Let's say you owned a MCSa and you wanted to have a pulley put on.Would you go to Mini dealer and hope they do it right?-or Would you have an independent shop that specializes in Mini do it?--I WANT MY PULLEY ON MY CAR, AND I DONT WANT SABOTAGE!!I believe the consensus is that the auto tranny can handle the extra power-so I dont wanna hear that excuse for not having it done.I WANT MORE FUN !!
What would you do?---I am also confused about where to post this-sorry I'm new.My Mini is an '05 MCSA,so where is my posting abode located??

 

I'd go with an independent; dealers charge way too much. Mine quoted me $400 for the install. $250-ish seems to be the going rate most places I've run across. Where are you located? Any local club members that could give you a hand?
BTW, my Service Manager recommended I put on a pulley (06 MCSa).

 

Are you located near one of the many MINI aftermarket suppliers across the country? They would be a good place. If not, maybe talk to your MA. I've been told by him that if I wanted something like this done to my MCS that there is a MINI tech that does this for a good price.

BTW, MF has a review of the 15% on the MCSa. link

 

I'm about to go through the same decision myself in the near future, so I can empathize with you. While I can't give you any answers, I can relate the questions I'm asking myself.

Does this hypothetical dealer seem friendly to mods, reasonable, and competent? Do you trust that they are actually going to back up what they say they will cover after the pulley is installed? Do you feel comfortable with the concept of paying to repair or DIY'ing anything that the dealer is not going to cover with the pulley installed (worst case scenario, this could be anything from SC to tranny to brake pads/rotors to burned out headlights to broken cupholders)? Do you think that the indy shop will do as good of or a better job at a better price?

My only previous experience with dealer installed aftermarket stuffs (on a VW) was pretty mixed. Bad in that it took them around 2.5 times as long to install the parts as was quoted and wound up destroying some parts in the process (replaced by the manufacturer within a few days at no cost to me, thank you Bilstein), but good in that they only wound up charging me the somewhat inflated previously quoted labor, everything eventually got on the car in good working order, and I was never hassled in future visits for scheduled maintenance and warranty work. I have no idea if this will be the case with any other dealership.

Once I have the cash together for the power mods I'm planning for my MINI, I'm going have a very explicit discussion w/ my MA and tech doing the install and see what they say about warranty coverage and what they want to charge me. Dependent on how this discussion goes, I may or may not have them do the install.

I've got about a year and a half or 20K miles on my warranty and another free oil/pollen filter change left that I paid for when I bought my MINI (I'm assuming you're slightly further along this timeline). I think it's probably a good idea to be in the mindset that you're not going to stress about eating any remaining coverage and maintenance before you do any mods, regardless of who installs them or what the dealership says they will cover after they are installed.

If you're at the point where you're not worried about warranty and you have a good indy MINI shop a reasonable distance away from you, I would probably go the indy route myself.

Anyway, sorry for rambling.... Hope that helps somehow, and good luck whatever route you go.

 

My dealer did mine, and I'm glad they did. If for some unexpected reason something went wrong with the pulley, which pretty much can only be caused by install related issues, then its the dealer's fault. They said as long as they did the work, then they could warranty the install should something go wrong down the road. If they don't rape you in labor cost, then do it at the dealer!!

 

Dealer did mine too. Great job & cheaper than most aftermarket companies are charging.

 

Thanks for all the input.I have played these same conversations in my head as the time to begin my mods has drawn nearer and nearer.I live in Vegas.This is pretty much a one horse town in terms of Mini service(dealer).There is the option of So. Cal. just 4 hrs away(many options).However,I recently discovered a place called Kensington Motors.They specialize in Rover,Jag and MINI of all things!On there website they boast of being the only MiniMania rep in area!(I discovered this info when I saw a Mini identical to mine(though handsomeley lowered and rolling 18's-hopefully soon for me as well).I waited around to see who would claim this awesome ride,we talked and he said that Kensington did his spring work(IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT WAS'NT JUST AN ACCIDENTAL MEETING,COOL!)I called MiniMania and said that Bill Goodman(the owner of Kensington had a table at AMVIV)Bill is British too!He has been on holiday in Europe(attending races-cool)His shop opens back up TODAY.So.I guess I will be interviewing my two prospective service firms(MINI and Kensington)and we will see who deserves to work on my litle green friend!I'll tell you what they say.

 

In my case it would have to be independent unless I find a dealer willing to do it. I asked my dealer (MINI of Charleston) and they said they won't do a pulley change (All I wanted was 15%!)