[smitty12]

Hi guys,

I've read so many threads now on different Turbo & Supercharger Kits and its getting difficult to remember the facts & experiences of each kit! I'm totally lost with HPA/HPG/VF/Storm/Etc....

I'm quite surprised we've not got a sticky thread for people to give full, meaningful, no-bull**** reviews on the kit they've chosen!

I'm new to the FI scene as I've not done a conversion before but as a lot of people on the forum I'm interested and would like to know "Whats best"

Can anyone who has a Turbo/Supercharger on there R32 give details of there kit, what model the kit is for (Mk4/5/6) there experiences, problems and current costs to date on the conversion? It would be a massive help to myself and plenty others interested in this on the forum!

I know everyone is different and I'm looking for something quite specific but all the info in one place would be great!

Personally what I'd love on my R32 is a kit that will increase the BHP with as little hassle as possible (basically what everyone wants) but I'd love a kit that I could switch between power outputs as some of the Impreza/Evo owners have. I still want the car to be a daily use car but a little switch for an extra few ponies for track use would be a nice feature! Sorry if that seems ridiculous!

 

[Dazm]

Don't think you'll get many FI owners posting up every last detail of cost etc as its just too long lol......​

Basic rule of thumb imho:​

Turbos MK4, MK5, Mk6 = HPA/HPG​

SC Mk4, Mk5 = Storm / Rotrex​

Ran a Storm Rotrex'd Mk5 for over 5 years with very few probs or expenditure over 'normal' costs, its the mods that add up after going 450bhp + !!!!!!!​

 

[smitty12]

I know what you mean mate but even a quick review would help! Something like;

MK:
Conversion manufacturer: (or home made)
Cost (ish):
Reliability:
Would you recommend?

Of all the kits I've been looking at I think the HPA FT465 kit seems a great option, not a lot of bad reviews with a good usable amount of power! For me I'd love a kit like the FT495 but with a system that could switch it down to say 350-400

 

[Paul]

I have a HGP/HPA FT460 on mine.

Cost is around £11k I think and then about £2.5k for fitting.

I would also get the longer gears as it does make a difference.

I bought mine 2nd hand and the kit had done about 30,000 before I got it and I have done 25,000 with it fitted with no problems.

I did wreck a clutch but that is the only thing I have had go wrong

I don't use one but you can get a boost controller so you can change the power but I don't see the need

 

[craggsy]

I have the JBS 440 kit on mine. But I bought the car with it already done.
Search on here for mattchaps as he had it done.

They are perfectly useable as a daily as you aren't always on boost so mpg is about same as normal, yes single figures are achievable if you want.

Done right they are reliable as I've had no problems apart from ruining a clutch like paulie

 

[CIJ84]

MK: 5
Conversion manufacturer: HPA 20th Anni (home install)
Cost (ish): 15ish
Reliability: so far 9/10 as i have sprung an oil leak which i cant get to!
Would you recommend? Yes

 

[Dazm]

I know what you mean mate but even a quick review would help! Something like;

MK:
Conversion manufacturer: (or home made)
Cost (ish):
Reliability:
Would you recommend?

Of all the kits I've been looking at I think the HPA FT465 kit seems a great option, not a lot of bad reviews with a good usable amount of power! For me I'd love a kit like the FT495 but with a system that could switch it down to say 350-400

Mine was the 1st Mk5 to be Rotrex'd anywhere, costs at the time were very high but you would be looking at around £15k all done in a MK5 nowadays.

100% reliable and still ran the OEM clutch/gearbox, covered around 20,000 miles before selling and was always ultra reliable

The only 2 UK MK5's that were done back in late 2007 were by Storm & HGP/HPA, both of which are still on the road and easily 450+bhp

 

[Toffs]

Hi guys,

I've read so many threads now on different Turbo & Supercharger Kits and its getting difficult to remember the facts & experiences of each kit! I'm totally lost with HPA/HPG/VF/Storm/Etc....

I'm quite surprised we've not got a sticky thread for people to give full, meaningful, no-bull**** reviews on the kit they've chosen!

I'm new to the FI scene as I've not done a conversion before but as a lot of people on the forum I'm interested and would like to know "Whats best"

Can anyone who has a Turbo/Supercharger on there R32 give details of there kit, what model the kit is for (Mk4/5/6) there experiences, problems and current costs to date on the conversion? It would be a massive help to myself and plenty others interested in this on the forum!

I know everyone is different and I'm looking for something quite specific but all the info in one place would be great!

Personally what I'd love on my R32 is a kit that will increase the BHP with as little hassle as possible (basically what everyone wants) but I'd love a kit that I could switch between power outputs as some of the Impreza/Evo owners have. I still want the car to be a daily use car but a little switch for an extra few ponies for track use would be a nice feature! Sorry if that seems ridiculous!

Hi Smitty,

I think you're missing one vital point, which answers your question on the lack of information.

Cost.

