I'm getting ready to start on my blower oil change (great running 03 JCW, 128k miles) and am wondering if I will be pulling the blower or the intake manifold off of the car, and if so, will I need any new gaskets?

Also, what is the best way to remove the JCW pulley? The puller tools do not fit them, mini mania says they usually cut them off. are there any resources for how people have done it so I can have a visual aid to do so? I know the shaft is hardened, but still, I'd prefer to avoid ****ing up a very, very expensive supercharger driveshaft.

While I have the car in front end service mode, I'm also doing a transmission/coolant flush and changing the diff oil. Is there anything else that is a nightmare to do that I should check off the list while I'm in there?

 

The supercharger oil is generally more trouble than it's worth. I wouldn't recommend doing it. The gaskets can get really screwy and the oil in there is not usually something that needs to be changed anyway. Also, the JCW pulley is already a 11% reduction, so you wouldn't gain much with a 15%.

 

Tranny oil is simple....just research the lube you want to use...OEM is the least fraught with problems like temperature issues (stiff in the cold).
Tip...remove the FILL PLUG first...then the drain. About a 15 minute job.
Waymotorworks had gasket kits... everything you needed at one point...
Look at the intercooler boots...they get stiff and hard with age.
Do the cps (crank postion sensor) while it is appart...
Might be worth doing a waterpump if you are into the car so deep....get an extra gasket there too...so if it tears on installing, you can try again....

 

I am a big fan of pulling the charger and changing the oil. Mine at 37,000 miles and 12 years was dark brown. The new oil is clear. It's really an easy job and may extend the life of your charger. While doing the job, I suggest a bunch of other maintenance while you are there like valve cover gasket, dipstick and crank position O rings, plugs, serpentine belt, water pump (at your mileage) but definitely the O ring as it will never get a good seal again, radiator hoses, consider a thermostat etc... Add $250 now and save yourself a lot of time in the future and you can get rid of a lot of those annoying little leaks now or before they start two weeks after you put the car back together.

 

Should I go ahead and replace the CPS itself, or just its O-ring?

Already have a new belt since I'm putting a 15% pulley on it.

I'll pick up a water pump and thermostat as well. Is the thermostat housing prone to breaking/should I replace it?

and what gaskets do I need for reinstall?

I'll get on all these things.

 

I'd just replace the sensor entirely, the thermostat housing does crack and warp and it's cheap to replace.

 

I'd just do the o-ring (less than $5) and save your money...

There's not much that can go wrong with a crank position sensor, as it's just a magnet, and I can't recall ever reading a post where the sensor itself failed.

Pull it out, remove the old o-ring, clean the sensor and the hole it came out of, fit on new o-ring, pop it back in.

 

Good to hear, my parts list already hit $370, so I'd like to avoid replacing the CPS if I can get away with it.

 

I wouldn't try cutting the pulley off. I did, it's damn near impossiblee. I even took the nose cone off and put it in a hydraulic press and just bent the crap out of the pulley and screwed all the bearings in the nose cone up. Luckily there's a nice gentleman on eBay who rebuilds these nose cones and has some on the shelf with new couplers and no pulley. He also has a nose cone kit with water pump and orings and stuff. Made life easy. Cost a little more though but it's an upgraded coupler too so that's neat 👍

 

Do you have a link?

 

Looks like his prices have gone up a bit 😕
Mini-bits eBay listings

 

Check with Way Motor Works on the JCW specific pulley puller. He used to have them for rent.

 

Will check with WMW. They sell the tool for $60 on the website. JCWCabrio, that link doesn't have the part you described.

 

My bad, doesn't look like he sells the kit any more...

But if things go sour this is your fix, just message him and see if he can remove the pulley before shippinng

http://m.ebay.com/itm/MINI-Cooper-S-Supercharger-SNOUT-Assembly-/291865587934?nav=SEARCH

 

Yikes, $250 CDN for a whole used snout is way too much. I'd just buy the WMW tool instead of they don't rent it, and do it myself.

 

I understand but sometimes the tools don't work like you want them to. Like in my case and I was forced to buy it. Just lending you information should you run in to issues.

 

Oh, I definitely appreciate it and will keep it in mind if I screw something up

 

So I think I got everything I need, plus a few more bits. Please chime in if I forgot something. And I called WMW, they only sell the JCW pulley tool, so I'll be listing mine for rental (probably like $10 plus shipping) as soon as I finish with it.

I added a few extras since this will be my first service since I bought the car.

15% pulley and belt from mini mania
oil filter and filter tool, new drain plug
intake manifold to intercooler plenum gasket
blower output gasket
blower input gasket
valve cover gasket
spark plug tube seals
water pump
water pump to hard pipe hose
upper long, short, and lower radiator hoses
2x 4oz bottles of blower oil
crankshaft sensor O ring
thermostat
thermostat housing
dipstick O ring
intercooler bellows
WMW JCW pulley tool
brass coolant bleeder screw

Am I forgetting anything?

 

Looks like you got it all, but I'd suggest going with a 17% pulley.

15% isn't much smaller than JCW pulley already is. You won't notice very much.

Also, I'd plan on a belt tensioner. Depending on age and condition of yours.

Check the harmonic balancer while you're working on it too.

 

I am not looking for major gains, a pound of boost would be plenty. I also already have the 15.

Can the tensioner be replaced without pulling the blower? I'm already at $500 in parts.

The car is in fantastic condition with an extensive service history, so hopefully i won't find any broken or deeply worn parts.

 

You can replace the tensioner with the blower mounted. The tensioner and harmonic balancer are just wear item on our cars. Just check 'em!

 

The tensioner pulley would be easier to get out with the sc off, but it's not really a big deal to do by itself.

Get this one off of Amazon if you decide to change it (i would)

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-38404.../dp/B001KSDZOY

The crank pulley is a time bomb, but is also expensive if you get the ati. I still haven't changed mine at 112k miles but I know I'm just pushing my luck.

 

I'll look in my service history to see if either have been done first, and i can always do them later. I think i am going to focus on the things that are related more to the process of pulling and replacing the blower, rather than all the things that need the car in front end service mode

 

Thanks for the order, let us know how everything goes and if you need some help!

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.