Wow! This is unheard of. I just got back from Action Tire in Lodi, NJ looking to see if they'd be able to install the 15% reduction pulley for me. They quoted me at 1 full day, maybe 2 days and 800$ dollars to install the pulley. I was like no way man! Took Randy Webb's How-To and hoped in my MINI and took off. That's just ridiculous. I guess they've never really worked on a MINI before.


So now my question, are there any places around Northern New Jersey that can install this pulley for me?


I've thought about making a trip down to Helix in Philly but that's like a 3 hour drive for me. I'd have to plan in advance if I wanted to go the Helix route. Atleast I'd know Helix knows what they're doing.


ANY help is appreaciated. Thanks in advanced!

 

Do it yourself.

With the proper tools and a decent understanding of mechanics and your car, its really not that tough of a job. Did it well over 2k miles ago and still going strong!

 

I can't install it myself. I can't install anything into a car myself. I dont trust myself doing it.

 

Take it to Helix. Worth the drive and the piece of mind knowing it is gonna get done right.

 

>>>I can't install it myself. I can't install anything into a car myself. I dont trust myself doing it.<<<<

Then by all means, go visit Eric at Helix! It'd be well worth the drive to have the piece of mind that the job was done right.....and it wouldn't take $880!!

 

Yea I guess I've got to plan to make a trip to Helix. He sells the pulley, correct? Does anyone know what his rates are? or should I just contact him?

 

Just give him a call. They always answer the phone. And yes he has pulleys to sell.

 

Need an install in NJ? Precision-Mini is located in Warren, NJ.

 

Eric from Helix is my competitor, but he'll treat you right and do a good job. If I was closer I would volunteer to do it for you. If you could put together a Mod party I would come out and do it. It's always better to have it done right the first time. Tell Eric I told you to call.

 

Take it to Helix... just think of the 3 hour drive back AFTER the pulley *grinz*

 

$800, how many rabbit pellets does that place think you ate? And how big is their boat? Do the have a cash drop off window? In a new Bentley?

 

Call Eric and make the drive. It will be worth it. The goodies you will get to see and he will probably let you watch, learn or help...

If not then see if you can get some folks in your area together and get Way to make the drive. Both these guys know what they are doing...

Plus they rock since they both lent me tools on multiple occassions at this year's dragon.....

chris

 

Yeah I think I'm deciding on going to Helix.... just I'm going to save money so I can get the whole Pulley, Intake, Exhaust package installed at once. Sounds like a smart idea right?

To the Precision MINI, I've never heard of it.

 

Why would you go to a tire shop for a pulley install? Make sure you take it someplace that has experience working on these cars and has done a few pulley installs... Helix sounds like you best option.. I drove 80 miles to get mine installed by a certified BMW/mini mechanic...

 

I think Eric is charging $750 for the pulley, software and installation. Installation alone has to be alot less.

 

There you go, that's a good deal & I think the belt is replaced also

 

Eric installed a 17% for $285. + $20 for the belt (that includes the pulley) if you go smaller than %15, and he installs the CAI for free if you purchase it when he does the pully. I took the car back 2 weeks later for a Miltek exhaust . I live in Staten Island so hes not around the corner but deffinetely worth the trip.

Barry

 

Why would you go to Action tire for anything other than 26" wheels w/spinners or neon lights?

I could see going there if you had an Escalade or a Navigator but not for a Mini.

 

double post.....

 

go to Helix whats a 3 hour drive plus think of all the fun you will have on the drive back

 

I'm on the left coast. I went to a reputable MINI specialist (Steve's Auto Clinic) about 90 miles away from home. I took the whole day off, did some sight-seeing after the work was done. I have no regrets, would do it again in an instant.

For $850 I got an Alta CAI, an Alta 15% reduction pulley, Denso IK22s cold plugs and a custom-welded 1-ball exhaust installed, all in about 4 hours. Helix/Eric should be able to do generally as well or better for you, given that they have their own (high quality) brand of hardware to install.

While you're there at Helix, talk to Eric about recommendations for the kind of driving you will be doing. Think carefully about getting the whole breathing system working right -- intake, reduction pulley, cold plugs and low-resistance exhaust. Maybe ECU programming too, if you can also afford it. As long as you're going there, may as well do all you can afford and save yourself a trip back for more later on.

Have fun, enjoy the drive back.

-- Don

 

No doubt when they quote 850 and the day that they have never done one.

 

$800 for clowns to install it now... $$$ to repair the hidden damage later.

Don't let people who don't know how to work on your car, work on you car. And overcharging doesn't mean you're paying for 'specialty' work. It means you're a bigger boob than they thought to let them experiment with a car they've never seen before as well as get paid tons of money to do it.

 

Marco, Take the drive I drove from SF Bay Area to SoCal for an install just because no one up here seemed to know how to & I need to sleep at night knowing that the work done on my JCW/MCS is right...

 

Yea I'm going to defintely save up the money to do everything I want at once. I already have the ALTA CAI, I would just need to buy everything else from Helix which I dont think will be a problem. I plan on calling him when I'm all ready to do this. I'm figuring either going with the ALTA pulley or the Helix. For exhuast, I'm really liking the Milltek, which he also sells. As for colder-plugs in and the software, I need to do a lil more research on them for the prices.

As for why I went there....A friend from work had his exhaust put on there for his Audi, and suggested I take a ride there. That's all. I just figured I'd see what theyd say because they said they have worked on MINI's before. Hell, the guy that would be installing it that was looking at my car couldnt even speak english. Right away I was just thinking no way I'm leaving my car here!

Thanks everybody for all your help. I really appreaciate it.

hah I'm just thinking if I get everything I want installed from Helix, it's going to be a totally differnet car on the way back! I'm gonna love it even more than I do now.

P.S. I've got service coming up in 1500 miles, so I plan on installing everything after service. But for my next service does anybody know how Morristown MINI in NJ is when they service the car with mods? Any problems?