Bought a 2005 s convertible. Had a bad engine. Ordered a used one with 92k. Bought timing kit with tools, new gaskets, thermostat with housing. Thinking about pulleys and balancer. I'm a newbie and will make this my work car.

 

Hi and welcome to nam Michael Davies,
If you are going to replace the balancer, don't use the oem, as there are good long lasting after market balancers out there.
While the engine is out, it would be wise to do a compression check, to see if the engine is in god shape. Removing the valve cover and seeing if there is slop in the valve guides would also be a good idea. (low miles are no guaranty that the engine has not overheated and has not been hurt.)
Not trying discourage you, just hoping you know a bit more, before stuffing it in and finding out any problems after the fact.
best of luck on your swap. Make sure to document you actions and post up pictures of your build.

 

Thank you. I am going to pull the pan and valve cover to check bearings etc. I paid 1200 for the car, but have over 2000 in the engine and parts. I want to do it right. Do the aftermarket balancers make a big difference. Is this where I should change pulley sizes while I'm here also. Is the difference noticeable

 

The aftermarket fluid one is the one I use and it really has made a difference for the better. It winds up quicker and is not subject to early failure.
This is the one I am using:

Description
Introducing the Pro Series Fluid Filled Harmonic Balancer for the MINI! We know the stock Cooper S Harmonic Balancer fails ofer time due to the deterioration of the rubber supports. This unit is a far better design, more durable, and Costs LESS than the factory replacement!
PRW Fluid Dampers are made with an internal steel intertia ring that is surrounded by a high viscosity silicone gel. The internal intertia ring "floats" in the silicone gel to combat the engine harmonics at all RPM ranges. Crankshaft and bearing life is significantly improved and safely increases torque and horsepower.
These dampers provide your engine with long lasting performance because of the silicone inside the damper will not expire and is not effected by temperature change. External balance applications feature a removable hub in order to accurately blueprint the engine and balance the assembly.
Fits the following Mini Cooper S models:
2002-2006 R53 MINI Cooper S Hatchback
2005-2008 R52 MINI Cooper S Convertible
Standard Diameter (18mm) for the Cooper S (Supercharged).
Weight = 8.45 lbs.
These SFI Certified Mini Dampers are engineered specifically for the R53 BMW-designed supercharged engine. They replicate stock 138mm diameter and WILL NOT FAIL when your engine is tuned to exceed factory performance levels. Race proven!
Include threaded bore holes to mount a crank trigger on the face of the damper, thereby allowing ignition timing to be controlled and adjusted externally.
Superior steel forgings and CNC machining ensure consistent finishes and tolerances. The fluid dampening design enhances smooth blower operation, and preserves main bearing life for engines that are tuned to perform far above factory specifications. These dampers are SFI certified to 12,500 RPM.
See installation instruction for the PRW Harmonic Damper here.
PRW Warranty:
PRW Industries, Inc. warrants that all of its products are free from defects in material and workmanship, and against excessive wear for a period of (1) one year from the date of purchase. This limited warranty shall cover the original purchaser.
It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure that all of the components are correct before installation. PRW assumes no liability for any errors relative to tolerances, component selection, or installations.
There is absolutely no warranty on the following:
i. Any parts used in racing applications, or;
ii. any product that has been physically altered, improperly installed or maintained, or;
iii. any product used in improper applications or fitness for a particular purpose and no warranties which wxtend beyond the description of the face hereof.
PRW will not be responsible for incidental and consequential damages, property damage or personal injurey damages to the extent permitted by law. Where required by law, implied warranties or merchanability and fitness are limited for a term of (1) one year from the date of original purchase. This warranty may give you specific legal rights. You may also have other legal rights, which vary from state to state.

Another good one:

They are both spendy, but worth it over OEM.



escriptionLightweight Crank Pulley to replace the trouble prone stock unit. Available in Standard Diameter or 2% Oversized. Fits:
2002-2006 R53 MINI Cooper S Hatchback
2005-2008 R52 MINI Cooper S Convertible
Through extensive weight savings afforded by 6061 aircraft aluminum construction, power gains of up to 10% are available depending on how your MINI is set up. CravenSpeed crank pulleys come fully balanced and counter-weighted, and feature anodizing for superb wear resistance & strength.
NOT compatible with Cooper (non-S) models.
Releasing Power
The rule of thumb is that each pound of weight taken off the engines rotating assembly is worth approximately 2.7HP. The concept is that the crank is a parasite; it does not put power to the drivetrain but still requires the energy produced by the engine to rotate. When you reduce this parasitic weight, you release power that was previously used only for spinning the supercharger and alternator.
Is this crank pulley safe?
The pulleys on the R53's 1.6 and most new smaller engines have an elastomer (rubber ring) incorporated into the pulley that looks similar to a harmonic damper. The elastomer in the OEM pulley serves as an isolator, which is there to suppress natural vibration and noise from the engine itself, the A/C compressor, P/S pump, and alternator. The purpose of a traditional harmonic damper is to protect against crank failure from torsional movement. This is not necessary in the MINI or most modern engines because of the many advances in engine design and materials. Factors such as stroke, displacement, inline, V configurations, power output, etc., do determine when and how these harmonics and torsional movements occur.