I've been doing a little reading on this mod. It's all new to me since Hobbes has just recently been turning me into a car guy when I hadn't been before.

Anywaaaayzzz, I've seen a number of you upgrade you S's to have a 15% or 19% pulley installed. I'm assuming given the popularity you see a noticeable boost in performance (hp? torque?). I'm considering breaking down and doing this since Hobbes keeps pestering me to go faster .

Questions:

- How much does something like this cost in parts and labor?

- Are there any downsides (greater wear/tear on the supercharger or engine)?

- Does it affect (up or down) the resale value (not that I'm evvvvver looking to sell Hobbes).

 

1. Depends on the installer. Pulley can run you about 150 and install is about an hour labor 75 - 90. Talk to Pete at Greasy's Garage in Worcester. He can easily do this.

2. Of course... The smaller the pulley the more heat is generated. Personally I wouldn't go lower than a 17% without some other serious mods (intercooler etc). SC might wear down a little faster but you won't likely see it to be honest. Many of use run a 15 or 17 and have had no problems.

3. Mods add nothing to resale and could actually hurt it as people see the car as abused. That being said, a 15% is close to the size that is installed with the JCW package.

As I mentioned above, you should consider a 17% rather than a 19% and Greasy's Garage is the place to get it done!

 

One thing..

The pulley if for a gen1 s...one with a sc...
You signature says you have a gen2 (turbo)....


'"Hobbes", a 2012 Spice Orange Convertible | Prem Pkg | Cold Weather Pkg | Sport Stripe with the chrome scoop (so nice!) | Black 6 Point Star Wheels
Spice Orange: the other red meat | Spice Orange Owner's Club Member #16



Did you get a new/different car?!'"
Imo avoid the 19%...
Get a 15% or 17%, based upon your driving style...
when you sell the car, the new buyer will love the added zip...
Many posts on the rest...

 

And a +1 for pete over at Greasysgarage....i drive down from nh.
Much better than a dealer $$ wise, and they will do mods too!!

 

Also, keep in mind that if you go from a stock pulley to a 15%-17% pulley.....chances are that you will have to run 91-93 fuel all the time to keep the detonation away. My MCS has the JCS goodies on it...I think the JCS pulley is somewhere around 12%....and I will get some pinging on 91 fuel when it's hot during the summer months. I have to run 93 to keep it running without any pinging.....

I get around 13psi of boost....

 

Thanks for all the input. BTW, I put 93 octane fuel into Hobbes always.

 

According to your signature you have a 2012 mini. These do not have a supercharger. There is no pulley to change. You have a turbocharger.

 

Au contraire. Don't the S models have a supercharger?

 

you have a gen2 car...a TURBO!!
The SC ended with the 2006 hard top, and the 2008 cabrio....

 

wait wait wait... is this really happening...

 

Ha Ha!!

 

ok, I guess I need a primer in the model names

 

 

It happens!! We set ya stright before you got too far!! Lots of mods possible on a gen2 mini though....

But you did make us all smile...just like the old Calvin and Hobbes comic strip!!

 

ok, so I'll continue to provide comic relief and ask: What's an MCSC if not a "Mini Cooper S Convertible"?

 

You are right in the fact that you have a mini Cooper S. But.....the newer S models have turbo chargers on them, they don't use the superchargers anymore.

 

Good catch, I didn't even see it!

Yep, you are turbo... Still some nice little things you can do.

 

Ok, thanks for the clarification. I'll have to do some more research into the diffs between gen 1 and gen 2. But, on to more important things:

Do tell!!

 

Spicy
As a "car guy" you need to clearly understand that you need a PLAN when it comes to making mods to your engine. Many folks have found when they hit and miss modify their engines, they end up with mismatched mods and have less hp/torque than they started out with. I certainly don't mean this in a condescending way, however, the mix up on a super charger vs a turbo on your car strongly suggests that you need profession assistance at this time!

 

Oh, no question there! I am NOT a car guy, never was. I've just fallen for our MINI in a serious way and am finding myself very interested in all this stuff now.

 

Wait for the Alta AccessPORT to be tuned on 2011+
Rear sway bar upgrade
DOS intake
many other small, fun things...

 

If you want to do a mod I would start with nm torque arm inserts. Super easy mod with a big difference. Go through the gen 2 modification threads for drivetrain, suspension, and all that good stuff and just read threads on different mods. There are tons! Some that people like some that people didn't like, videos and pictures! You name it and it's probably on there.

 

Btw if you thought the "s" around for supercharger. It doesn't stand for anything. Apparently they liked the look of it because it reminded them of a sweeping road.

 

Boost Tube
CAI
Brakes
Tune (Access Port is supposed to be good)
Suspension

Etc...

Take a look around on the site and you will see a lot of different things to do

 

My preferred 2nd Gen MCS (turbocharged) mods list:

1. Upgraded rear swaybar (H-Sport or TSW)
2. Uprated Intercooler (Helix or Forge)
3. Catback exhaust (Milltek)
4. DoS CAI
5. Tune (AccessPort or RMW)
6. Intercooler muffler delete pipe (Mini Mania or MINI Madness)
7. An oil catch can -- a good mod for preventative maintenance (BSH)
8. Turbo Downpipe (Milltek) -- might require mods to your tune
9. Switching to a non-runflat tire when your OEM tires die

-Clint