2006 MCS R52. On startup, I get a chirping sound coming from what seems to be my harmonic balancer (which goes away when it warms up). I tried running the car without the belt for a minute or so and no noise. I linked a Youtube video. If you would be so kind as to check it out to let me know whether it wobbles enough to be the culprit.

 

Time to upgrade to the ATI damper, those stock dampers are ALL going to fail not if, just when so go ahead and get in front of it by upgrading and not have to worry about how long is it going to last.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/super-...ulley-r53.html

 

I don't like the wobble, but the noise sounds more bearing like to me. I'd probably swap your tensioner and idler pulley while you're at it, or maybe before pulling the trigger on the crank pulley. Chirpy is exactly how I described the noise that the bad pulley on my tensioner was making.

 

The rear part of the pulley could be scraping on the engine, mine did that before it failed.

I replaced mine with an oversized ATI unit, highly recommend you rent the tools from Detroit Tuned.

 

So just an update to future searchers of this thread. I removed the harmonic balancer and replaced it. Upon removal, I was disappointed to see that my balancer was in great shape and I spent all this money and time.. No cracks, separating rubber, nothing, everything was intact. I figure I'm there, got the new one, might as well change it. Chirping gone. I don't get it. Can a balancer fail without showing any outside signs? The hardest part of the whole procedure was torquing the bolt to 85 without the crank turning.

 

Maybe, but if you could see it wobbling it was failing.

 

hey, have exactly the same sound on my 2002 r53... Mine is performing a lot slower than usual too. I tested 0-100km/h it took 9.5 - 9,,7 sec where it should take around 7,2 - 7,5 seconds with traction off. It feels like it has good torque and pulls well, but very slow compared to what it should be doing. I can definitely feel the 2 seconds slower. I used to have a blue 2005 r53 and that thing was pulling and accelerating like crazy with stock sc pulley.
So my question is did yours also perform worse or did anyone else have this issue? Really expensive parts and it would cost a lot to bring to mechanic also. I have tutorials on how to swap it, but all the tools would cost as much as the part....

 

...and the alternative is wait until it fails? Do you really think that will be less expensive?

 

I could wait until it fails, but it's near failure now if my car is accelerating 2 sec slower than normal? It's no fun driving a cooper s where im supposed to be near 160hp at least and it feels like 100hp :D

 

Don't wait!! Mine failed 5 or 6 hundred miles from home, luckily in a town. The day before we were out in the wilderness.

 

yep gonna go through with it. -750$ sadly need to buy not only the damper, need belt tool, pulley tool and import fees are pain. Live in Norway

 

With some ingenuity and a search on YouTube, you can remove and re-install the belt without the factory tool. You can also research pulling the old pulley and installing a new new one without any exotic tools as well. Do you have some other MINI enthusiasts in Norway who could offer assistance?
p.s.: For others who may be concerned about the "wobble", it helps if you observe the pulley in "slow motion". Just use a timing light attached to the #1 plug wire and aim it at the pulley.

 

That's about right, dug out my service ticket for my damper work. My main wrench gives me a little discount on other than regular service but then add the cost of having it trailered to his shop, you're getting off a little easier than I did...but it's worth it.

 

Belt tensioner tool $52
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bav-auto.../b8800034~bav/'

Crank pulley removal tool $59
https://www.minimania.com/part/NME59...-Gen1-Cooper-S

ATI crank pulley $343
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ati-917992

Shipping and import fees: unknown

Finished the job in my driveway in less than two hours, using the following DIY guidance: