Cooper S Query

Cooper S Query

Author
Discussion

ripface

Original Poster:

17 posts

205 months

Thursday 16th November 2017
quotequote all
Hi All,

Just bought my first Mini Cooper S (2005) and so far loving it! My wife has been driving a standard Cooper for a few years, and I've always enjoyed the driving experience so thought I'd jump on the bandwagon.

Bought for £2300 my new car comes with fancy 17" alloys and a Milltek exhaust system that sounds awesome. Nice pops and crackles on the overrun, and an absolutely glorious whine from the Supercharger.

Being a second hand car, and having only limited info from the previous (short term) owner I have no clue as to what other goodies might be hidden under the skin. Is there an easy way to tell if the car has had a supercharger pulley swap or had an ECU remap? It feels pretty sprightly but as it's my first experience of a Coop S I'm not sure what other mods might have been done.

Any clues?

Cheers,
Ripface.


E-bmw

9,220 posts

152 months

Thursday 16th November 2017
quotequote all
You would need to get access to the lower pulley & check its diameter to find if it is up-geared, most are held in with allen screws on the outside which go through to a taper block, so you may see this but not all, mine is an interference fit pulley & needed heating to fit.

The ECU remap would only be seen if you were to get it remapped, so unfortunately neither are easy to check, you would be better trying to get in touch with previous owners.

Is the intercooler standard?

I ask because a rule of thumb is if you go to 17% or more on the pulley, you need a bigger intercooler.

CarsOrBikes

1,135 posts

184 months

Thursday 16th November 2017
quotequote all
the original pulley is kind of hollowed out at the front between the charger shaft and outer rim which is easy to see from the top.

E-bmw

9,220 posts

152 months

Thursday 16th November 2017
quotequote all
But, as I said above if it has been fitted with an interference fit upgrade pulley they look the same.

mon the fish

1,416 posts

148 months

Friday 17th November 2017
quotequote all
Can you see any markings on the supercharger belt? The size is listed in the text - 6PK1404 or something like that - the 1404 part is the length of the belt, the lower the number the smaller the pulley is

E-bmw

9,220 posts

152 months

Friday 17th November 2017
quotequote all
Good answer sir, I forgot that one.

ripface

Original Poster:

17 posts

205 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies, and the hints and tips. Hoping that I can get some rain-free time this weekend to get my head under the bonnet (hood, for any US buddies).

On the subject of the bonnet, I've noticed that when I raise it ... the catch on the left seems to not want to release. It needs a little persuasion and lets out a "click" when it finally releases. The bonnet seems to jump up evenly when I pull the release catch, but even with the safety catch fully engaged on the right side ... the left still seems to catch on something.

Any clues?

I tracked down my Alloys, they are MSW 21 made by OZ. Nice!! They really suit the car. (IMHO)



Cheers,
Ripface.

Edited by ripface on Wednesday 22 November 20:06