My MCS has 123k miles on it, I have been running strong on my 16% Pulley for over 100k miles. I was having some boost issues for a couple of months, just some weird fluctuations, so I had the feeling that my BPV may be going out.

Finally, all boost went away and CEL was reporting P1688. On limping back home I heard something come apart under the hood. I get home and my belt was shredded.

So I have a DT BPV on the way... and I replaced the belt. I needed to get to work today, so I decided to drive to work like an old lady and stay off-boost.

So here I am at work with a shredded serpentine belt again...

Any clue to why this happened? Did the belt get over worked and over heated?! It's a 2006, so I'm not sure if there's anything I should be aware of that may be the culprit. Please help!

 

Does it still have the original harmonic balancer pulley? Also, see if the idler pulley is binding as well as the alternator pulley , SC pulley and AC pulley.
How old is the belt tensioner?

 

Original everything, I ordered my MINI. Tensioner seems fine, no indications of binding that I could see. No strange noises or smells. Only difference is the 16% pulley.

 

I have a feeling your harmonic pulley is seperating. It will cause a boost issue when it slips. See if it wobbles or spins, you should not be able to turn it by hand with the belt off. Your tensioner is probably worn too, they only last about 90,000 miles.

 

Aright, I'll check that ASAP. With that being said, what's the going consensus on the ATI over OEM? I get wholesale on both... so it's not going to hit me too hard.

 

Everything I've read says to go with ATI. OEM will separate again.

 

Hmmm... I wonder if going to 2% is a bit much? That would put me at 18%.

 

Go with the STD size...it is actually about .8% (a bit less than 1%)over if I recall...yes, the car will idle smoother...
But I bet your issue is a bad tensioner.....letting the belt jump and shred...Or a pulley was damaged...and is cutting the new belt...

 

Yup sounds like you have a crank pulley coming apart. Go with an ATI Damper as it will eliminate the problem and be a huge upgrade. Since you have a 16% just go with the standard ATI, no need for the extra 2%.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/super-d...ulley-r53.html