It's 2-4 x the value of the vehicle. As a result they are rare, and most people who are 'interested' quickly realise they can buy superior cars that suit their needs/desires for less money.

Some people love the R, so treating it more as a hobby (especially when DIY'ing) the cost becomes less important.

It's rarely just the price of the conversion, but also most other components of the R benefit hugely from being upgraded to handle the power.

If you have an additional £8-15K to spend on your R then you'll have people replying with more information on your thread. I suspect you have more sense

All the best,
Toffs

 

[smitty12]

Hi Smitty,

I think you're missing one vital point, which answers your question on the lack of information.

Cost.

It's 2-4 x the value of the vehicle. As a result they are rare, and most people who are 'interested' quickly realise they can buy superior cars that suit their needs/desires for less money.

Some people love the R, so treating it more as a hobby (especially when DIY'ing) the cost becomes less important.

It's rarely just the price of the conversion, but also most other components of the R benefit hugely from being upgraded to handle the power.

If you have an additional £8-15K to spend on your R then you'll have people replying with more information on your thread. I suspect you have more sense

All the best,
Toffs

Good answer mate!

I'll be totally honest, I dont have the spare £8-£15k at the moment but I am working towards it as I've pretty much already decided it will happen

My R32 all in already stands me over £20k (Which seems ridiculous as it isn't THAT good) But I love the car, I love everything about it and I've been spending most my money on maintaining and "future proofing" I work partly as a Maintenance Engineer so its well worth it to me!!

I've had a big learning curve with the work I've already done and realize people experiences and reviews are worth there weight in gold when it comes to someone who really appreciates there car and judging by every R32 Turbo/Supercharge conversion the people who seem to do them really appreciate there cars!

I think for me its going to be the HPA465 or HPG460, not some much putting a time limit on it but I think I'll be looking to do the conversion in the next 2-3 years, my car will never be the BEST R32 out there but as a car that's used every day of the year I'd like to say it's going to be worth every penny

 

[rwoody29]

There's a turbo on edition38 that was from the jbs 440 package, seller wants £1500 for it, just a few bits needed to make it complete

Sent from AutoGuide.com App

 

[smitty12]

There's a turbo on edition38 that was from the jbs 440 package, seller wants £1500 for it, just a few bits needed to make it complete

Sent from AutoGuide.com App

Seen it, its 5 minutes up the road from me!

I spoke to JBS and they refused point blank to supply the remainder of parts, i'd need injectors, intake pipework, boost pipework, an intercooler and silicone hoses to make 440.
Just for how JBS went on when I spoke to them I refuse to deal with them again, I'd heard there customer service was bad but the bloke I spoke to was just an out and out arrogant prick! (Sorry if anyone knows the guys there but that's my experience of them) I explained the kit was a JBS kit and I wanted them to install and fit the remainder but what I basically got told was, JBS want nothing to do with there parts after they've left the workshop, if JBS didnt fully supply and fit they want nothing to do with it even if there has been any modification!

 

[PaulW]

Seen it, its 5 minutes up the road from me!

I spoke to JBS and they refused point blank to supply the remainder of parts, i'd need injectors, intake pipework, boost pipework, an intercooler and silicone hoses to make 440.
Just for how JBS went on when I spoke to them I refuse to deal with them again, I'd heard there customer service was bad but the bloke I spoke to was just an out and out arrogant prick! (Sorry if anyone knows the guys there but that's my experience of them) I explained the kit was a JBS kit and I wanted them to install and fit the remainder but what I basically got told was, JBS want nothing to do with there parts after they've left the workshop, if JBS didnt fully supply and fit they want nothing to do with it even if there has been any modification!

Did they know the guy who was selling te kit? Maybe they had hassle with him? I'm in no way how they treated you was right

 

[rwoody29]

Seen it, its 5 minutes up the road from me!

I spoke to JBS and they refused point blank to supply the remainder of parts, i'd need injectors, intake pipework, boost pipework, an intercooler and silicone hoses to make 440.
Just for how JBS went on when I spoke to them I refuse to deal with them again, I'd heard there customer service was bad but the bloke I spoke to was just an out and out arrogant prick! (Sorry if anyone knows the guys there but that's my experience of them) I explained the kit was a JBS kit and I wanted them to install and fit the remainder but what I basically got told was, JBS want nothing to do with there parts after they've left the workshop, if JBS didnt fully supply and fit they want nothing to do with it even if there has been any modification!

That's not good at all! Doesn't say a lot at all for them

Sent from AutoGuide.com App

 

[smitty12]

That's not good at all! Doesn't say a lot at all for them

Sent from AutoGuide.com App

Not that I know of? Surely shouldn't make a difference as I've really got nothing to do with him?

Shame really but there's no way they'll be getting any business from me in future!

 

[PaulW]

Not that I know of? Surely shouldn't make a difference as I've really got nothing to do with him?

Shame really but there's no way they'll be getting any business from me in future!

True but you know what some companies are like!

Lesson learnt i'd say