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Upgraded to 15% pulley - who's been reliable and who has had problems.

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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 08:43 AM
  #1  
k_h_d's Avatar
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Upgraded to 15% pulley - who's been reliable and who has had problems.

I am interested in seeing who has upgraded to a SC 15% reduction pulley. Have you had problems related to the upgrade, or has it been 100% reliable. If you have had problems can you relate it to the pulley or was it something else?
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 08:57 AM
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I've had the M7 16% on for about two years now, and no issues or problems at all.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 08:58 AM
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I have had the Alta 17% pulley installed for over two years with no problems and lots of fun.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:04 AM
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Helix 15% for 8 months and not a single problem. (even in the 0 degree weather here.)
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:07 AM
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My big worry about this upgrade is my SA. I suspect a big issue if they see it while in for service.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by rrudorf
My big worry about this upgrade is my SA. I suspect a big issue if they see it while in for service.
Same here... 9 months left on my warranty. I am deciding to either wait or do the upgrade.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by k_h_d
Same here... 9 months left on my warranty. I am deciding to either wait or do the upgrade.
I have the Alta 15%, with about 20,000 miles.
Been in for service three times and the SA has not said a word. Even had the oil pan gasket replaced without a mention of mods.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:20 AM
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How noticable was the power increase? I just had a DDM intake installed and I honestly think there is a power increase just from the intake. Could be my ears but I don't think so. To get what seems to be better acceleration I don't have to ring the car out all the way to 6700 RPM.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:20 AM
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I was just straight forward with my SA. Told him straight up that I had modifications done.

He told me that they certainly don't want me to hold back as "there are a ton of awesome aftermarket parts for the MINI", and that they'll only deny me warranty service if the part that fails is directly associated with the modifications. (like if my SC fails, they won't cover it)

Of course, I've heard horror stories about other dealers where they won't even touch your car if you modded it. I'd ask your SA about doing it before you have anything done.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:22 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by k_h_d
How noticable was the power increase? I just had a DDM intake installed and I honestly think there is a power increase just from the intake. Could be my ears but I don't think so. To get what seems to be better acceleration I don't have to ring the car out all the way to 6700 RPM.
My wife, not being very automotively savy, was being a good wife and letting me play when I got my intake and pully put on.

I think she said it best when she told me later, "I thought it was going to be one of those things where I had to pretend to feel it, and tell you that you made a good purchase... but when we first went out after the install... HOLY SH*T I didn't expect THAT much of a difference."
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:37 AM
  #11  
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15% Mini-Madness pulley for 4 months now and no issues.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 09:47 AM
  #12  
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15% for 2 years - No issue but tons of fun
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 10:01 AM
  #13  
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15% for 11 months - no pulley/sc related issues. IMHO this is the size of pulley the car should have had from factory.

About mods - I agree that you should mention it to your SA just to test the waters. You can probably make a more informed decision based on his/her reaction and feedback.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 10:38 AM
  #14  
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40,000 miles on mine with no problems
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 10:43 AM
  #15  
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I've had my 15% for about a year, and my wife has the same, maybe a month more, no problems. No problems with warranty at all, and my SA knows they're there. I've installed about 100 of them without any troubles. It is, hands down, the " holy crap" mod. That and my alta intake i found noticeable.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 12:26 PM
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WMS 15% pulley on my MCS 02 for about 1k miles and no issue
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 12:30 PM
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Count me in for no problems. M7 16% pulley, on since mid-november. This is with also using a DDM HDI, on the intake side.

Do it, do it, do it, do it....
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 01:00 PM
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Helix 15% pulley installed by Eric and switch to recommended belt about a year and 15 track days ago. No problem. Definitely one of the mods that you notice.

Alan
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 01:06 PM
  #19  
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Have had mine on now for about 3 1/2 years and about 97,000 miles with no problems.....

Nik
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 02:02 PM
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have the webb 15% for 7 mos. 9000 mls. no issues . he'll send you a puller to use for a dollar. and great step by steps. it's easy. also ;do get the gatorback belt too.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 02:13 PM
  #21  
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Helix 19%, 5 months, NO problems
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 02:45 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by shankrabbit
I was just straight forward with my SA. Told him straight up that I had modifications done...

Of course, I've heard horror stories about other dealers where they won't even touch your car if you modded it. I'd ask your SA about doing it before you have anything done.
Same with me. I asked the service manager about his view of the pulley upgrade BEFORE I had it done. He said it was fine and that the warranty would be honored unless there was a problem related to the reduction pulley. He also cautioned me that he's seen a few people with 17% and 19% pulleys that had problems due to the belt.

So my advise is to have a talk with your service manager since he's the one that can make you warranty claim (and your life) misserable.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 02:55 PM
  #23  
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I've had Eric from Helix do a 15% on my last 2 MCS-es, and no issues. I chose the 15 because it seems proven/acceptable to service depts in general. (I know that's not definitive, just that the 15 is popular and with so many of them there is less resistance from the service dept IMO)

My dealer has not ever commented or taken issue with mine.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 03:49 PM
  #24  
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I have had a 15% Ultrik pulley now for about 2 years and so far no problems.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 08:24 PM
  #25  
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Same story here!

15% Mini Madness pully on for about 6 months - no problems

Well, 1 problem, I can't stop upgrading!!!

Now I have a cat back exhaust, short shift kit, Unichip, etc.....Its a SICKNESS
The faster I go - The faster I want to go......Where will it end:impatient
 
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