Which pulley does eveybody recommend the 15% or 17%? I dont want to go as far as the 19 right now due to the fact I only have about 1500 miles on my car. Also I know the alta is great but they dont make a 17% so with the helix do I get the clamp on or press on?

 

I have read alot of different opinions on this subject and as most my main concern is with dependability but I have yet to read where ANYBODY has had a problem from any pulley.

 

Even though you have only 1500 miles on your MCS, it doesn't really matter much once you have upgraded your pulley you've voided your supercharger warranty.

As for dependability, if you drive sanely then you can upgrade to the 19% pulley and smaller belt and do just fine. If you redline alot and drive really aggressively and want to be really safe then the 15% pulley and most of the ECU software upgrades including GIAC for only $325 works really well.

If you are going to install 17% pulley only that will work too, but get the smaller belt. To get the full benefit of the 17% pulley you'll need larger fuel injectors and GIAC for 17% which is available.

I think for the average driver who does mostly street driving and some autocross with some reving up to 6800 rpm but not excessively the 19% pulley, smaller belt, larger fuel injectors and GIAC for 19% will be a solid performer. Only time will tell. So far the 19% alone has been dependable.

 

As far as voiding the warranty goes everybody has a defferent opinion, They could only void it if they can link the problem directly to the Pulley.

 

You might want to read Randy Webb's reasoning for the 15% via the link below. A lot of good tidbits from probably the most directly experienced on the subject.

http://webbmotorsports.com/faq.php

I went 15%, which is similar to what is on the JCW kit, and also for the reasons outlined on the webbmotorsports page.

 

What is a GIAC and what us the ecu upgrade? What is so great abut them and where can i purchase?

 

Here - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=35752

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

As for the 19%...There are other experienced MINI experts who have datalogged as much or more data that proves the 19% is very safe. That stuff about the water pump cavitation is just silly. Let's put this one to rest already. Water pump cavitation is NOT an issue with any size pulley currently available. And as for temps, 19% temps are well within the temps recorded with 15% pulleys. And if that wasn't enough, a 19% pulley with the new GIAC software & injectors will run cooler still. So there goes the heat argument.

Check out this board - do a search. You'll see dozens of people that have gone the 15% pulley, intake, exhaust and ECU route and are still hungry for more power - particularly more low-end torque. Most then go for more costly items such as headers (none of which have proven to make very good gains) and intercoolers (again, sufficient data showing real world results is lacking). Yet some of these people switch over to 19% pulleys and find what they are looking for. If your MINI isn't a dedicated track car, more than likely the 19% pulley is exactly what your looking for. It'll give you more low-end torque than a header, head and intercooler combined. And it'll save you about $3500 in the process. And the torque from a 19% is something you'll feel everytime you step on the gas - even at 2k RPMs. Almost no other mod (intake, exhaust, header, head, intercooler) can be felt that low.

Any, now that my rant is done, is all the unfounded negative hype on the 19% scares you, go the 15% - it's still pretty good. Just don't blame me if you still long for more power...

 

Well Alta just came out with a 17% and I just ordered on from JSC Speed.

 

Well bump the 17% because it looks as if JSC was a little pre-mature on posting the 17% being for sale, It will be released for another 8-12 weeks

 

17% from Alta...hmmm, very cool. I wonder if it will be any different from the other 17% pulleys out there. I also wonder if Webb will recommend the upgrade over the 15% now that Alta is on board.

As far as GIAC and larger injectors, I have heard that adding these to the pulley is really what makes the upgrade feel like a new car. In the VW world, GIAC and APR are ECU kings with the highest gains and next-to-nil problems. I know GIAC is what I'll be getting when I chip tune.

One question: If you upgrade to a smaller belt with a 17%, how often do you have to change belts? I've heard that it is as much as every 10k with the 19%. Reliability is of optimum importance as many people have expressed here, but ease of ownership is a close second...

 

I just installed the ALTA 15% a little over a month ago and I love it. It is by far the best bang for the buck. I know of TWO people who have installed the 19% and they have went back to a 15% because they had problems with the belt falling off. I can't speak for the 17% but if you are an everyday driver and want a little bang go for the 15% I have not heard of one person not liking the upgrade

 

I went 25k miles or so with the smaller belt on the 19% before I changed it. I had no problems and the belt didn't look very worn or anything. It was just a convenient time to change it and heck it's only $20. Before you do anything, I'd contact Eric at Helix13.com and ask him about it. I know they're working on some stuff that will prevent belt issues for the few cases there are.

 

IMO if you’re going for a pulley you should consider the Helix clamp on pulleys by P&D. They are all stainless steel, have a positive stop so there are no alignment issues and six (6) cap screws to evenly distribute the clamping torque.
Yeah there are other pulleys out there but they are all held together with four (4) cap screws. MY buddy with a four (4) screw pulley discovered a screw was loose and backing out.
I don't know if the guy who installed it used loctite or not.
I do know he is an excellent methodical mechanic who builds National SCCA class winning Honda's.
So I bought my 17% from Helix because of that issue and used loctite blue on install myself.
At 6,000 miles on Helix 17%, belt looks good. no problems.
Now looking for cash to do a GIAC and larger injectors. Yahoo

 

Just to add, if I decide to go to 19% pulley all I need is a pulley for $80.00 because the Helix hubs are interchangeable.

 

I know isn't that great? Talk about bang for the buck. It doesn't get bigger or better than a 15-19% upgrade.