Excellent ... I have a non turbo and was thinking of doing the same thing. Thanks for the post.

 

Thanks , it went up a hair more. But its right here:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11667556919/ES2681339/

 

I will replace my vacuum pump when I have the cash to just through around, call it preventative maintenance and piece of mind that my original pump doesn't take the entire engine with it. Cheap insurance.

 

Anyone please? I have looked at realoem and cannot find any coupler, only the pump itself (which is new) or the camshaft

 

The coupler is part of the pump and cant be changed separately....you're going to have to live with the noise if you've changed the pump and it's still the same....unless you remove the existing vacuum pump and change everything over to an electric vacuum pump but that's pretty involved job

 

Did you get a new pump ? Maybe a new defective pump. We have the new one above. Make sure its the vacuum pump and not something else.

 

Glad I stumbled upon this today. Having a simple part like a vacuum pump that can grenade an engine (even if it is rare) makes me rather worried and I might do this just for that reason. I burned an exhaust valve last year and spent over $2000 rebuilding the head and replacing some parts...and another $1000 replacing a VANOS unit that was bad apparently, I would be rather unhappy if my investment was destroyed because a vacuum pump locked up.

Elsinorej, any thoughts on tying this in with the PCV, to pull a vacuum on the crankcase as well? My guess is that the pump is not meant for that and wouldn't flow enough air to work. It was just a thought. For the plate, would you consider making another and how much would you charge? I have some friends in the machining business that might also be able to make it but since you already have one, that would be easiest by far Now I need to decide if I actually want to do this, it would help me sleep at night...

 

Same noise, same thoughts. I want this rattle can noise gone!

 

New lower price on the vacuum pump. Just wanted to let you guys know.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11667556919/ES2681339/

 

holy cow ECS - $120!

Everyone should change this on preventive maintenance alone

 

You are welcome.

 

Do I have to have the expansion chamber and all the fittings that were utilized in the example vacuum pump conversion? Why not just use a vacuum switch inline with the vacuum pump and attach it where the old one attached? Would be much more simple IMO.

 

I stumbled on a thread somewhere that showed one of these pumps all taken apart, and it appears that it depends heavily on being provided a good supply of oil. With MINI's ridiculous suggested oil change interval, and recommending a weak oil (Castrol not known to be a high-mileage oil), it's no wonder why so many pumps have seized. I believe it was this thread that pointed out that the noise is coming from the coupler. It's unlikely that the coupler is what makes the pump fail, but rather lack of lubrication of the sleeve bearing.

I plan to take mine off and carefully inspect the bearing and oil passage, and maybe see if nothing can be done about the coupler to maybe snug it up into the cam better.

 

I hate that vacuum pump noise. MINI stated that the noise is normal. There is a TSB about that.

 

Mine actually seems to go away to a huge extent once warm. It definitely doensn't have that knocking quality to it like when it's cold.

Any word if we can just sub in an electric pump with a vacuum switch and not the rest of the stuff as the OP states?

 

Someone needs to come up with an electric pump kit so the entire pcv system can be thrown in the damn trash can.

 

Yeah, once engine is at normal operating temperature noise is gone. Would like to know why.

 

Yes they do.

 

We all know things get bigger when they heat up. Maybe, once the coupler expands a little, it fits more snugly in the cam slot, reducing the knocking... Just a guess, not sure what type of metal it's made of or anything.

 

I replaced mine, very easy.
Peace of mind.

 

Some pics of the internals are here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4157883

 

Donniedarko, did you have the vacuum pump noise before? what about now that you have the new pump in?

 

Yes of course. The pump and motor noise is typical it seems of all N14's. However the ticking is tighter and cleaner now. When I pulled the old unit doing a visual a testing by hand the action of new to old was obvious. Very satisfying replacing. The poor sods motors who blew up because of this part is hectic. I'd love to install an electric one it honestly this car is a PIA and I just want it driving uneventfully

 

Thanks, i will be replacing mine. How many miles on your r56 when you changed the pump?

 

I actually have a r55 51k 10' as I understand same power plant. I just read about a guy with a car he's parting out from the pump detonating. No thanks