So a couple days ago I replaced my water pump due to leaking antifreeze. During the process of replacing the water pump decided to do the belt as well. While lifting the main tensioner up to put the belt on I soon found out that there is a second one that puts pressure on the water pump pulley. Well after looking up how to release the second tensioner I pulled on the little plug (that was plastic) and it snapped right off... So now what.. we have no way of putting the belt back on.. Ding we will just undo the three bolts that hold the tensioner on and slip the belt on it should be easy. So we took everything off and got everything back on and she started right up no problem. Drove it 1.2 miles let the car get warm before an oil change, EVERYTHING SOUNED FINE, lit the hood up everything is fine due the oil change and notice antifreeze still leaking... Ugh so next is the $80 hard plastic tube that connects the water pump to the thermostat. So oil change is done start the car and now it sounds like an steam engine... Weird.. how would an oil change make the car sound different.. so next day fore up the car sounds the same drove it to work and back a total of 6 miles... Car still sounds weird.. so December 2nd parts come in and we start to tear down the car and boom we find a surprise.. the rubber on the pulley is restored and hairs all over.. well okay easy fix... Keep pulling parts and boom the water pump pulley is now bent too... Well damn that's weird... So tomorrow I am going to call Cincinnati Mini to see what the cost would be from them it just takes to long from online.. so after pulling the intake and figuring out how to loosen up the thermostat we get the new pipe in and connected. Now waiting until I get all the new water pump parts.

Any thoughts on why the pulley might be bent?

Also took a few extra pictures

 

See extra pictures here

 

How does a belt get "restored" by running it? And when did it grow hair?

I agree that it's time for someone who is familiar with the engine to take over on this. It seems like you have tipped over a series of dominoes.

 

Amen. If your Mini hates you it's because you need to treat it better

 

The hair is the belt fiber that is on the water pump pulley.

 

I have been good to her i love my Mini but recently it had just been all the things at once and she is putting up a good fight. But I will not give up yet she has many miles left on her

 

Sounds like you started wrong right from the beginning . You don't have to touch the belt when doing a water pump. And the friction wheel that runs the water pump can be moved by hand to release tension if the tab comes off. I've never seen a pump pulley bend like that. Look up a diy

 

That's the right attitude and good luck in the future

Just go slow and look things up before forcing anything, with these cars there is usually a special method or tool for every damn thing.