Okay ive been searching through many many, many threads about our supercharger failures and maintance. Average life of the life is around 90,000-120,000 miles (Some are much less and some or more) But what i have been trying to figure out is the super charger is just mechanical, so if we just maintance it, it shouldnt become a huge problem. Im wondering if i just changed gears, couplers, seals, bearing, ect in the supercharger every 50,000 miles shouldnt the blower keep its longetivity? maybe last me 150,000 miles? Just seems to me that these maintance precautions are not to difficult and may save you bigger $ in the long run.

Also i have been reading that the PTO doesnt fail often? Its the water pump side? Thats where i need some advise, what exacly is the most common known failure?

I know a lot of ppl just buy a spare supercharger for when they go, why? Why not try to maintain it? I have read that mini says do not change the sc oil but i think thats ridiculous.

My question to you guys,
1)I have just got 50,000 miles on my '05 mcs. Should i add/change oil? If so, should i just do the belt side/PTO side?(since to do the other side i have to put it into service mode..

2)Who has used stiegemeier or Autoxcoopers service supercharger repair, can they repair the supercharger that is most commonly the cause of failure? And should I rebuild it or get it rebuilt BEFORE anything happens?

3) When the SC does fail, why go with the Eaton m45 again? Is there any other sc's that will fit and okay for 1.6l engines, that are better?

4) I read this and it says Eaton does not sell sell m45's to the public, but there is a manufactor that makes a similar unit? http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/blower-eaton.htm
And the companies link, to their m45's- http://www.magnusonproducts.com/mp45.htm

 

I agree that changing the fluid should be the first step- but it does no good just to change one side, since they're not interconnected, so you're in for a bunch of work. As long as the seals hold and they stay full of good clean oil, they should last a very long time. I think loss of oil or degraded oil is what kills them.

Of course, overspeeding them (using reduced diameter pulley or larger one on the crank will shorten the life too, since you're running outside the mfr's spec for both RPM and boost. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.....

As for just buying and keeping a spare, if you are going to overspeed it, then it's probably a good idea, that way you're only off the road as long as it takes you to change it, you're not waiting while yours gets rebuilt (if it can be, if the bearings take out the housing and the rotor lobes start touching, it may not be rebuildable) - another reason to buy a spare.

As to other brands, I have nothing to offer you there.....

 

You can buy a good nearly new SC for $500...keep your eyes open...the supply is getting more scares....most of the nearly new ones were dealer take-offs for JCW kits...the coated rotors are 05+...and is good for a few extra HP....some aftermarket re-builders use a black coating...not as good IMO.
Then keep it ready to go....
If you need one fast...go to the dealer..spend $1500+ on a dealer rebuilt unit.
So you can spend a little now...save more later..less downtime.
As for trying to maintain in...IMO if the oil is low when you go to check/change it...the seal has failed...and it needs to be rebuilt IF you caught it i time.

IF you CAN get your unit rebuilt (about $800 for a QUALITY rebuild)...your car is down 1+week plus the cost of expedited shipping...so add $100+ to the quoted prices...so if the car is a daily driver....you might need a rental for 1.5 weeks.....

Other SC have been tried....but if it is a daily driver, then keep the stock one. If it is a weekend only car....knock yourself out...if it is broken for a few weeks at a time...who cares.
The simple fact is is that if it is a race car...do what you want...but for a street car, that will be driven daily, the only real option is the OEM. Sure..get it ported and polished and get more HP!!
A different SC opens up a HUGE can of worms..First off, you will need an electric water-pump...not a big deal, but then....things like NEW custom computers....improved pistons...etc...all to take advantage of the new SC....it can quickly add up to several times more than the car is worth....IF you can find the expertise to do it!! And when done...who do you go to for issues? You are your own product support, etc.

Some folks get 100,000+ miles from a SC...some get 40,000....so it is a calculated gamble to buy a spare...IF you plan on keeping the car...it can save you big $$$. And you can always sell it if you don't use it...buy quality..or buy cheap, and spend the $$ to get it rebuilt!!...these units are no longer in production....all the ones that WILL EVER BE AROUND ARE!!! Sure for $1800 you can special order a NEW one from the warehouse in Germany...but those are dwindling....REMEMBER THE MINI M45 is NOT A STOCK M45 due to the PTO...it is MINI specific!!

 

Glad I have a spare!!!

 

You wouldnt even have to change the gears, just top off the fluid.

 

So who has done the oil flush and changed here? Is there a how to? I know i can just figure it out. To flush it i could prob not have to take the sc off. I could probly sifen the oil out using a syringe with a tube and add some. I have heard GM Supercharger Oil, is there any other better ones that are used in m45's? Any one use magnetic oil plugs?

