I noticed that my 2006 Mini S is making a slight ticking noise near the passenger side at idle.
I replaced the harmonic pulley, belt, tensioner and idler pulley 1,200 miles ago.
Water pump was replaced 23,000 miles ago at 70K.

I used the wooden tipped screwdriver to listen for the source of the sound and when I place it on the SC air horn I can hear a sound similar to a sewing machine running.

Is this an indicator that the SC gears are running dry or a normal noise created by the SC/WP at idle?

If so, should I go ahead and change the SC the oil or just save up for a new SC?

Thanks !

 

Do you know the miles/years on the sc?
Some superchargers DO make a bit of sound as the rotors mesh...
Failing seals that cause the gears to run dry has more of a high pitched sound...with almost a holoween chains dragging clanking sound....The ones I have heard anyway...but changes fast as it progresses....my guess is you might just be hearing stuff as it loosesns up a bit...lash from the bearings, etc. But most rebuilders charge the same $800 or so to rebuild a sc and install new seals...so if the seals went bad, let the oil out....IMO, it will happen again, so not sure what one saves with a reoiling.....
A sc (if run with the intercooler off/loose) will make a very pronounced thump thump at low speed, and be deafining at higher rpms....

 

It is an 06 with 94,000 miles.

A better description of the sound I hear using the screwdriver is a bicycle chain gear noise from a 10-speed.

I have been a bit paranoid lately after putting off strange sounds before something fails and leaves me stranded.

 

That sound might be more troublesome....check a few threads where folks posted vids/sounds.....
Steigimier does rebuilds for about $800 including the PTO last time I checked...they do tons of sc work, and knows them well from what I have been hearing...great price...
Not sure what to tell you..
Cars tend to run a bit warm at lower rpms before failure, then cool off at higher rpms....but the non chrono temp gauge is kinda useless....hopefully some folks will chine in!!

 

I have the sport chrono gauge set and the oil and water temp. guages have not indicated any issues of running hot while moving or in stop-n-go traffic.

 

IMHO, a ticking noise wouldn't be the SC and the gear noise you hear is fairly normal. To ease your mind, you could check the SC oil on the passenger side w/o too much trouble. It's the driver's side that's time-consuming. Even though you replaced the tensioner, I'm betting it's your culprit. Way's DELRIN bushings go a long way in firming up the tensioner and minimizing the ticking.

 

I access the OBC via the odometer trip counter button and choose Menu 7 to see live coolant temperature and when the fan comes on.

You can use a mechanic stethoscope to listen to various parts of your engine. The front pulley of my SC does make some gear noise and it's been like that since I bought the car. From above and behind the Intercooler, you can see the coolant pump. Put the tip of the stethoscope against it and you can hear gear noises.

 

Here is a video clip of the sound I took today

 

Just an update, 30,000 miles later it is still making the same sound, no loss in power or overheating.

 

When the water pump was replaced, did they fill-up the oil on that side?

Before the PTO gears grenaded in my R53 they just kept getting more noisy until one night they just... stopped. And THAT was when my Water-Temp pegged in the red... before that, never had any temperature issues or power issues.

 

I do not know, it was replaced at the dealership before I purchased the Mini in 2011.


Also, on the drivers side, the SC is quiet.