Hello. First off, I'd like to say I DID search, and this is not a "15% will blow up my engine" thread.

Here it goes, flame me all you want, serious people ONLY please, who actually HAVE the pulleys. Which pulley would you get and WHY? I'm not looking into a pulley now, but might soon. Keep in mind I work at Cincinnati MINI.

1. Ultrik-MINI Mania 15%
2. M7 16%
3. Alta 15% or 17%

Here is the catch: Since I work for Cinci MINI, I get discounts on parts. I *might* get a discount on ALTA, but I doubt it. However, I KNOW I get a discount on MINI Mania products. I haven't seen too much info on the MINI Mania pulley, so this is why I'm asking.

Alta, M7, or Ultrik? I believe I get a 20% discount or something off of MINI Mania parts, so that's not *too cheap* compared to the M7 and ALTA. I want something that will last, and is well known. Of course I want to save money.....but I would MUCH rather spend an extra $50 or so and get a part that I KNOW is going to be 100% reliable and simply amazing! BTW: The top pulley on MY list would be the M7 16%, because I like M7 products, it's priced fair, and it's in the middle of 15 and 17%. And the only other mod I have is a HAI. Nothing else until much later.

Thanks! I have my flame suit ready!
-Cody

 

I have an Alta 15% and it's great. Check Webbmotorsports.com for more info on % and reliability. I like the way Alta installs by bottoming out on the supercharger shaft. I helped a friend with an Ultrik install and it wasn't as easy- the directions left some room for interpretation and you needed a feeler gauge to set the correct distance on the shaft. Don't know about the M7.

 

See, that is the kind of info I was after. I would be installing this myself, and I'm not exactly the best mechanic....so an easier fit would be much nicer. Does exactly does the Ultrik, ALTA, and M7 pulleys fit ON the shaft,t because I know difference companies use different ways. And for that matter, how is the stock pulley held on?

Oh, and I've read many many threads and Randy's "Why 15%" article. I'm not asking about the reliablity of the %, but of the product itself. I know I'll be fine running a 15%-16% with stock everything.

Thanks!
-Cody

 

ALTA Self positioning for belt alignment, steel and nice

I had an ultrick but didnt install it, it needs feeler gauge to be set correctly and is made in aluminum

Dont know for M7 but looks like the alta

 

Yea....I doubt I could find those tools needed, let alone know how to proberly set the pulley and use the tool. :impatient

Edit* I think it would come out to like $112 for the Ultrik, $130 for the M7, and $120 for the ALTA.

So now my choice is M7 or ALTA. I'm leaning towards the M7 soley on the fact that I like that it is 16%, and the way it looks. Plus not as many people have it yet (everyone has the ALTA, but there is a good reason why). Any more thoughts/problems/advice would be highly appreciated! I really don't want to go with anything above a 16% because then you get into smaller belts, injectors, etc.

-Cody

 

The stock pulley is pressed on the shaft so it needs a puller to get it off, get the alta pulley puller to do the job.
The Alta and M7 pulleys are using a 2 piece design, the inner part fits directly on the shaft and have a cone shape, the outter part then squeze the cone when you tighten it on the inner part, very simple yet effective design wich makes removal a lot easier too if you want to try somthing else.

 

The Alta and Ultrik both come in pieces that slide onto the shaft and are tightened on with bolts that essentially wedge them on. OEM are pressed into the correct position as are some other aftermarket pulleys- which may require heat and persuasion (which I definitely wanted to avoid due to concerns about potential damage to the supercharger shaft)

 

why stay tippy with the 16? just go for the alta 17%.. u won't regret it... maybe you will regret the fact you did not go 19% straight.

 

I know you mentioned AutoX in the past, do you plan to keep doing it?

Did you change the plan for more mods and possible saftey equipment?

A pulley is one of those things that instantly changes your class, regardless of other mods, reason I'm putting it off for quite a while. Check your rule book! Even the % may change which class so know how it will affect that aspect of your driving, esp. if you're trying to be competitive.

Read through both of Randy's how-tos, mounting methods are explained, and having seen and held the Stock, ALTA 15% and JCW pulleys I can say the ATLA feels the most reliable of those three and it is signficantly different htan the peice you'll be taking off.

 

Thanks guys. A little more background info before I hit the sheets for bed.

