It's been a while since I've posted here, so I really don't want to start out with any type of negative over-tone, so I'm going to switch it up a bit. Rather than bashing the eBay seller right off the bat (don't worry, I'll get to it):

I'd like to throw a GIGANTIC THANKS!!! to Way and Tori over at Way Motor Works in Atlanta. I was a walk-in customer on Wednesday and they got me taken care of with everything I needed to get my R53 supercharger replacement project wrapped up and totally completed. Way offered advice and helped me with a few questions and we chatted a bit - super cool people and knowledgeable with his craft. I'll gladly go back in the future for my future Mini needs.

Now, for the real purpose of my post. This may be known around the community - but, for those who may not be super active or just Googling Things - STAY AWAY FROM MARDEN4063 on eBay or Supercharger Technologies in Old Town, Florida. The Supercharger in my R53 died back in late April. Since it's our third car, I didn't want to have to shell out the dough for a brand new one, so I looked for rebuilt alternatives.

I was baffled to find this guy on eBay selling rebuilt superchargers for our cars. He claimed things like 100% success rate, that he machines his own PTO gears that are 'stronger' than the stock Cooper gears, offers up a live phone line for support/help and a three year warranty. Oh yeah, and a free water pump. I even called and spoke with the guy and he seemed like a stand-up guy, so that's where my research ended and I purchased it from him on May 3, 2017.

He claimed an 8 business day 'handling' time - no worries. Like I said, it was my third car. I finally got the shipping notification on May 22, 2017 but it didn't actually hit UPS's system for another week and a half. It was finally delivered on June 6, 2016.

June was a pretty busy month for my family and, due to the nature of the replacement and the time it takes someone on their first attempt, I wasn't able to get around to tearing the Mini down until June 24, 2017. My father and I both worked on it and it took us 7 hours to tear down, replace, and put back together.

We made it two miles down the road until we heard a horrible noise coming from the engine bay. We opened it to hear this awful CLACK CLACK CLACK ----- CLACK CLACK CLACK from the Supercharger/Water Pump area. I had made sure to have everything seated correctly and that everything turned properly before it went back on. I immediately contacted the seller, both via email and phone and have yet to receive a response.

Finally, last weekend, Dad and I tore it back down and found that the key that turns the water pump had cracked (not the pto gear, but the actual external keyed area of the SC that attaches to the water pump's keyed area) and could spin freely around the supercharger shaft. No wonder he couldn't get it to bleed any more or any heat in the cabin after I had left the week prior.



Anyway - after seeing the defect, I immediately emailed the seller and opened a return on eBay.

It's been two weeks since I contacted the seller about the initial issue with the supercharger and he has yet to respond - to any of my communication or return requests. I have a feeling this will get escalated up through PayPal.

Like I said, I wanted this out there for anyone out there with a failed supercharger who might be googling or doing slightly more research than I did - man I wish I'd just done it right from the start. Oh well, live and learn, right?

 

Call them instead of emailing them. ph# 352-542-0147 - In all businesses things can happen. It's also been a holiday week so maybe the shop is closed to answer emails as many are this time of year.

I checked and they have 0 google reviews. And since this shop has been around for some time, that could be good news. Go to their web site and print out their warranty terms. It states, two year warranty, and from what you told us here, you will be covered.

If paid with credit card, the initiated return for faulty part should be reported to them as well. They will give you a case # for follow up.

Hope this pans out.

GL!

 

Hey Gray,

Thanks for the response. I've left multiple messages for him, too. I'm not the first person to have issues - I'm more mad at myself that I didn't do my due diligence before I pulled the trigger.

Oh well, it happens. I should be covered through PayPal at very least. It's possible that he's out of office, but generally, eBay sellers will set out of office automatic replies to let people know.

I'll let everyone know once a final resolution has been reached.

Thanks!

 

Yes, please keep us advised.

 

Actually in this case it is best for him to put everything in writing. That way if he does have to file his dispute he will have all of it and no he said or she said.

This is not the first customer we know of that had had the same kind of issue with their rebuilds. This is why we don't use or recommend them.

 

Quick update:

Still no word from the seller so I reached out, via phone, to eBay's concierge for support. They agreed the whole situation was a disaster from the beginning and have placed the order in 'Forced Refund' status, meaning they issue me a full refund and I ship the defective part back to the seller.

That takes care of the bulk of the transaction. I need to open a case with PayPal for the core charge which was a separate transaction from the eBay order. I'm sure I won't have any problem, there.

@Way - I agree that written is best, here - so did the eBay folks. Man - I'm loving the JCW Supercharger.. it really makes a difference. Thanks again for everything!

 

Final Update:

I still have yet to hear a single word from Marden4063 and both eBay and PayPal have refunded the entire price of my order, plus shipping.

Too bad it came to that but hopefully this thread will help deter anyone from going down the same path I did. Just buy from Way, lol.

Thanks again all - I'm LOVING the JCW Supercharger.. the car feels completely different.