Hey people, I'm getting a 15% Alta installed and am wondering how many of you installed yourself? If I have a shop do it, I'm looking at a little over $200 for labor. If it's easy enough to do yourself, I'll do it. I wouldn't say I am mechanically inclined but I do tinker around. Also, I'm a little weary of working on my Mini that has a little over 600 miles on it....

 

I would suggest a mechanic no matter what. I had mine installed just recently and the best way was to remove the motor mounts and pop old belt that way (watched Mini certif Mech).

Unless you have a hydraulic lift and feel comfortable with a tricky process...

 

I did it myself, took a leisurely 3 hours total. No rush, did it before work for a few days.


It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, though it was a bit involved.

 

If you have the tools and are somewhat mechanically inclined and can follow directions its easy ! I did mine in a little under 2 hours including getting the tools out and putting them away. You definatly have to pay attention to what you are doing so you dont break something.

$200 isnt a bad price for th einstall considering others are getting $400 for th epulley including install. In my opinion a pulley installed should cost no more than $275 since someone who has dome them before can do it in an hour or less.

 

I'm going a little off topic but if I was to take it to a shop would you recommend taking it to a shop that specializes in Minis? The place I was looking at having do the install is not near me but there is a BMW performance shop that is much closer to me that can do the install...

 

I'd go with the Mini place. They've seen 'em and will know what to do better.

 

yup. if you have all the right tools, jacks and good istructions, plus you're a pretty good mechanic yourself, it ain't bad. But if any of these are lacking, pay someone to do it.

 

If you take it to a shop definitely take it to a MINI shop or at the very least a shop that has done a pulley on a MINI before.

I did mine myself. While I do consider myself mechanically inclined, I also consider myself mechanically inexperienced and a bit skittish about auto mechanical stuff. That said I feel comfortable recommending this a a DIY job. Definietly buy the pulley from Randy Webb he will loan you the pulley puller for free.

Here is what you will need:

**2 - Jack stands
**2 - 21/2 - 3 ton floor jacks ( I bought 2 SUV floor jacks from Walmart and returned them when I was done)
**Pulley puller that is made to fit the stock pulley (this is important and a good reason to buy from Randy)
**Crows foot puller to attach to the pullley puller (can be purchased at most auto parts stores for $15
**Any other tools detailed in Randy's how-to
**A friend - this is important also you will need a friend to drop a nail into a hole in the tensioner while you are releasing the tension


The job is a bit scary but it is doable. Call Randy. He can give you some pointers.

Sean

 

RandyWebb

 

I 2nd that
Randy Webb
The test Drive is f#^*n Awesome

 

OH YEA ! ! ! !

 

Do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined at all - following directions, it is fairly easy

 

Jump in that beast and go to Vegas and have Randy Webb do it.

Earl

 

If, and that is the big if, you are mechanically inclined you can do it. There are better pulley pullers out there now that do not require you to remove the belt tensioner. And on the 05 there are less parts to remove. When I did mine I found that the whole deal was way simpler than I had thought.

 

Some will bristle at this and have because I just can't see paying anyone to do something I can do myself.
If you are mechanically inclined DIY.
It really isn't a big deal. You get to feel a strong sense of pride, accomplishment and save some money toward that next Mod. or at least your next set of tires which you will be needing soon.
I would also recommend using a HELIX pulley because it has six screws.
Yes that was a PLUG from a satisfied customer.

 

For $200 take it to the shop.

I did mine myself because I wanted to do it. As I live in Tahiti, I had to buy the pulley removal tool ($100+) and make a belt tensionner tool...$$$ to spend. Thank you Randy for the HOW TOs section

 

If you have any hesitation its better to get it done professionally - there no reason to prove anything to anyone by going the DIY way.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=38589

Dyno it before the pulley goes and then have them put it on and dyno it again. I am not sure how much they charge but drop them a line.

 

Thanks all for the suggestions/opinions. I think I'll have a shop do it. It does sound like something I can probably do but being that I haven't done a project like this before and that the car is new (6 weeks old, 700 miles now) I'd rather just pay a shop to do it...even though I could use that money towards an exhaust or something!

 

I just had it done about 5 hours ago - and I watched them do it - pay the 200.00!!!. Actually I paid 189.00 and it took a little over 2 hours. Yes, it can be done and there are board members that have the talent and tools but if you aren't a mechanic and don't have the tools - pay some one else and spend your time driving the car.

bahamabart

 

I have an '05, and am considering doing it myself too. Which pulley puller did you use that doesn't need the tensioner removed? Also, what was different about the '05 that made there less parts to remove? I've read a few different instructions, and they seem similar. The promini one had the best pictures, but it looks like some of the brackets are different than my '05

Thanks,
-Andy

 

I believe Rspeed has a puller that doesn't require the tensioner to be removed.

 

Well I ended up having a shop do the install. Though I could have probably done it myself, the cost to have a shop do it wasn't too bad and they do have a 6 month warranty on their work. According to Jaques at BBM he says the pulley in my 05 is smaller than previous years stock pulley. He guesses the Alta 15% pulley is probably more like 12 - 13% compare to the pulley in my MCSC. Can anyone else confirm this?

 

Just ordered the 15% Alta from Randy. Really nice guy on the phone. Thought it was easier to go with the Alta because there's no drilling using the crows foot/pulley tool and I don't have to heat anything up as with the Helix. He's sending me the pulley tool. I've got the floor jack, the stands, torque wrench and a weekend. I wouldn't say I would trust myself to do major overhauls, but I have replaced motor mounts, calipers, pads on my wife's Saturn so usually if I have a little free time, I can figure things out. I've downloaded Randy's instructions, been studying them closely. I've got 2003 MCS. Any tips from DIY's out there?

thanks in advance,

Jake

 

Good idea..you can put the old pulley back when you sell the car(if you ever sell it). I think that's the one real advantage of doing it yourself.