Supercharger Belt

[KAS66]

How often should the Supercharger belt be changed?

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by KAS66 (original)

How often should the Supercharger belt be changed?

For normal driving....

The supercharger belt is actually a serpentine belt that runs everything. Typically you should at least check the belt at every service to make sure that it is not cracked or worn. If it is, then you should replace it. I have seen belts last differently in different areas and seen that change depending on how the car is driven.

I would simply say that it varies. Keep an eye on it and change it when needed.

[KAS66]

Thanks for that, my MCS is on 32000 miles now was at 16000 when i purchased it 2 years ago . I'm guessing that its still the orignal belt, do you think i should get it changed just to be on the safe side?

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by KAS66 (original)

Thanks for that, my MCS is on 32000 miles now was at 16000 when i purchased it 2 years ago . I'm guessing that its still the orignal belt, do you think i should get it changed just to be on the safe side?

I would say that time wise you are probably ready for a new one. Do you plan on doing this yourself or going to a shop? I would avoid the dealer as they will charge you an arm and a leg but we do have some tuners on this site that would probably do it for a fraction of that.

1320Autos and GTT Tuning two of them that I recommend.

P.S. They might actually try to sell you a 15% pulley as well.

[Bhozar]

Just posted about this a few days ago: http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-e...?highlight=gtt

I had mine on for 20k miles, and it had baddly stretched, enough that it had broken the OEM tensioner limit.

I intend to check the belt every time I do oil, coolant, brake fluid etc.

[KAS66]

Sounds like i should get mine changed soon.
Thanks for the help!

[minigolf]

A bit OT, but back in the day (1996) when my girlie and I were living in the UK we lived just down the road from you in Oxshott.



Cheers Liam

[Richard Crofts]

As far as I can tell BMW don't mention a belt change anywhere in my handbook! Its ceratinly not in any of the lists of service items on the TLC or anywhere else. However I have heard that they say between 25-50k miles for stock belts. Those runnig reduced pulleys and even those with reduced pulley and reduced belts are advised to change every 20k minimum...in fact those with 17% pulleys and above its suggested you do it every year (or 12k)

[DaFlake]

Richard has some good advice there. Also, if you invest in the de-tensioner tool it is not that hard to change the belt out. Personally, it is worth having the tool.

[Perm]

Hi,

According to the BMW guidelines, the belt is only changed at the MINI Inspection II service at approx 60,000 miles.

Thanks

Perm

[minigolf]

I fitted my 15% pulley about 12 months ago at 40,000kms (approx 25,000 miles) and replaced the belt then. A 2 year replacement sounds fair enough I reckon.

[KAS66]

Thanks guys for the advice.

Have made a few calls over the last couple of days to dealers and a local mini tuner,
Dealer quoted me £100 inc vat to fit new belt, which i didn't think was to bad.
Local tuner said that he didn't get asked much to fit just a standard belt, said i should fit a 15% alta pulley and belt. Priced them up came out at £120 ish + fitting,had been told it was only a 40 min job. I thought it would be about £200 fitted, then they said no point having pulley fitted without having remap as the car would run to rich. They could do the whole job for £700+ vat
OUCH! Too rich for me at the moment, so asked for a price to do the standard belt £120+vat.
Think im going to get Vines the dealer to do the job, plus while cleaning my car yesterday i found a couple of bubbles in the paint work, so going to get them to sort that too.

Thanks again Keith

[DaFlake]

Lot's of people do run the 15% without a remap but mine was running rich when I did it. So I mapped with MTH and have been happy since.