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345ps MTM S3

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:56 pm
by VST
Seeing as how this section of the forum has gone to sleep recently,I said I'd post up my recent experiences with my car.

The car is a 2002 S3 210,with an MTM big turbo kit fitted,along with pretty much every other(performance enhancing) mod.

The cars performance was improved greatly over the previous MTM265 spec but I always felt that there was more potential yet to be unlocked,it was quick,smooth,hell even economical,but there was something missing.

On the phone to QST one day ages ago,Kim mentioned his dyno cell project was nearing completion and that Peter Link from MTM would be coming over to map various customers cars(JR on here included I believe)he was booked out for that visit,but I put my name down for the next session,thinking that it couldnt hurt and that I had so much other work done to the car,that to leave this avenue unexplored would be silly.

So last Sunday(10th) myself and two mates headed off for the ferry in Dublin,crossed over to Holyhead and made our way down to Hawards Heath where we met Kim and Peter for a few beers and a meal,before starting on the car first thing Monday morning.
After a few checks were done,the car was tied down on the dyno(inside a very impressive climate controlled cell,with air ducting specifically geared towards the VAG range of cars and their sensitivity to intake temperature increases)after a few hours of listening to my car screaming its lungs out while Herr Link did his thing,end result being 345ps and 422Nm of torque,but peter felt there were further improvements to be made.
So we pulled the car off the dyno to let him get stuck into a 520 ps RS4,while I changed a few exhaust components to new specification parts,to see if this would lead to any increase.
Back on the dyno on Tuesday morning and after a futher mapping session, the results were announced,345.5ps again but torque had risen to 452.9Nm with real gains lower down the rpm scale.
And all this on 95 octane fuel,with Millers octane booster and Broquet in the tank.We didnt actually tell Peter what fuel we had until late on Tuesday,he couldnt believe it wasnt Optimax and felt that if I had filled up with Optimax,added to the gains I was seeing from the octane boosters,355-360bhp would be a possibility!
Out on to the road for some tweaks to the map,then back to QST,where a chip was burned with the new programme and the ECU refitted to the car,then load up and head (late!)for Leeds to look at a car.
Even three up and with a bootful of luggage and car parts,the increase in performance and response was immediately evident,but it wasnt until I got the car home,emptied the boot and got rid of the passengers and headed out on to familar roads that the true extent of the improvement became apparent.
The car now has real E46 M3 type pace,with superior midrange and a really useable powerband,coming off roundabouts the car just flings itself up the road and on a piece of road I know well proved to be 10mph faster than previously.

All in all probably the most impressive modification I have ever made to the car,if any of you out there are considering this MTM conversion,or have it and are wondering whether or not to bother with the custom map,just do it,you wont be disappointed.

I'd just like to thank Kim for all his help with this at times difficult project, and Paul,Simon and Dean for all there help while I was over there taking up space in the workshop.
Also a big thanks to Yona for all the tea,chat and for letting the lads fall asleep in the reception area. :D

I have scanned dyno sheets here,if any one can host them I'll email them on.

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:40 pm
by DuncS3
Sounds great - wouldnt mind a big turbo conversion myself but I think I would rule out MTM as too pricey

Dunc

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:53 pm
by VST
To be honest with you Dunc,if the MTM conversion is too pricey,there arent really a lot of proven options open to you.
I know jabba have done a good number of FWD kits,but not a lot(no?) 4wd ones.....sure you can buy a turbo and manifold,but that hardly qualifies as a kit.
AMD,again I know of two high profile FWD cars whose owners have had their ups and downs with the kits,afaik AMD are now using IHI turbos on Jabba manifolds with there own software and additional components,not sure what the story is with 4wd cars converted,are there any and if there are how many cars?

There are about 30 MTM converted 4wd big turbo RHD cars in the British Isles......so its a pretty popular conversion. 8)

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:18 pm
by clived
VST.

