This is what my SuperCharger sounded like when it died at around 105,000 miles.

 

I can't believe Eaton didn't put a $2 gasket in there; it fills up the imperfection of machining.

 

jimz68 that looks like it's in decent shape. Let us know how you make out after you get it back from the guys in Florida

 

Was your S/C ever serviced before it died?

 

Hasn't gone out, I'm just getting ready for the day it does.
Just turned over 190,000 miles on the original supercharger !


Jim

 

I think that's about right. He's going to give it the once-over and give me a quote.

Jim

 

Holy smokes. 190k?? Here I am worried about my s/c making it past the 60k mark...

Have you ever checked the oil levels in the supercharger?

 

In order to access the SC oil plug, you have to break it all down.....no easy way or inexpensive way to check it....

When they go, it sounds like chains dragging on pavement....

 

I'm planning on removing the S/C on my car to check the oil levels this summer. It seems to me that this problem is completely preventable if the unit has oil. Yeah, it might be a PITA for me to do this, but it's an even bigger one (especially from my location) if I just let it become a ticking time bomb.

It's too bad we can't easily incorporate a dip stick/fill tube on these superchargers...

 

Nope, never checked. No funny noises etc.

I must have gotten one of the "Good Ones"!
My original clutch lasted 150k!
Dad taught me right!

Jim

 

Nope. But everything else around it was replaced, lol, either while trying to troubleshoot my car or because of failure.

Fortunately, I had purchased a brand new spare off of a NAM member a couple years earlier for $400, so I was ready.

I guess when this SC goes, either a Rotrex or TVS will go in. I dunno..or maybe just get a new MINI, lol. I still got time to debate that.

 

I'm sure this problem has put off enough people with little patience to just move onto other brands... Hell, I'm considering a VW / Audi next. The R60 has to really impress me..

 

Well any new MINI won't come with a super charger, lol. Hopefully car fires are a thing of the past too. I'm really liking the R60. I was all set to put an order for the Clubman later this year...but I think the R60 is going to be my next MINI.

 

I was part of the VW crowd in my not-too-distant past. I had several good VWs, and a couple of bad ones. Coincidentally, the good ones were all assembled in Germany...and the bad ones in Pueblo, Mexico. You'd think the cars coming from either plant would be held to the same standards, but I'm starting to think they're not.

At this point, I'd probably go running back to VW if I could be assured that the quality control problems for North American-bound VWs have been fixed. Kinda got sick of "little problems" like my windows falling into the doors, tail light bulbs burning out prematurely, as well as the squeaks and rattles that you normally wouldn't associate with a German vehicle.

I still don't mind the idea of a new MINI though, as they just have this charm about them that I haven't experienced with any other vehicle I've owned. FWIW - I am holding off on an R56/R60 until they get the cold start rattle sorted out.

 

My next car decision will be based purely on $$$

I want the R60, but it is just another MINI to me without the All4 feature. The interior, although nice, is not as climatic as I was hoping it'd be. The 2011 facelifted interiors on the regular Coopers and Cooper S's will probably not offer too much difference.

The VW R20. It has the exclusivity that the GP had. Certainly not as much emotional attachment and character as any type of MINI, but still a beautiful vehicle. It oozes class where the MINI does not. My car was one of the last built in 2006. The GP was an 06 car and a few years after it was sold there were reports of the car going back up in resale value. Now, I know VW does not have as well resale value as MINI but taking into account that the R20 will be a commodity, it's a bit more attractive than the soon-to-be soccer mom touting R60 at that point. It also may be prone to failure, but with such a car.. you're more inclined to dip into your wallet to fix the car as an enthusiast.

I have been talking to my dealer about the R60 a long time, before they even knew about the car.. constantly updating my service guy with info. I wanted to be the first person in NJ with one but the pricing is going to be very detrimental. I think MINI is holding off on announcing pricing because they are also waiting for the Audi A1 to show itself to the public in more ways than one.

 

Looks like it's gonna turn into another 1600 post thread like the M62 thread (800 of which had nothing to do w/ the M62)?

:sigh:

 

Well hopefully, if this thread continues, it will be used for education for both MINI drivers and MINI USA alike to fix up their sh**

 

Is the consensus that the supercharger dying is a milage thing? Since it is due to an oil leak, I would guess that it would be a milage and time. Does it leak faster due to the supercharger being used?

 

Emoore: how do you propose to rack up the miles without using the supercharger?

 

With failures reported here from 28K to being OK at over 150K, it seems that maintenance (checking the oil levels, particularly in the back) - and plain old dumb luck (w/ the shaft and cover seals not leaking) are the keys...

 

I am not proposing racking up the miles without the supercharger. My question is if there is a leak will it leak the same amount no matter how many miles I drive. If I drive 20K miles in 5 years or 120K miles in 5 years will the supercharger potentially die in 5 years?

 

I'm kind of curious if the supercharger is more likely to use oil (through leaks in the shaft seals) if people 'get on it', or if it's more just a luck of the draw sort of thing.

What are the driving habits like for those who have gotten more than 80k on their superchargers? While I won't say I ream on my car too much, it does see WOT on a somewhat regular basis.

 

I just want to add one thing folks.....I found a thread (on a competing site) by a vendor on this site that I respect very highly....He has had some dealings with SuperchargerTech in OldTown FL.....He no longer deals with them as he had several rebuilt units fail in the first couple months....considers them 'JUNK". I guess their prices are too good to be true, and the shortcuts they take in rebuilding them DOES come at a cost....considering the labor costs to swap out a failed unit, having to replace one, even under warranty from the re-builder is a showstopper IMO.

 

I'm going to an Electric water pump system for the very reason that a 17% sc pulley spinning at stupid speeds will wear out any teeth pretty quickly and then you can control the water temp better too .

I'll post up a pic of the modded water pump and plate this week hopefully when it's back .

 

Is the part in bold/underlined correct? Has anyone actually tried this with the S/C still bolted to the motor?

I have a spare S/C on my counter. Adjusted on a leveled plane, the procedure of removing the fill plug and add fluid till it spills out works for the front (pulley) end.

Borrowing pics from K-Huevo...

...the front fill-hole is about 3/4" higher than the bottom of the chamber.


Rear chamber...

...the fill-hole is ~1/4" higher than the bottom of the chamber. Most of the fluid will spill out of chamber with the plug removed. I don't think it can hold 4 oz of fluid with the S/C on a leveled plane.

I'm hoping that the procedure works for the rear chamber which makes replacing the oil less time consuming.

Can anyone who's done this with the S/C still on the car confirm?

Thanks!