Suppercharger

[Merlin]

whats the gig with these of heard of them been used on the a-serious engine. has an one had any expereance with them good or bad?

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Minis have been blown since the 60's, Shorrock being the best known brand, its the same theory as the turbo except the supercharger has to be belt driven where the turbo is driven by the exhaust gasses, the turbo gives more power since it isn't using engine power to drive it. Superchargers are way more expensive than turbos also.

Superchargers give more lowdown grunt than turbos, so if you really want the whole hog, supercharge and turbocharge the engine :-)

Might have some explaining to do when it comes to insurance though.

[Mini]

As stated they do tend to be more linear in their power delivery vs a turbo, which traditionaly suffers from lag and tends to be peaky.

The down side is that they are very inefficient and thus heavy in terms of fuel burn - hence their absence in production models vs turbos.

Popular in olden days, modern advancements in turbo technology has rendered them all but obsolete.

[DaveC]

I wonder if BMW would agree with that?

[Merlin]

Thanks for the info guys i was more intressted as i did not spot any blowen minis at this years at the national mini day. but i just might have had me eyes closed haa

[Mini]

DaveC,

I stand to be corrected but as far as I'm aware BMW haven't produced a supercharged production model (exempting the currentish Chrysler powered Cooper S)

In fact, they also scorned turbos on road cars until the new 335i.

A bit ironic given the fact that they won the F1 world championship with a turbo 1.5l that produced 1500 bhp in qualifying trim and was based on the std 318 M10 block - albiet one rumour would have it that the blocks for the F1 cars were left outside in the elements and staff members were encouraged to piddle on them in the mean time to "de-stress" them...

(diesels exempted from the discussion of course)

[Billy]

Can't believe I'm arguing a case for BMW but there was a turbo version of the 2002 back in the '70s. I bought a carb 2002 last year on Ebay and they're great fun. Bought it to turn a pound so no longer have it.

Billy

[Merlin]

Maybe I getting old or some ting or maybe its the Honda "civic" at my local takeaway that have put me off, but I never like the idea of turbo I cant explain why just seems wrong to me, Don’t get me wrong I have had many turbo cars in my time but they just don’t seem to push the right button for me. I think there is just noting to match that induction note that a NA A serious makes as it sucks old ladies of the curb as you drive pass. Or the sound of twin Webber’s under the hud that has you wondering "if I press the accelerator to hard I might just suck the bulk head into the inlet. Na all joking aside I can see what you mean Billy the turbo MINI'S are great fun but give me NA A serious any day. LOL

[DaveC]

Mini,

It was the current Chrysler powered Cooper S I was referring to. I have to agree with Merlin though on the good old NA!

[woody]

Don't rule out turbo A series, I much rather hear a good sound system then a loud exhaust. Standard Metro Turbo good for 120 bhp at a fraction of the cost and if you don't go dumping the clutch at the lights all the time just as reliable.