Couple of questions rolling around in this potential owners head.
Is the engine on a MINI noninterference?
Has it a timing belt or chain?Whats the replacement interval?
If the belt on the supercharger breaks are you still able to drive the car?
Thanks

 

Talk to a MINI tuner- email one of the NAM vendor shops that do MINI repairs.

See
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-or-chain.html

There are multiple engines.

A normally aspirated tritec engine in the base Cooper
A supercharged tritec engine in the Cooper S.

Both have timing chains and don't have a set change interval. There are not many reported timing chain issues even with fairly higher mileage.

The belt on the supercharger is rubber and needs to be checked and changed at regular intervals. On the stock belt and pulley you can change it about every 3 years or 36K miles or even longer. If you install a reduction pulley then if it is about 15% smaller you can use the same belt size and change every 2 to 3 years. If you install a much smaller pulley like 17-19% then a smaller belt would be better and tend to wear faster. Belt change can be done once yearly or more often if you track your car. Some will change belts twice a year.

If the rubber supercharger belt breaks the car will not run and you could damage your engine.

 

Could some one elaborate on just why the car would be immobilized with the supercharger belt broken.

 

The water pump is driven off a gear at the back of the supercharger. If the supercharger isn't being turned by its drive belt, then the water pump doesn't turn. If the water pump doesn't turn, the car overheats.

 

Good info thanks. Also i'm wondering if there is any extra maintenence involved with S version Mini's other than belt replacement for the SC. i guess its kinda obvious i'm torn between an MC and an MCS.

Also is that SC belt replacement a 10 minute job like an accessory belt or does it require major component dismantling to get at it?

 

Maintenance on the MCS is pretty much the same as any other car. The belt for the supercharger is the same belt for the alternator and A/C, so it's only one accessory belt for everything. As for changing the belt, it can be a 10 minute job for someone who knows what they're doing and has the right tools. If not, it can take you hours of screwing with it, only to become more and more frustrated.