 

Achilless, I have drained and refilled mine at 60K. You most remove supercharger to get proper amount of oil in waterpump-side,because it sits at an angle on the engine,plus plug is PITA to remove in the car. I used GM supercharger oil. The drive side was clean & had proper amount; waterpump side was a little dirty & 1/2 proper amount. Used a borascope to check the gears,both ok, no chips or shavings in oil.Did this when working on clutch,so I had whole front of car torn off. I now have 80K and all is well. Jeff

 

https://wiki.bentleypublishers.com/d...er+Oil+Service

 

wrh3, thank you.

Can anybody tell me the most causes are for our sc failures? Is it possible to maintenance the part that fails so it doesnt?

 

the SC is a bit of a wear item....I have seen different numbers, but about 130,000k is the number I seem to remember as the design life from Eaton.
To put it simply...if the PTO is low on oil, a seal, most likely interanl, has failed, and the oil will simple leak out again...so unless it is overhauled, you are just buying time. The oil is a FEW cases might have leaked out the PTO plate, but it seems in may cases that the seal connected the PTO shaft to the rotors/nose gear fails from wear or manufacturing defect...letting the oil weep out...there is only a couple ounces...so even 1 drop per day...and soon it is dry.
If you get a SC overhauled, make sure the place that does it does a full PTO removal, and overhaul...one place in FL that sells cheap overhauls, just glues in a new seal....and when it fail, or falls off, can CAUSE MORE damage.
This seems to be an issue that folks HAVE or they DON'T.
But even if you don't have it, your SC will slowly make less boost with age, maybe make bearing sounds (lash), and need a replacement/overhaul at some point (the rotors rub...and efficiency is lost...it is just a big air compressor). Sometimes the coupler that protects the SC from shock load wears/fails...MINI's came from the factory with a damper on the motor...so this should help protect this...unless someone removed it to install a light weight undampened one.....
On many EASTON SC on other makes, there is an interval to refill the SC oil (GM+Toyoda TRD)...on the snout drive...the MINI M45 is the ONLY SC with a PTO...and the hours of labor to remove the SC to add the oil just did not make $$ to MINI...they decided to say run it till it fails...then replace.
All this info has been stated many times on this site. As previously stated, to get the correct amount of oil into the PTO, it must be removed due to the angle it is mounted....there is a bung (filling port) on the PTO, and the snout to add oil. This oil is a very thin synthetic oil...much closer to turbine oil than motor oil due to the high RPM's involved in the SC.

 

Exactly.....lots of time involved just to get to the SC. And the only real serviceable area is the oil and it will be fine unless something else occurs that would cause a problem, like a seal breaking down.

 

Good information Zippy

So it is safe to say that most of the reasons for sc failure is the seals wearing down. How do you replace the seals. Im willing to have my mini off the road for a while and want to do this myself, and not send my blower out. What does the services do that i cant? Or is it a much more complicated procedure than i think. I am willing to spend days on this..

 

From what I understand, you need a full machine shop, and a press....
Some shops have stopped overhauling the MINI M45....it was rumored to be a bit harder to do than some others. The rpms are very high...the tolerances are much closer to what is seen in the areospace fields than typical auto stuff....and getting the timing on the rotors after removal is said to be hard...so I think it is not a DIY thing. Folks have done things like replace the couplers or bearings in the snout, but if you are going through the ordeal of removing the front end...just install a overhauled unit and a new water-pump at the same time. Anything else is penny-wise, pound foolish as the saying goes...or tripping over a dollar to pick up a penny!!

 

Zippy, thats just the info i was looking for. Thank you.

 

will the MINI function w/o the SC?

 

That is called Just-a-cooper!!
Seriously...to even try it on an S would be crazy!!
The S has lower compression pistons, and gearing designed to use the extra power....so IF you could get it to run...IT would be barely drivable (less torque than a cooper, but taller gearing!!)...and I bet the computer would have tons of issues...and of course, you would have NO WATER-PUMP to cool the car...so add some $$$ for an electric water pump too, then add some extra parts to re-plumb the intake...and it still might not run!!
This is kinda a funny question!! It would be the ultimate Ghetto/Hillbilly MINI if it was done!!
Do you wanna be the first!? I wanna see the thread!
Might be interesting...Kinda like modifying a cooper to an S, in reverse!!
It HAS been done...cause they could....no other reason to do it really..look at the $$$ it cost!! Heck, new pistons, new custom tranny, and electric water-pump just to start...maybe a new wiring harness and computer too....
To each his own I guess!! I guess they say you can't take it with you, so you might as well spend it!

 

Zippy, I don't think that was the point of his question, more like could he still drive it if the supercharger failed - the answer to that question is "No".

 

Sure...I could have gone with the simple answer!! I was just being a smart AZZ!!

 

One more thing, http://www.magnusonproducts.com/mp45.htm makes a similar sc as the m45, they state it is almost idenical, anyone have a input on this?

 

@ Zippy, yeah it was curiosity but thanks !@#$%^&*

@ Dave, thank you! I guess this means I'm going to grab a spare SC

Cheers