Would it be possible to engineer a pulley that looks like the stock unit, but with a deeper groove for the belt, resulting in a 15% reduction in the drive ratio? That way we could have the benefits of the pulley mod and be able to pass a quick visual inspection when it came to service time at the dealer

X2

 

There was one made that was a single piece pulley, thet would probably pass for what you want, I am not sure if it is still available though. I believe that it was by MiniMania.com, not 100% sure though

 

I don'treally think that would matter as the dealer will most likeley drive your car anyway. They would know at that point!

 

I know it's probably been covered before, so pardon the dumb question, but what's really the story with dealer service and the pulley mod (that mod specifically)?? I mean, my dealer sells/installs the pulley mod...so how could they refuse to service such a modified car under warranty?

 

>>I know it's probably been covered before, so pardon the dumb question, but what's really the story with dealer service and the pulley mod (that mod specifically)?? I mean, my dealer sells/installs the pulley mod...so how could they refuse to service such a modified car under warranty?

The warranty is underwritten by the manufacturer, not the dealer. The dealer won't cover something under warranty if they don't get reimbursed by the manufacturer.

Just because a dealer installs a part on your car doesn't mean that part or the damage that it causes is now magically covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Some dealers are cooler about mods than others and from a legal standpoint, to deny warranty coverage they have to prove that the aftermarket part caused the damage. So if you install a new pulley and then a week later your radio craps out, well that would be covered under warranty. But if you install a new pulley and then a week later your supercharger self-destructs, that might be another story. If the dealer installed the pulley maybe you can get the dealer to eat the repair cost, but MINI USA sure won't be paying for it.

 

The warantee may be issued by the manufacturer, but the warantee work is carried out by the dealership. Therefore, it's up to the dealer's discresion what constitutes a breack of waantee and what does not. This is why some people have had no problems with various levels of tune, while others have encountered more hostile dealerships. I think it's a safe bet that if the dealer installs the pulley for you, if something happens you'll be fine.

 

Just painting the pully black would be enough to pass a simple vsual check. I doubt if many dealers would recognise the subtle shape change of a new pully. The pully isn't that easy to get close to so I think even a silver pully would go through normal maintenance without being noticed.

The only time a new pully would be an issue is if something related breaks. You will be SOL is the supercharger fails - I can live with that. There are likely to be some questions if the engine blows but I am ready to argue that the pully is unrelated as it is the same as the JCW mod. Bottom line - the dealer will be taking the belt off if anything serious enough happens to make the new pully an issue so you can assume it will be discovered.

 

FLKeith - I see you have the ROgue intake and pulley with the Borla. I have the two minus the Borla. How is the Borla? Do you like it? No drone? Good power? How about the sound? The tips? Have you dynoed that whole system???

I'm seriously considering adding the Borla to the intake and pulley - do you think there is some HP to be gained there???

Thanks in adcance!

 

I used to have a Magnaflow and measured 10hp gain on a GTech beyond what the Rogue intake gave. I switched to the Borla because of drone and still got 5hp more than with Rogue intake (that was before the pully). The Borla has absolutely no drone and a subtle rumble at idle. It looks great and getting 5hp less than the Magnaflow was a fair compromise for me to get an exhaust I can live with. Its also great looking.

 

Thanks FLKeith! I appreciate your testimony!