2003, MCS, 6 spd, 126k

Last friday I turned on my car and it was accompanied by a nasty whine. I've looked up videos and a million threads and it's scary to think about how my S/C could toast, since it's a similar whine as in the videos. Sounds close to a car with no power steering fluid.

There is no loss of power and I can still hear the supercharger underneath the whine. It's loudest around 2500-3000RPM. Also I have a really high pitch whistle (like a mosquito) while driving or revving. I dreaded it was a bearing in the supercharger especially since I'm at nearly 130k with no servicing to the S/C, but I brought it to a MINI tech at the dealership, and upon further investigation and stethoscoping, he said there's a bad bearing in the alternator. Said my S/C is blowing fine. Said the whistle is a bad belt tensioner (which I knew I had a bad one, but it has only ticked with the AC on, guess now it's whistling?)

I'm still paranoid that the supercharger is the problem, but at least until then I bought the alternator, belt and belt tensioner, and idler pulley (might as well).

Kind of a wake up call for me to order the supercharger oil, so I ordered that and Redline fluid to do a flush.


TL;DR. Would a bad alternator bearing make a similar whine to a bad supercharger bearing?

Anyways, fingers crossed!

 

Bump bump, anyone?

 

Or better, buy a spare S/C. Look for Partsman over @:
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...909#post760909

 

Hey minsanity, thanks for the suggestion. I actually talked to Partsman the other day and said I'd buy it depending if I need it ASAP. Told him I'd let him know Sunday if it's the problem. Appreciate it!

PS, quit copying my post count! :p

 

Sure, I'll pass your count then.

 

Update: Replaced the alternator, belt tensioner, belt, and idler pulley last night. Noises are gone! W00t. When I pulled off the idler pulley, it was so nasty and catchy and squeaky.

Now that my car is quiet though, when we started up my car we heard a ticking that sounded like it was coming from the upper end of my engine (UH OH) but I think it ended up being something having to do with the flywheel because it disappears when the clutch is pressed in. Ohwell, it was expected having 126k on the original clutch.

 

That's great news! If I had some spare $$, I'd still grab a spare S/C. Partsman's a pretty good deal for some insurance. That's if the car is planned to be kept for the long haul.

 

Yeah I thought about that. It's out of an 05 if I remember correctly too so it has the better rotor coatings on it. I would jump on it if I had the extra skrilla. Next feat is a clutch kit and flywheel, and some little things down there to get out of the way while the car is apart. Maybe he'll have it in a few weeks, then I'd buy it. If not me, than someone will be getting a great deal on one. I couldn't imagine getting rid of my MINI. I work at a BMW/MINI dealership (started working here because I love the car so much lol) and everyone tells me to just get a new one. "JUST GET A NEW ONE". Pfffft.

 

Haha. Don't listen to them. To date, the 05-06s are the best built MINIs. You won't have all the early 1st gen quirks & the R56 problems that are more complex & are costlier to fix. Keep it!��