2008 BMW M3

2008 BMW M3
If you're a BMW fan, you're probably familiar with German powerhouse tuners such as AC Schnitzer, Alpina, Hartge, etc. But while there are other great names that have improved the Bavarian brand over the years, one tuner is often overlooked - G-Power.

Founded in '71, the company established a reputation in Germany building racecars and fabricating performance parts. Yet it wasn't until recently they began making an impact beyond Europe's borders.

Two years ago G-Power created a major stir with its M5 Hurricane. The 730hp twin-supercharged V10 set a record for fastest BMW sedan in the world at 211mph. This past April, G-Power engineers built yet another prototype called the Hurricane RS using the same engine in a 6-Series chassis and reaching 228mph, making it the fastest BMW coupe in the world.

These were awesome feats but G-Power's accomplishments were relatively unknown to US enthusiasts, until now...Behold, the first supercharged E90/E92 M3 4.0 liter V8.

Supercharging technology is like a turbo. It compresses air into the intake, allowing more air flow thus creating more power. Driven by an accessory belt taken directly from the crankshaft, they have zero lag because the unit is always making boost. Less efficient than a turbo, they still work especially well when intercooled to increase air density. Furthermore, the installation is relatively straightforward since most blowers bolt to the topside of the engine without major modification.

The dynamics of a supercharger is why many manufacturers use them, such as Audi on the latest B8 S4 and Mini's first-generation Cooper S. And aftermarket blowers are a favorite among tuners like G-Power, which partnered with ASA to develop this comprehensive kit for the new M3.

Josh Shokri from California is the owner of the '08 M3 under evaluation here. He admitted to being very impatient once he bought the car and wanted the first forced induction kit available. While none of the US tuners were yet ready, G-Power was offering its kit in Europe, so authorized installer Auto Talent in Los Angeles admitted Josh's M3 for surgery.

There are two different stages of G-Power's supercharger kits. The only difference is the size of the ASA blower and the boost level. Josh opted for stage two, which G-Power claimed to produce 580hp to the crank. Included in the kit was the ASA T1-521 centrifugal blower. This type of blower gains power as the revs climb, making them very exciting to drive.

The blower is lubricated by the car's oil system and is mounted via an aluminum bracket. Also included is an enormous aluminum air box powdercoated orange, massive front-mount intercooler, boost pipes and uprated fuel injectors. The software had to be reconfigured as well to control boost at 9psi and remove the 155mph speed limiter

Auto Talent strapped Josh's car to the dyno before and after the install. It initially threw down 319whp and 245 lb-ft of torque. Once the stage two G-Power package was added, Josh had 481whp and 354 lb-ft while retaining the stock clutch and flywheel.

So we buckled ourselves into the passenger seat to experience whether this M3 could back up its claims. After all, it was the first supercharged M3 in America, so it had to be special.

At idle, the car seeemed relatively factory. There wasn't excessive engine or exhaust noise, and no rough idle. If we didn't know better, we'd have thought the car just had an exhaust.

As Josh proceeded to shift into gear and take a spin around his neighborhood, our first impression was smoothness. We wouldn't question its daily drivability because the M3 acted as if it were naturally-aspirated. There was almost no whining from the supercharger either.