The mods I plan on doing later on are:

M7 Exhaust
OBX Header (maybe)
Screamin Deamon Coil Pack with wires
CAI of some sort (I have a HAI now)
Obviously the pulley
ALTA Air Divertor/sprayer
OCC
Engine Dampner

That should be it, besides cosmedics.

And as for racing/track. I DO plan on racing it, but that wouldn't be until mid-late 07' at the earliest. As for auto-x, I would just run for fun....so I'm not worried about weight, classes, times, etc. I also would like to go up to Mid-Ohio a couple of times a year if I could.

So lemme see if I'm understanding this correctly, as it can be quite confusing.

15% - Recommended the most due to reliablity - high RPM range?

16% Retains stock belt, but still reliable, in the middle power wise between the 15 and 17. Mid-high RPM range?

17% - Starts the so called "reliability" issues, requires a shorter belt, and larger injectors? (Anything else)? Better use for street driving?

19% - Need bigger injectors, remap? new belt. For use at lower RPM's? Less reliable than 15% but more boost.

Basically, I wanted to stay with 15-16% due to the reliablity issues. I don't want to replace this if I don't have too. I daily drive my car, mainly city...and I drive it pretty hard. I usually will shift ~4k but will carry it to 6-6.5 pretty regularly. I also plan on putting in a boost guage.

How much boost should each % produce? Since I daily drive it, I don't want a rediculous amount of boost that could possibly cause problems.

15,16,17,19? Which would work best in my situation? I've heard that the 19% is the way to go on the street, and 15% for a lot of track/racing?

So many choices and so much information....really confusing!
-Cody

 

I personally would go with the M7 16% pulley, as Randy says that it is just on the adiabatic efficiency limit of the supercharger. It also has holes in the pulley that help keep it cool. That said, i have an alta 17% pulley with a new belt, and its been fine. I'd also get a new shorter belt whichever pulley you go for.

You don't need injectors with a 17% or 19%, but the JCW 14.3% conversion uses uprated injectors, so you could justify the injectors on a 15% pulley conversion. I intend on getting injectors, but its certainly running fine without them at the moment.

 

M7 has 6 bolts holding it on, while Alta has 4. When working correctly, either one is equally reliable. However, if one bolt fails, the M7 still has 5 holding it on while the Alta only has 3. Something to consider, but not a deal breaker.

 

ive yet to hear of one alta pulley that has had a bolt come off or missing.

 

JCW is fitting a 11% pulley on their Superchargers and a shorter belt than stock.

I put a 15% custom made sc pulley from GTT on my one (interference fit) as a replacement for the JCW one. There wasn't that big improvement in power (compared to JCW sc pulley), so I would guess that due to limitations of the Eaton supercharger, smaller than 15% wouldn't give a big performance gain but would decrease the liability. (The stock pulley from GTT would be a 17% one)

 

Actually the JCW pulley is about a 14.3% reduction, that's why you wouldn't notice much of a difference going to a 15%.

 

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but would a dealer install a JCW pulley? I would rather just have a local shop install an Alta for me, but I'm leasing the car and, even though I plan to keep it, I feel like I shouldn't make too many modifications that aren't guaranteed by MINI. Just in case, you know, something unrelated happens to the engine, I don't want to have to argue about the pulley...

 

they don't actually "install" pulleys....they remove & replace the SC with the new pulley already pressed on.

no way any dealer is going to do just that....that is why there are the aftermarket pulleys.

 

Ah, yes, I see. Well, a new SC is a bit out of my price range!

15% Alta it is!

 

17% doesn't really need anything except for the shorter belt, which is why it's so much better than the 15%. in Europe, 17% is considered as the sweet spot with pulley.

 

You guys are making this very hard.... There's so many good reviews about each one, it's hard to decide!

And what is this talk about a JCW pulley over a 15%? I never stated I had JCW, so I'm going from a stock MCS pulley.

Anything else guys? Taking a closer look, it seems as the M7 pulley has higher "grooves" to grab the belt vs. the ALTA, and like etalj said, the M7 also has the slotted holes in the pulley to help cooling (but is cooling a problem?).

Is there any noticable difference between 16 and 17, or 15 and 17? (Butt dyno)
-Cody

 

It is probably worth mentioning here, many reputable pulley installers are recommending also installing colder plugs as a method to keep the heat down as well as to reduce detonation.

