust with the M3 community at the time. He stated, “The general community did disappoint me a bit, and there was a moment that I wanted to get rid of the car. I got a feeling that most owners had more interest in a set of awesome photos after they ‘built’ their M3’s rather than what the upgraded parts really did. The community of E9x M3 owners just seemed more into form than function. I wanted to affiliate with M3 owners that are into function. Fortunately, things started to get better, as more owners started to focus on performance. So I ended up keeping the car.”

Ricky concluded, “My M3 is a combination of carefully selected parts and being able to understand the whole theory of modifying a good car to be great. For example, choosing the right suspension components in conjunction with proper adjustment and fine tuning make a good handling car even better. It wouldn’t work nearly as well without every aspect being addressed.” Jeremy Clarkson once described the M3 as “…one of the most perfectly balanced machines ever created by man.” Inspiring words, it would be hard not to agree.