MINI specialist GT Tuning has been offering a range of supercharger rebuilds for over six years, and in that time the firm has rebuilt well over 500 Eaton M45 superchargers for the first-generation Cooper S.
Not only does the company offer rebuilds for all areas of the supercharger, GTT can also upgrade and improve while giving your tired blower a new lease of life.
And unless you’ve recently rebuilt it, your supercharger will almost certainly require some attention. GTT’s Roland Gardiner explains why: “Most MINI owners should be aware by now the importance of a fully serviced or rebuilt supercharger is due to the fact it also drives the engine’s water pump; if it fails it will cause catastrophic engine damage and huge cost.”
It’s not a mileage-related issue, either. Rather a concern with the inferior original rubber seals, which perish and degrade over time, causing the supercharger to run dry, and resulting in all manner of potential problems with the supercharger itself and the engine in general.
Second-hand replacements (especially of unknown condition) don’t address the problem, as you could be fitting another unit just as bad, or even worse, than the part you’ve already got. Even fully reconditioned units can still suffer the same fate with leaky seals after a while.
Roland continues: “We’ve seen an increasing number of owners ignore