I had my work done by a well known performance specialist in Southern California (Steve's Auto Clinic in North Hills), since I was there anyway I had him do the CAI, pulley, cold plugs and a 1-ball exaust for me all at the same time. It took about 4 hours. I was glad to have the experienced professional quality work as well as to have the complete air I/O system done all at the same time.

Steve let me compare all the pulleys and discussed with me the kind of driving I do to help determine the reduction percentage. The nicest pulleys of the bunch were Altas so that decision was easy. I went with 15% because it seemed to offer the best balance for my daily and recreational driving situations.

I probably could have managed to do at least some, maybe all of the work myself, but I could never have done so with the same profesional experience and quality, and especially never in 4 hours.

Just an option for consideration...

-- VBG

 

15% vs. 17% yes. difference is noticeable. especially when a 17% pullied car will walk past a 15% pullied car off the line...

16% vs. 17% i don't know but why be conservative? just take a deep breath and take that extra 1%...

 

FWIW- I had a 15 and now have a 19 and am planning a change to 16 or 17....primarily because I lost a couple of belts at inopportune times... the 19 is nice on the street the power is just there faster.....with the DFIC I get pretty good cooling and the car runs good.....I have a helix and i can just change the outer ring for a 17 ...obviously a 16 M7 will require more.... the reason I am not doing it now is that I have a AGS coming and I want to get a "feel" for the AGS... if i change both it will be skewed.....I think that 16-17 is the way to go.....

 

You are headed in the direction of a mid modded MINI. The more modded your MINI the more the 17% will be helpful. On a stock MCS any of these pulley upgrades would give about the same benefit in performance. Upgrades to the intake and exhaust help the most but also ECU reflash or upgrade for the specific pulley upgrade along with colder plugs will help as well. Larger injectors only needed if you combine the ECU upgrade with a 17-19% pulley or similar.

Helix pulleys allow for many sizes in case you want to change later which is a plus for some- Call Eric at Helix13.com and ask for a discount and maybe carry it at your local dealer. 15% pulley doesn't require a smaller pulley belt and is friendly on belts and the most trouble free option- this is probably the best option for most owners. 17% and certainly 19% will need a smaller belt and there is more belt maintenance required especially if you track your car.

If you only limit the options to your original three then the M7 16% would be moderately powerful and reliable followed very closely by the Alta 15%. For the most power the Alta 17% would be keeping the future in mind. The 17% will work with everything else stock but the smaller belt is wise (not required). You can run stock ECU and plugs as well or upgrade when ready.

One other consideration is ECU upgrades. To get the most out of a 15% pulley upgrade you really need a good ECU upgrade tuned for the 15% pulley. There are many to choose from that work. For the M7 16% those same ECU upgrades will also work (or ask M7 for what has worked for their customers) but the 16% wasn't around early when much of the testing for the ECU upgrades were done.

Another thing- upgrading to a 15% pulley isn't going to directly lower your mpg (if that is any factor) but when you install larger injectors and ECU upgrades you may find that mpg can fall off about 2 to 5 mpg depending on how you drive. The 19% pulley upgrade alone may influence your average driving speed enough to lower mpg by about 2-3.

 

Back from the dead. Ok, this time it's M7 16%, ALTA 17% or ALTA 19%. I can get them for the same price, but for the ATLA I need the shorter belt.

Anyway, which one!? I've ruled out the 15%, and the 16% seems like it would be fun in the beginning, but I like the extra "oomph" of the 17 or 19. Now, this car is my only car, and is my daily driver. It seems to me, after reading for countless hours that people really don't have problems with either of the pullies.

Everyday street driving with just HAI, 17% or 19%? I know I have to get a shorter belt, but is anything else needed? And what about later, if I add some more engine stuff (header, exhaust, etc.) will I HAVE to get a remap if I go 19%? And how much boost should I be getting (what's the stock PSI anyway?)?

I was pretty set on the M7 16%, but I feel as I might regret it later to come, after I start modding it more, and it might not be enough! This feeling has greatly grown over the past month. My car was super fast when I got it. I was like "OMG, SC is awesome!" but now it seems VERY slow and just...not fun to drive really.

17 or 19....?

Thanks guys!
-Cody