Could you tell us what other mods you have, specifically have you uprated the clutch and / or fitted a lightened flywheel? Also of course interested in what else you've done... :) Anything (apart from the turbo, obviously!) less common - water injection or intercooler spray, manifold spacer, DV relocation, air intake mods?

Cheers, Clive

P.S. I think you're correct - working 4WD big turbo conversions from anyone else apart from MTM are erm, rare, in the UK ;)

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 9:02 am
by VST
@CliveD

I tend to avoid the more gimicky type of mods for these cars,anything on my car has been tested and works :)

Engine

345ps,452Nm MTM engine conversion,MTM modifed ECU,MTM cast exhaust manifold,K26 turbo,external wastegate,MTM downpipe,2x Miltek sports cats,Miltek 70mm low back pressure exhaust system,MTM injectors,Samco inlet and intercooler hoses,K&N panel,Modifed airbox &additional cold air feed,modified Forge bypass valve,MTM front mount additional oil cooler,Forge alloy caps and top mount covers.
engine custom mapped by Peter Link from MTM on QST's Maha rolling road.

Suspension

H&R Coilovers(custom settings)H&R adjustable anti roll bars,forge adjustable rear tiebars,custom geometry settings.

Brakes

front Movit(Porsche 911 GT3) 4 pot monobloc calipers with 342x34mm cross ventilated curved vane discs,Movit Pads.
rear Quattro GMBH/MTM 308x25 curved vane cross drilled floating discs with alloy bells,Mintex 1144 pads.
Movit braided brake lines,Mintex comp fluid.

Transmission

MTM Haldex controller(allows torque split to be locked 50/50)
MTM Paddle Clutch

Wheels/Tyres

MTM Bimota 8.5x19in wheels with 235/35/19 P-Zero Rosso

genuine Porsche 996 turbo hollow spoke 8x18in wheels with 225/40/18 Goodyear F1s on H&R Hub adaptors.

8x18in Speedline Turini competition wheels with 225/40/18 Kumho trackday tyres.
Recaro SPG race seat and subframe(incl seat airbag wiring kit)Pagid orange trackday pads.

thats about it. 8)

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 1:00 pm
by DuncS3
Hi VST, you are correct, i dont know any AMD or Jabba 4WD big turbo conversions, and have heard about the FWD owners with 'ups and downs'. The MTM kit is proven which counts for a lot.

Maybe I am a long, long way from a big turbo kit then! LOL

All the best

Dunc

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 8:09 pm
by Ryan_s3
i'd be interested in seeing the dyno graphs vst,regards Ryan

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:24 pm
by Hopsta
Send me the pics hopsta at btinternet dot com and i'll host them

Or you could just try using the gallery here ??

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:43 pm
by VST
tried uploading them to the gallery here lads,wouldnt work,have them saved as word documents I'll email them on to hopsta.

Further to my original post,just did a bit of scientific testing (:D) with a mate who has a very sharp BMW M-Coupe,rolling start 2000rpm in second gear.......absolutely nothing in it even well into three figures....... 8)

I was well surprised,as you may know,an M-Coupe is not exactly slow,fastest BMW to 100mph before the intrduction of the CSL I believe......

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 8:36 am
by clived
Tom, thanks for all the info - very useful.

Oh, and how are Forge caps and covers proven performance enhancing mods ;)

Cleers, Clive

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:30 pm
by Hopsta
Not had any mails from you VST, just incase you'd sent them already.

Graham

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:24 am
by Hopsta
Aplogies for the size

Image

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:06 pm
by Riz_RS4
MTM are really good.....

Riz :)

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:09 pm
by AFAP18
VST

What is the 1/4 mile figures of this car? Do you have a clue?

Best Wishes
WOT

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:34 am
by VST
I never timed the car and I've sold it since,but I'd imagine that the 1/4 mile times for an E46 M3 would be there or there abouts,as on the road the cars were very similar.
Not bad for a little 1.8.... 8)