Serpentine Belt Replacement

What is a serpentine belt? MINI vehicles are equipped with a serpentine belt, also known as a drive belt. By “snaking” around the various pulleys, both sides of a serpentine belt can grip and be used to drive components such as the alternator, power brakes, power steering pump, water pump, and air conditioning compressor.

How long do serpentine belts last? Generally, serpentine belts last around 5 years or up to 100,000 kilometers before replacement becomes necessary. Belt wear is difficult to see by just looking at the belt. Our MINI Certified Technicians can measure the depth of the grooves in the underside of the belt to determine whether the belt should be replaced.

How is this corrected? Serpentine belts that show chunking or cracks need to be replaced immediately, as they will soon fail. Serpentine belt failure typically means loss of engine cooling, loss of battery charging, loss of power steering assist, and loss of air conditioning. In short, a belt failure means a severe vehicle breakdown.

Is it time to schedule a Serpentine Belt Replacement? If your MINI has been on the road for 5 years or 100,000 kilometers, it’s time for a Serpentine Belt Re-placement. Having this service performed by a MINI Certified Technician will ensure long engine life and safe, peace-of-mind driving for years to come.