Most liked posts in thread: One week old Mini owner with Supercharger issues...

http://stiegemeier.com

Call them...they once had flat pricing...now it might vary

 

Is there a certain brand of coolant I should use? I only use OEM mixed 50 / 50 with distilled water.


Detroit Tuned will sell you a new SC with the 15% pulley installed.

http://www.detroittuned.com/mini-cooper-s-rebuilt-supercharger/

All Detroit Tuned Superchargers come with new:
•Nose Cone Bearings

•Nose Cone Seal

•PTO Gears

•PTO Bearings

•Rear Bearing & Seal Retainer System
•Heavy Duty Extreme use Seals that Exceed OEM Quality
•High Temp Supercharger Lubrication Oil

 

Yeah...
COOLANT is not a HUGE DEAL....but if in doubt, go OEM..the BMW/MINI blue coolant was actually always cheaper at the local BMW dealer than the auto parts stuff, and never a question if it was the right stuff....
I avoid spending extra $$, but if going OEM saves me....I'm even happier.

Depending on the turnaround time on the sc from steigimer, Detroit tuned can ship one off the shelf....then give you back the $500 or so core charge when they get your old one back....
Waymotorworks (not exactly loved by some here) was once my go-to source for parts...they have much the same program....if the $ is right, swapping with him imo is also fine..both only deal with quality rebuilds.
All comes down to time vs $$.
A tip..order 2 waterpump gaskets...a couple people have torn one trying to install it...if you don't need it, it's only about $2...
Either of the typical mini specialists can get you any gasket you need...just tell them what you are doing...
Just be 100% sure to get the sc gasket (sometimes green or orange)...it is a one-time use item.
Sucks you got screwed on the new car, I feel for you. Good luck.

 

Detroit tuned sounds like they have kept getting better....
I would consider them too..... especially since Dave has "vetted" them... honestly, he gives you an unfiltered opinion.

 

Yup Chad at Detroit Tuned knows his S#*T

 

Welcome to M/A, the forum where great R53 advice abounds!

 

Steigimer is well known in the Ford, and hotrod crowds....they were doing rebuilds of sc for years, and predate the MINI...have been doing porting and rebuilds for years....
Detroit tuned seems to have really mastered the MINI's sc, and done some improvements to them to fix issues....
I think it would be easy to say you would be safe going either way....
Obviously there is a huge wealth of knowledge and know how up in the Detroit area when in comes to cars, and it certainly sounds like he some people who know how to fix some of the weakness they have found....making the units OEM+ in reliability perhaps...
Sounds like they have exchange units and that can really speed things up a bit...but the folk that their their units out tend to say it's a 3 bussiness day timeframe plus shipping...
Like I have said, I haven't dealt with either personally...but I can say Chad the owner of Detroit tuned is a good community member...did see him do a few sponsors at events, and he is a regular host on a popular podcast...so he gets points for that.

 

The first and most important tool you should buy is the Bentley manual.

 

Quality of the part and the warranty and trusting who you are buying the part from should be the difference not price.

Remember: You get what you pay for. Chad is a MINI Specialist the other is only a SC specialist.

 

The belt tool is nice....but in all honesty you can use a socket on the pivot point for the tool, and use a pry bar....only risk is you need an extra set of hands to be safe and pin the tensioner in the compressed postion...if you can get one cheap, go for it...with a shrinking number if cars on the road, there are likely a few floating around.
Buying fro lm Detroit sounds like a good plan...no waiting, same price, and the value add-on of the reliability mods that he does....
I strongly suggest you find a Bentley manual, and check out one of the guides to putting the car into service mode...two long bolts. Basicly carriage bolts make it easier, but the bumper carrier bolts which are shorter can be used if I recall right...just less space to work...if I remember, that's what I did...
It looks hard, but once you have done it a time or two it can be done in about 15-30 minutes......if your spouse/mate sees the car in service mode, they will be terrified...lol....

 

Do the pulley...
I was going to do a 15%, and the mechanic doing it said go with a 17....and I never looked back, zero issues.
I justified it by saying we have 93 octane, and was already using premium fuel...
The 15% is even more safe.... similar to the JCW sized pulley, that comes from the factory on those cars...
Water pump issues come down to if you spend LONG PERIODS AT REDLINE, such as track junkies....regular folks are pretty darn safe if you keep using the premium fuel the car calls for in the manual.
Fuel economy is actually about the same....until you realize the car is faster and use the go pedal more....lol...
When I drive nice, my 2005 S with a 17% pulley, custom tune and bigger jcw injectors making 200 hp to the wheels would still get me 29 ish on the highway....is I used the cruise and stayed under 72 with my 16 rims.....yes..I got better mpg with narrower winter tires/rims...so much more than the SC effects mpg.
Do what you feel is right, and be confident....just know that the OEM pulley is hot set...so it is destroyed when you remove it...so if you order a sc "no pulley" you need to find one....and the typical 15 and 17 are what's around...maybe Detroit can get you one shipped with a stock pulley perhaps, ask....
But I fear they are so common, you won't be able to get one on a rebuilt sc unless it is yours....and to be honest...you might already have one on your car since MOST R53/R52S cars have them unless driven by a granny....
If you look....the OEM pulley is hot set, and steel...no bolt holes...
Aftermarket have a few bolts, holes and a locking collar arrangement.