Supercharger Dying

[SirRawlins]

Hello Guys,

I took my JCW over to Tony Franks this morning to have the pulley replaced as it was suspected the bearings had gone. however, it seems the problem is allot more serious and it's the supercharger itself that's on it's way out.

The cost of a new supercharger is just a little on the steep side, so Tony has suggested that I look for a decent second hand one which we then fit.

It's a 53 plate JCW - and I'm looking for a 5th Generation (preferably 210hp) supercharger.

Can anyone recommend decent places to shop around for this? I've had a look through eBay without a great deal of luck.

Same goes for the classifieds on here.

Thanks all.

Robert

[Hartge220]

Sorry to hear you've got 'charger troubles

Send a pm to a member called sef, he's got one for sale

[SirRawlins]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartge210 (original)

Sorry to hear you've got 'charger troubles

Send a pm to a member called sef, he's got one for sale

Thanks bud, 'tis indeed bad times - but the car is still running so it's no emergency.

I've sent Sef a DM so we'll see what they have to say. Also found one on Gumtree that I'm going to follow up on today.

Thanks.

Robert

[DJ_Scooby]

What type of sound does your charger make that makes them think the charger's about to die?

[SirRawlins]

I guess I'd describe it as a rattle - it's due to bearings apparently. Tony has a very solid reputation so I trust his judgement.

Robert

[marque]

Hi

I think you have a few options, like you say keep your eye open on eBay, it may be have a word with chris from lloyds site sponsor
You can buy the rebuild kits from the states for about 150 USD for the pulley and pto ends but that's only bearings,seals and oil, it's not a hard job to do. You can also buy the water pump gears as well from the states thee about 240
If the rotors are bad of you want a better coating KAV's do a re-coating service not shore how much though
Anyway sorry to here you have problems I will keep my eyes open for you

[SirRawlins]

Quote: Originally Posted by marque (original)

Hi

I think you have a few options, like you say keep your eye open on eBay, it may be have a word with chris from lloyds site sponsor
You can buy the rebuild kits from the states for about 150 USD for the pulley and pto ends but that's only bearings,seals and oil, it's not a hard job to do. You can also buy the water pump gears as well from the states thee about 240
If the rotors are bad of you want a better coating KAV's do a re-coating service not shore how much though
Anyway sorry to here you have problems I will keep my eyes open for you

Thanks for the suggestions. I had heard about refurbing options, but I think so long as I can find a decent used one, or even unused (I've seen them around) then I'd rather have the simplicity of a direct replacement.

There have been some decent listings on eBay for the exact kind of thing I want - just a case of catching them at the right time.

Thanks.

Robert

[SirRawlins]

Well the hunt continues...

The nice one I found on Gumtree had already gone by the time I contacted the seller.

The ones on eBay look fine, but have around 50k miles on them, which I'm not too happy with as mine has started to die with 65k

I'm yet to hear back from the MINI2 member that I DMd

Hopefully something will come up.

Robert

[Hartge220]

Quote: Originally Posted by SirRawlins (original)

Well the hunt continues...

I'm yet to hear back from the MINI2 member that I DMd

Hopefully something will come up.

Robert

I spoke to Sef on another forum & unfortunately he's sold the charger he had ,

Good luck with your search Robert

[SirRawlins]

@Hartge210 - thanks for the update bud.

Seeing how few there are around - and that those I am finding aren't even the JCW spec ones I'm tempted to drop the cash and just buy one new.

I could stick a stock S charger on it and change the pulley so I don't lose any power, however I don't plan on selling the car anytime soon, if ever, so it would be nice to keep it as close to the original spec as possible. (as I think it'll be a future classic)

It's a little close to Christmas to spend the dough though, so we'll see how the hunt pans out between now and the new year and re-evaluate things then I think.

[marque]

Hi robert
sorry to here you have had no joy yet i am thinking of replacing my SC as well due to high millage so same sort of boat. i have been speaking to chris at lloyds and this is what he said

"i can only order a new supercharger, either a standard R53 charger or the JCW charger with the smaller 12% pulley fitted ,they are both the same price at £1050.00 inc vat"

from my research there are no differences between the later part number SC's both have same coatings, casings and rotors ect. the only thing that changes the part number is pulley size for the JCW.
remember if you get a JCW SC get a shorter belt
i hope this helps you i did ask him if he had any delivery millage ones but there was none available
let us know how you get, on all the best

[DJ_Scooby]

Quote: Originally Posted by marque (original)

Hi robert
sorry to here you have had no joy yet i am thinking of replacing my SC as well due to high millage so same sort of boat. i have been speaking to chris at lloyds and this is what he said

"i can only order a new supercharger, either a standard R53 charger or the JCW charger with the smaller 12% pulley fitted ,they are both the same price at £1050.00 inc vat"

from my research there are no differences between the later part number SC's both have same coatings, casings and rotors ect. the only thing that changes the part number is pulley size for the JCW.
remember if you get a JCW SC get a shorter belt
i hope this helps you i did ask him if he had any delivery millage ones but there was none available
let us know how you get, on all the best

Just reiterating what marque said, the SC's are exactly the same. Their is no difference between them. Slightly diverting off the main topic, the coastings on the blades did change as the years went on, but when a JCW SC was "installed" it would have been with one currently available at the time of "upgrade"

My mate and I drove up to Birds Hartge near Heathrow this afternoon because while trying to remove my pulley at home, from the old SC it broke under pressure and I really wanted to get the car on the road tomorrow. While they were removing the stock pulley and replacing it with a new one we got talking as you do...

Turns out, the JCW is really just a pulley and a ecu remap. Not sure why they insist on changing the SC with exactly the same SC, just with a smaller pulley, nor why they insist on changing the inlet manifold for exactly the same manifold. - One of the BMW technicians had both of them side by side, even took out the valves and could not see any difference. The JCW package is just their way of being able to charge the amount they do when all you need is a pulley, aux belt and remap.

hope this info helps

[Acallahan]

The fins on the JCW supercharger have a special coating on them but i think not much else.
As for buying brand new superchargers I dont think that is an option as I was told they are no longer manufactured and you have to go with rebuilt, not sure of this though.

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by Acallahan (original)

The fins on the JCW supercharger have a special coating on them but i think not much else.
As for buying brand new superchargers I dont think that is an option as I was told they are no longer manufactured and you have to go with rebuilt, not sure of this though.

From what I heard, the superchargers for 2005 and 2006 model years have coated fins. The only difference between JCW and Cooper S superchargers after the facelift, would be the pulley diameter.

As we get more and more cars coming to that age where the S/C needs to be serviced, I'm hoping the cost of rebuilding or servicing or replacing them will come down.