Should I buy a Boost Enhancer

[944Turbo]

I have a 1990 turbo, do you think I should buy a Boost Enhancer?

Tony

(posting to keep John S Happy)

 

[Guest]

I, too, have been toying with the idea of buying a boost enhancer. It seems like a very cost effective way of achieving significant power gains! []
Will my insurance company " quote me happy" ???? [8|]

 

[hawkhead]

Short answer: yes

It does not increase power! (good news for the insurance)

What it does:

The wastegate opens prematurely at about 5-6psi (or even less if it is tired), The BE delays this via a check valve to about 10 psi (factory settings) hence more torque earlier

 

[John Sims]

do you think I should buy a Boost Enhancer?

Well done Tony[]

The answer is a very big YES.

Whilst debated at length, in another place [], the advantages of a boost enhancer are predominatly it reduces turbo lag. You still get it, but the turbo spools quicker so power arrives sooner.

Additionaly, and particulary on an older car with a tired wastegate, it alows the car to produce higher boost, or rather achieve the boost that the car did when it left the factory.

The BE (Boost enhancer) can be further tweeked so as to produce the maximum boost below the Porsche overboost protection threshold. This changes subject to ambiant air pressure and I have heard of users running different settings for summer and winter.

Whether your insurers will " Quote you happy" is somewhat subject to how you present the BE to them:-

If you note that the BE doesn' t produce any additional bhp (it doesn' t ,it just allows the car to achieve it' s design power level - the overboost protection will stop it going beyond that) you shouldn' t get too much grief. Some insurers will take the view that a modification is a modification and will load your premium anyway. It' s up to you to sell the " it doesn' t increase the bhp route" to keep that loading down.

At the end of the day, a BE will spool the Turbo quicker so you get boost sooner and (on an older car) will give you higher boost. All this for approx £100 - can' t be bad. Unlike many, so called, enhancements at under £500 you will, without doubt, know the difference if you fit this one.

And it takes 15 minutes to fit:-

1 Minute - open bonnet
2 Minutes - open bag and read instructions
5 miniutes - remove original crimped hose clip (the worst part of the job)
1 minute - undo union on pipe to intercooler
1 minute - Clamp on hose & reconnect intercooler union
1 minute - zip tie in place
3 minutes - stand back and admire the super blue & red anodised aluminium finish
1 minute - close bonnet

The supplier sugest it takes 10 miniutes to fit, but they ignor the bonnet opening/closing factor and the standing looking bit, both of which are very important.

Summary: Get one!

 

[Diver944]

Interesting thread boys []

I spent 18 months looking for a good Turbo and all the ones I tested felt old, laggy and slow compared to my S2 so I nearly gave up. The first one I tested that had a BE already fitted was like WOW!!!!! [][]

Needless to say I bought it and kicked myself for writing off all the other ones that just needed a BE to compensate for that tired wastegate. The insurance company is quite happy with it because it does not increase the BHP.

I took mine off for a week to paint it black ( I did not like the gaudy Blue/red anodising) and the car felt dead. Conclusion - if you do not have a BE - buy one.

 

[Guest]

convinced - any particular make or supplier?

 

[Guest]

Me too, my switch card is twitching in anticipation. []
There' s a supplier who regularly advertises in the " yellow pages" section of the Porsche Post and I' m sure that Simon Davidson of Essential Styling does them too.

 

[Diver944]

There are a number of suppliers around the world, but mine came from http://www.autoporsche.co.uk/ This is Andrew Sweetenham who has raced 944 Turbos in the Porsche Cup and is a regular PCGB trackday attendee. If you ever get the chance to passenger in his car on-track - take it, you will be the fastest thing there []

 

[Robbiemeister]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

..........................This is Andrew Sweetenham who has raced 944 Turbos in the Porsche Cup and is a regular PCGB trackday attendee. If you ever get the chance to passenger in his car on-track - take it, you will be the fastest thing there []

Paul

Dare you to post this to some of the other register formus[8D]

 

[John Sims]

I' d vouch for Andrew Sweetenham as well.

The other advantage is that when, in due course, you have £1500 spare your can exchange the the BE with Andrew for a reduction on a DPW and get the car chipped up to 60+ bhp extra.

You can quote your insurers happy then[]

 

[944Turbo]

wrong wrong wrong, the correct answer is NO,

Why? because I already have one [][][], And yes well worth the money, (one slight word of caution -(from titanic list experience) if there is a problem on your car (e.g. ignition, fuelling, split hose) fitting a BE might highlight it. You can always take it off while the problem is sorted.

I don' t know anyone who has fitted one and not been happy though,

Tony

 

[Guest]

Have just visited the link suggested in Pauls post and Andrew Sweetenham certainly appears to know his stuff.
My cheque will be in the post to him, without further delay!
Will report back on my findings, once I' ve fitted it.

 

[944Turbo]

is the £1500 for insurance?

I' d vouch for Andrew Sweetenham as well.

The other advantage is that when, in due course, you have £1500 spare your can exchange the the BE with Andrew for a reduction on a DPW and get the car chipped up to 60+ bhp extra.

You can quote your insurers happy then

I thought DPW was circa £450 and mapping around £500, add adjustable FPR £50 - £150, plus an hour or so for fitting wastegate,

Tony

 

[John Sims]

Tony,

I always like to state a budget on the high side, it avoids subsequent shocks.

However, if you go the Wayne route you need an allowance for rolling road time so that he can tweek the chip to best suit your car. Most rolling roads I' ve used don' t give you much change out of £200.

 

[Fen]

Surely the 500 notes includes Wayne providing the RR, doesn' t it? Seems a bit steep for a 50p EEPROM and some time / expertise otherwise.

 

[944Turbo]

I believe it does

 

[John Sims]

Strewth, it' s like having a client,

Based on your figures then:-

DPW £ 450
Chip etc £ 500
FPR £ 150
Fitting 3 hrs @£30 say £ 100

EXTRAS
Box of chocies for SWMBO £ 50
Fuel to RR £ 20
Fuel from RR £ 80
Insurance Hike £ 150

It was only a quick budget after all, and I like to ensure all my projects come in under budget. []

 

[Guest]

Just wanted to provide a little update on the subject of boost enhancers.
Sent a cheque to Andrew Sweetenham on tuesday afternoon, which I guess he would have received yesterday. Lo and behold, the postman rang my doorbell this morning at 7.30, clutching my boost enhancer! Now, that' s what I call service!
Will attempt to fit it this evening, so listen out for an explosion at around 7pm! [8D]

 

[944s2]

I see a DPW and a trip to Wayne in Newcastle coming.
These Boostie boys are all the same[]

 

[Diver944]

BOOOOOOOOOOOsssssttttttt [][][]