I'm getting ready to pick up a cheap R53 mini just for driving back and forth to work. The ones that are in my price range are all around 70-90,000 miles. I would like to get some extra power out of the motor just to make it more fun to drive...so I'll probably put a 17% supercharger pulley on it.

Is that asking for trouble on a higher mileage mini?

Not on the engine as much as the actual supercharger. Their lifespan is right around 100k. Also the clutch/flywheel if not already replaced might need to be addressed. Other than that, you should be ok.

It's totally safe. I installed one on a car at 100k and now it has 206k with no ill effect. Same supercharger and still original clutch.

I bought my R53 with 97K and installed a 15% Cravenspeed pulley. It's now on 110K running strong!

We've installed pullies on MINI's with Mileage as high as 130k, so go for it.

Thanks for all of the info guys!! For those of you who have installed the 15% or 17% pulleys....do they give a power increase you can actually feel? What about highway MPG.....does it affect it at all?

Thanks again

Just lookclosely at your "cheap" r53....you don't want to buy somebody elses money pit...just remember the old saying, nothing is as expsinsive as going cheap.

Lots of previous threads on this... Yes, definite improvement in acceleration - best bang for the buck! Under normal driving, should be no adverse effect on mileage. In fact, my average went up about 1-2 mpg's IF I resist the urge to hear that wonderful supercharger whine!

Similar experience here....
It is like a night and day difference, pulley vs non-pulley.
minis are setup to run pretty rich....addingthe pulley justs adds more air...the computer then adjusts the fuel trims for light accerlaion, but must still use the stored maps for hard acceleration....so very high rpm running (close to red-line) will be leaner than optimum, but generally safe....another side effect, on the mini, the waterpump runs off a pto on the bottom of the SC, so the waterpump is getting run hard...ok again till the redline area...
it is generals agreed that the 17% is great for street/highway driving, with limited redlining, while the 15% is better for an agressivly driven car. Many threads.

It is actually a terrible idea. I did mine right at 100k miles and now I just want more. It is way too addictive

this is too true

Make sure you get a good cold air intake to go with it so you can get your high on that fabulous supercharger whine!

This is the type of intake it's got on it....does anyone know what kind it is? I'm assuming that I can just wash it and re oil it like a standard foam filter?

Thanks!