I've got a little over 55,000 miles on my supercharger. I've heard about the failing seals that cause the lubricating fluid to leak out.

1. Is there a way to do a visual inspection to determine if fluid has leaked out without removing any components from the vehicle?

2. Listening to the engine run with the hood open, I don't hear anything that would cause concern...all sounds normal.

a. How loud is the gear grinding when it happens? Can you hear it inside the car driving?

b. Is there a way to tell if the water pump is still being turned even if the temperature guage reads normal?

c. If I place my ear directly on the supercharger, what should the gears sound like? Right now, I can hear them turning, but I don' t know if the sound is "normal". Should they produce no noise if fully lubricated?

3. How many people on this board have had a supercharger fail and after how many miles?

Over the last 4 years, my computer has only triggered a Service 2 once and has never had a Service 3 yet.

 

The fluid doesn't leak out through seals, it leaks out through the mating surfaces of the front and rear casings, which are sealed with an anaerobic sealant.
2b - if your temp gauge reads normal, your waterpump is definitely spinning.
2c - SCs do make noises when operating normally

 

It sounds like you are fine...enjoy the car!!
There is no service 3...
After 2, you do an oil change, then a service 1...oil change than 2 again...then do it again!!
Using the MINI intervals, that would be an inspection every 30,000 miles (many folks do oil changes MUCH earlier....often at 7500 miles, rather than 15,000 like the computer says.

 

Some people do have the oil in the nose of the supercharger drained and fresh put in. This kit on Ebay is suppose to enable you to suction out the old and put new without removing supercharger and gaining access from the screw in the nose.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Eaton-M...item2568a0e6bb

 

If it were only that easy.

///Rich