TECH TIP: MINI Cooper Harmonic Balancer Replacement - Watch these Videos: Part 1: Examples of the damage that can occur on several factory harmonic balancers. Part 2: How to remove and install the harmonic balancer on the crankshaft.

MINI Cooper  OEM Part Number: 11 23 7 525 135 Vehicles Effected: MINI Cooper (2002-2006) MINI Cooper "S" (2002-2006) MINI Convertibles (05-08) BMP Design  Harmonic Vibration Damper  with FluidGel Part Number 300635 < Index | << Previous Tip | Part 1 | Part 2 | Next Tip >>  Getting Started: First you will have to remove the fender well housing on the car to get access to the crank pulley area at the motor. This will allow you to pull off and replace the harmonic balancer while it is on the car. This tech tip shows how it will not be neccesarry to pull out motor in order to pull off the pulley. Second, you will need to remove the damaged factory balancer pulley, and then install the BMP Design harmonic vibration damper with FluidGel as an aftermarket replacement to the factory part. Let's take a closer look below. MINI Cooper and Cooper "S" Vibration Damper Pulleys: A Closer Look At the work table we see the entire rubber damper has completely torn off along with the pulley on this early Cooper "S" balancer (top). The Mini Cooper Balancer Pulley (bottom) has a rubber damper layer pressed together inside the pulley. The rubber has broken away and the pulley has started to move back on the hub scraping the engine resulting in damage to both. Later Model MINI Cooper "S" Balancer Pulley Damage: On this later model balancer the damper rubber core has failed and the entire pulley has separated from the core allowing the crank shaft to spin, but the actual pulley, belt, supercharger, and water pump would not turn. On all of the pulleys there are (3) 6mm holes to attach the puller, but first the 75mm long crank bolt must be removed using a 1/2" ratchet with a 12mm socket.

Tools You Will Need: First you will need a three point puller. We have specially designed one for this job. One extension (spacer) rod to place inside the crankshaft hole. A standard 1/2 inch drive breaker bar for leverage & one 3/8 inch drive ratchet with a 12mm socket. In the video we show how to remove and install the balancer pulley on a demo engine, while this project is designed to be performed on an engine still in the vehicle from underneath the passenger fender well once removed.

Closer Look: Installing the 3 point puller. After the spacer is placed into the center hole of the crankshaft, you will install the three point puller by "Hand Tightening" the three 6mm bolts until they are seated all the way down. The puller has a threaded extra long center bolt and spacer to pull off the balancer pulley pressed on to the crankshaft.

How to pull off the damaged balancer pulley: Place the 1/2 inch breaker bar into the square hole of the puller, and the 3/8 inch ratched with 12mm socket on the extra long center bolt with spacer. Pull OFF the damaged balancer by rotating the center bolt clockwise and holding the breaker bar to keep the balancer pulley from turning.

How to install the New BMP balancer pulley: To install the new balancer, first you will need to center it up on the crankshaft, and install an extra long 12mm bolt with a spacer. After the balancer pulley gets closer to the end you will need to switch to the factory bolt and torque it to factory specifications to finish the installation. The pulley must be held tight and not allowed to turn while rotating the wrench/ratchet clockwise at this time. You will feel the balancer pulley seat at the bottom of the crakshaft and the installation will be completed.

View Related Products, Select & Enter your MINI Year & Model for pricing & availability.:

BMP Design Harmonic Vibration Damper with FluidGel for ALL MINI Cooper models (2002-2006) and all MINI Cooper Convertibles (2005-2008) BMP Part Number 300365

Factory Mini Cooper Belt Tensioner BMP Part Number 300549 OEM Part Number 11281482199

Mini Cooper "S" Belt Tensioner BMP Part Number 300551 OEM Part Number 11287509476

MINI Cooper Tensioner Tool BMP Part Number 160149

MINI Cooper "S" Belt Tensioner Tool BMP Part Number 160148

Standard Mini Cooper Serpentine Belt BMP Part Number 300503 OEM Part Number 11287518250

Mini Cooper "S" Serpentine Belt BMP Part Number 300506

Special Drive Belt (For use with Taper Bore Pulleys) BMP Part Number 157848