I'm curious, standing in front of the engine running at idle, should the supercharger be dead quiet or is some gear noise normal? I've searched online and watched some You Tube videos that describe what a bad SC can sound like but not really what a normal healthy SC sounds like. I'm a novice Mini owner so I don't really know what "normal" is. On mine, at idle I hear gear noise that kind of reminds me of lifter chatter, but not loud, and if I lay a hand on the SC I can feel the gears turning. Anyone have an audio of a healthy SC at idle that I can listen to?
Also, are all the SC's interchangeable? IOW, will a SC from an '06 bolt on to an '03 engine and visa versa?
Thanks for an education!!

 

Yes, they are interchangeable. Do you know if the oil has ever been checked or replaced with the SC? How many miles on the car. Some noise is normal. My R53 has 80,000 miles and it makes some.

http://new.minimania.com/part/NME121...2-R53-Cooper-S

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

Are you sure you are not hearing belt tensioner with a bad dampener-----it sounds a lot like lifters clattering. Worth checking. If the clatter is more on the right side(passenger side) then it may be the tensioner on it's way out.

 

Just google it...if it's bad it sounds like someone put some rocks in your sc. They normally make some noise though.

Here is a bad one.

 

Thanks guys, I haven't yet done my SC oil change but will soon. I have already purchased a new tensioner and idler pulley and will install them when I pull the SC for service. Thanks again!

 

Looks like you've got some fun installs ahead of you. Just wanted to post some links to some useful articles that may help you while you tackle all of your above jobs.

Supercharger oil change - http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...nd_Service.htm
Tensioner - http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help!

 

Thank you for all your help, I have been reading and studying all the tech articles that you have made available for MC cars. I certainly prefer your articles and pictures to the Bentley manual....

 

Great to hear this. If you ever have any questions or need any help while working on your MINI please do not hesitate to shoot me a PM.

 

I would definitely suspect the tensioner or idler pulley bearing. I just finished with this job myself...in fact, mine is still going back together. I also changed the water pump. And RH strut mount. And...a few other things.

 

I will also replace my water pump and t/stat housing when I do the SC.

 

Very smart, swifty, and please let us know how everything goes and if you have any questions. We've also developed a dedicated parts & accessories page for the R53 so please check it out when you have the chance. http://new.minimania.com/MINI_Cooper...nd_Accessories

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.