I'm daily driving an R53 MCS this winter (first MINI I've owned - don't know much about them... yet). Well, the serpentine belt snapped yesterday evening... :(

I looked up some DIY tutorials & looks like I need a MINI belt tentioner tool & it seems like a fairly big job.

The big question is, if I'm paying a shop to do this & they're poking around the belt/pulley - I might as well have them install the WMW Pulley Package, yeah? (http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-pulley-package.html) Shouldn't be much more in labor costs I would think...

She is my "practical daily driver", high-mileage (158k), and I want good gas mileage & reliability from her (plus some fun) - (other car is a BMW E36 track project).

1) Does the WMW pulley package have any negative impact on economy/gas mileage, reliability, or longevity?
2) Is the WMW pulley package the best route to take? (most cost-effective route as I'm not looking to heavily invest & do a full performance tune on this car)

PS: If anyone is local in the Minneapolis metro area see my post on this here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html "Local Minneapolis - R53 Belt Replacement?" (I'm SW Metro) Looking for some help & I'd appreciate yours. Thanks!

Cheers,
Dan

 

Negative gas mileage yes, because your foot will be in it more. If you drive it normal (lol) you will gain a little. Reliability and longevity stays almost the same if you stay with 15% pulley.

Yes. There are others but one good thing with this one is the customer service Way provides.

Also your mouth will hurt for days, because of the smiles this will put on your face. The sound is intoxicating from the supercharger.

 

Interesting... Thanks for the info!

I'm going to call around to several shops & try to get quotes for normal belt replacement & then with the reduction kit. Hopefully it's not too much more.

 

PS: I had done the one-ball mod... if I do the WMW kit should I look into a CAI as well?

Again, don't want to get carried away here. This is the economical (yet fun) commuter car - I have another for the summer weekend/track car. Trying to keep things cost-effective & reliable here.

Just want to have everything balanced - but want to make sure it's not a case of... install the WMW kit, then intake, then ECU tune, then really should get a full exhaust system & not just the one-ball mod, etc., etc. - not I have a high-mileage DD with $2k of perf work done to her.

If that all happens I'd just sell this MINI come spring & find a newer lower mileage one to start tuning.

 

Changing just the belt is a 10 minute job; putting on a pulley will cost you probably from $175 to $250 in labor, plus the cost of the pulley (about $100) and a new belt (about $50) and you really should change the plugs (more $ in parts and labor). If I were you I would just do the belt. And, make sure there is no reason other than age that the belt snapped in the first place.

 

Think it was age & mileage... and it's been around 0deg here in MN the past week or two - so I'm sure that didn't help any existing cracks or wear that may have been on the belt.

The WMW kit does come with plugs.

Thanks for the tip. I'll price it out & see what the damage is...

 

You will love it. CAI also if you can afford it. It really helps open up the sound of the supercharger whine.

 

Did you establish why your belt broke? was it just an old belt? might check the serpentine belt tensioner unit while your at it.

 

How do I know if the belt tensioner is bad?

 

There is a little shock absorber thing on it that has bushings on both ends that rot and can cause the thing to chatter, throw belt, completely fall apart etc. alot of people replace those bushings with powerflex or an alternative bushing that Way sells also.

 

As far as your original question, yes Way's package is probably the best way to go, esp. for a "first time" modder, it's complete & well tested, plus, as stated above, good customer service.

As far as the other stuff, first determine for sure, why the belt went, culprits could be:
-Bad Belt
-Bad Tensioner
-Bad Idler Pulley
(least likely)
-Bad Crank Pulley
-Bad S/C

If it's just the belt, to install the pulley pkg. you're looking at about +2 hrs labor or so, but if it's any of the other culprits, 1/3 to 1/2 of the same labor has to be done anyway so you should be looking at +1 to +1.5 hrs to do the pulley pkg.

Also, if it is more than the belt only & you're even considering the pkg, go ahead & do it now, if you don't, you'll kick yourself once you finally do, for not doing it earlier.

 

Good advice. I just checked the previous owner's receipts & the serp belt was replaced with the super & water pump at 148k. The car has 158k now, so looks like with only 10k on the belt it must be some other issue... :(

 

Just ordered the WMW pulley package! Woho!

(if the serp belt tensioner is the culprit I'll just have the shop replace that with a stock one)

 

Keep us posted and tell us what you think when it is done. I will bet you won't beleive the difference and your face will hurt from smiling.

 

check your crank pulley to make sure that it has damage on the belt grooves from the belt breaking.

 

Hi DanOx,

Could you tell me who you decided on having do the installation? I'm in the twin cities area and will be doing this before too long as well. I've been in contact with orr autosport in Eden Prairie, but their prices seem steep, they quoted me in the high 600s for a pulley install and wouldn't use parts I provided.

Just curious what you found out from local shops.

Thanks! I'm excited for you.

 

You need to find a new shop my friend, close to $700 for a supercharger pulley install is an absolute insane rip-off or were they giving you a price for a crank pulley(harmonic damper) ?

 

Run. There has to be another place. Maybe see if another NAM member close to you who has done it could help you do it yourself.

 

JCWslayer&Braminator, you are totally right. I'll wait it out until I find someplace more reasonable or someone to give me a hand and keep my confidence up.

DanOx,
Have you installed the pulley kit yet? Did you DIY or take it somewhere? We are excited to hear your progress and thoughts after the fact.