supercharger for MX5

[MiataMark]

I've been idly thinking about adding a supercharger to my MK1 1.6 MX5. You can buy kits for ~£2K but what parts would I need to collect to do a DIY install?

- ECU
- Eaton M45/M62? supercharger from a Mini or Mercedes kompressor
- bypass valve
- intercooler?
- brackets
- pipes
- air filter

I wouldn't be looking for massive power, initially, so is an intercooler needed? Somewhere in the 150-180bhp to start would be nice.

My idea would be collect the parts as they come up over a period of time then do as much preparation as I can before getting a garage to finish it off.

[slater]

Intercooler would certainly be a good idea.

Control over fuelling and changing compression ratio would need to be considered too

[Nathan]

Built a few kits over the years, IMO forget the M45 it's over priced and requires more fabrication. Look at the M65 which is from a C-Class merc, it is basically the same internally as the M45 but is half the price and in fact easier to mount. It also comes with an electronic bypass valve which can be hooked into the ME221 or a MegaSquirt (I had mine running off an Arduino before ME221 supported it). Basically more self contained.

Low boost 5psi you wont need an IC, but if you have the car in bits it wont harm, any more PSI and you will need one. MX5 is a low compression engine so no need to change that (it was developed as a turbo'd engine afterall...I'm on 14PSI on stock compression and internals), you will need an ECU and injectors (RX8 Yellows), you can get away with a RRFPR but it's a plaster fix. If you do go for it I have maps for the ME221 and MS for the M65, before I went turbo I was running a smaller nose wheel and about 10PSI max...it did make the car fly!

The boost from an SC is very linear so you never hear of them killing rods etc, I never did in the 3 years of hard launches and general abuse :-) Also M45/65 in stock form don't produce the amount of PSI to really worry about.

My build thread on here from about page 10 shows an early version of what I made. Been improved a lot since then and as you can see I used the Mini Bypass at first which is no longer required. Fire me a PM if you have any questions, happy to help.

[MiataMark]

Aug 15, 2019 8:19:24 GMT Nathan said:

Built a few kits over the years, IMO forget the M45 it's over priced and requires more fabrication. Look at the M65 which is from a C-Class merc, it is basically the same internally as the M45 but is half the price and in fact easier to mount. It also comes with an electronic bypass valve which can be hooked into the ME221 or a MegaSquirt (I had mine running off an Arduino before ME221 supported it). Basically more self contained.

Low boost 5psi you wont need an IC, but if you have the car in bits it wont harm, any more PSI and you will need one. MX5 is a low compression engine so no need to change that (it was developed as a turbo'd engine afterall...I'm on 14PSI on stock compression and internals), you will need an ECU and injectors (RX8 Yellows), you can get away with a RRFPR but it's a plaster fix. If you do go for it I have maps for the ME221 and MS for the M65, before I went turbo I was running a smaller nose wheel and about 10PSI max...it did make the car fly!

The boost from an SC is very linear so you never hear of them killing rods etc, I never did in the 3 years of hard launches and general abuse :-) Also M45/65 in stock form don't produce the amount of PSI to really worry about.

My build thread on here from about page 10 shows an early version of what I made. Been improved a lot since then and as you can see I used the Mini Bypass at first which is no longer required. Fire me a PM if you have any questions, happy to help.

Great information thanks, I remember reading about your car and was hoping you'd reply. I might come and ask some questions at RRG if that's OK and I can find you.

The only M65 I can find on eBay at the moment is this one;

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EATON-M65-M45-SUPERCHARGER-COMPRESSOR-KOMPRESSOR-MERCEDES-MIATA/173900817333?hash=item287d4be3b5:g:n0oAAOSwdOtc6WSS

My plan was/is to fit a ME221 ECU first and probably get it mapped at Skuzzle as they're reasonably close to me.

Not looking for massive power just would be nice to have a bit more pull coming out of corners without having to rev to the limiter all the time.


Mark

[Nathan]

No worries, by all means dude, I am there all weekend.

Ah no you want this type, I just enter Mercedes Supercharger:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Mercedes-Slk-Clk-Supercharger-Kompressor-Turbo/113288894955?hash=item1a608b59eb:g:070AAOSwTw5bjqzU

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C-Class-W203-01-06-C180-Eaton-Supercharger-A2710902680/112818998740?hash=item1a44894dd4:g:lm0AAOSw4HNahun0

Some have the bypass removed, as these are worth about £60 alone. If you find the one you get does, let me know I can give you a working unit (got a few of them on the shelf)

Those have the bypass and the plenum, (if you remove the guts of that the whine from the charger is insane). That charger is perfect for that install in that case, at least you can increase if required (nose wheel).

[MiataMark]

£110 for that first one, tempting so tempting...

[Nathan]

Keep a look out as we tend to pick them up for £50 - £80 usually, so if you are in no rush you may save yourself a little.