Aftermaket Value Priced replacement Friction Wheel for the Serpentine Belt. Quality products at a lower price!

A single srepentine belt was used in all models of the MINI Cooper S including the R56 R57 R58 R59 & R60. This single belt drives the accessories pulley at the right side of the motor. The alternator and the AC compressor are driven by one belt, tensioned by an automatic tensioner. The water pump is driven by a friction wheel.

Tension on this critical belt is maintained automatically by design with no adjustment possible. Life expectancy of the belt and tensioner is determined over time with extremes of temperature and simply task of keeping up with the high performance motor.
Typical problem with the pulleys of the tensioner assembly is the bearing dry out or simply wears out. As this happens the resulting noise can drive you crazy. WHen left too long the pulley will lose it stability and actually throw the belt. 

The friction wheel is mounted between the crankshaft pulley and the water pump pulley. It is spring loaded to apply tension between the two pulleys in order to drive the water pump. The friction wheel can fail a few different ways. The pulley or the pulley bearing can become noisy, causing a high pitched squeal or scraping sound when the engine is running. The friction wheel internal tension spring can also fail, causing reduced pressure on the water pump pulley. This can cause slipping and engine overheating.

Note: To check for a weak internal tension spring, pull the friction wheel away from the crankshaft pulley . If you can move it and create even the smallest gap it is faulty.

For the following models:

2007-2013 R56 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Hardtop
2008-2014 R55 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Clubman
2009-2015 R57 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Convertible
2012-2015 R58 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Coupe
2012-2015 R59 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Roadster
2011-2016 R60 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Countryman
2013-2016 R61 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Paceman