MINI Cooper R50 - R53 Belt Tensioner Replacement

The MINI Cooper S uses a serpentine belt to drive the various ancillary components on the engine.
This includes the alternator, A/C compressor and the supercharger/water pump. The serpentine belt is kept in place by a small dampener and a coil spring mounted to the end of an idler pulley. This is called a belt tensioner. Over time, the serpentine belt can stretch. The tensioner setup is designed to allow a certain amount of flex to account for stretching as well as vibration.
The first step is to disconnect the battery as you will be working around the engine. It's cheap insurance against accidentally touching an electrical connector or terminal and causing damage to the vehicle's electrical system.
Move over to the passenger side of the engine and remove the fuel tank vent valve. It is located right above the tensioner (See Figure 2). Squeeze the tabs on both the top and bottom to remove the connections (See Figure 3 and Figure 4). Underneath the valve you will also see an electrical plug that must be disconnected (See Figure 5). Pull the tab on the side of the plug and pull it off. Lastly, push the tab to the side of the valve and remove it from the engine (See Figure 6).
Now, place the serpentine belt tool over the belt tensioner and pull toward you. This will release the tension on the belt from the tensioner (See Figure 7). Once the second hole protrudes from the tensioner, stick the retaining pin through it to lock the tensioner in place and remove the serpentine belt (See Figure 8).
Next, jack up the front of the car and secure it on jack stands and remove the front splash shield under the front of the car.
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