1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Another crank pulley question.

New or old, if it's OEM, CHANGE IT!

 

My car is a 2006 MCS R52. Installed ATI at 50K. RMW dyno-tuned. Has all the bolt-on mods etc. Stock engine otherwise.

1. ATI and Wade claims ATI pulley makes engine smoother. I had poly engine bushings and engine vibration could be felt. With this pulley, vibrations feel less, and smoother to redline.

2. ATI claims more HP due to HP-robbing of vibration. By eliminating vibration you have more HP to the drivetrain.

3. Wade says ATI pulley is 0.8% larger than stock producing 1/2 lb. more boost = more HP.

Bottom line, the car seems smoother and butt dyno says more solid power through the range. Since I already have the RMW dyno-tune, the car feels that much better.

--Russ

 

Unfortunately, it's not something you can predict through visual inspection IMO.

The elastomer in the pulley is visible from the back side... And probably looks just fine until the day it lets go.

If I had a first gen MCS with an original crank pulley and 60k hard driven miles on it, I would change it. I've seen quite a few fail after about that point.

FWIW, that one looks awfully rusty. Mine was nice and non-rusty when it failed.

 

That crank pulley is 12 years old?

If so I'd change it while in there. That's quite some time even if the miles are low.

 

Better safe than sorry. Mine is only 8 years old, but with mileage creeping up there. A new damper pulley is on my to do list. :fingerscrossed:

 

If its OEM and old change it.

 

Yep preventive maintenance on that one. Not a question of IF but more of WHEN with the crank pulleys.

 

Better to fix it now while you're in there then find yourself stranded when it does fail.......and it will. You've certainly gotten your use out of it so it's money well spent now.