intro and how to check a trd supercharger before buying?

[xinkid]

Hello, first post here because I read this is where the trd superchargers can be found. I have a beginner question so please take it easy on me.

I've read in the for sale forums the trd superchargers aren't selling for what they used to. There were some arguments as to why, and someone pointed out, which I think quite relevantly you don't know if it needs a rebuild soon or not.

So my noob question is, what questions do I ask the seller before making a decision as to the condition of the supercharger? Are there any shops the seller can take it to get checked out given I am willing to pay for that?

A little bit about my car. I have a 93 MR2 that is getting a 3vz swap done right now. Here is a picture of the current state of the engine bay just for fun.

[Brandoe91]

Good questions to ask.
How many miles on the unit?
Last oil change?
Are there any weird noise coming from the unit?
Am I purchasing a complete unit?
I suppose you can call a shop in the seller's area and arrange for the seller to take it there for inspection.Obviously at your cost.

Reason: why they are not selling what they use to:
The population of the gen1 solara owners are younger than in the past and most can't afford the 2k+ for an sc.
Some think is not worth paying half the price of the car.

Just in case you don't know the trd supercharger was built for the 1mz-fe. It can fit on the 3vz but some modification will be need.

[xinkid]

Thanks for the answer. I have another question, how many miles typically can the supercharger go before a rebuild is needed? I know it depends a lot on the boost and amount of time spent at high shaft speeds but for a normally driven 4-5.5 psi setup?

[trd4life]

The best thing to do is to buy from a reputable seller that has clean pics of the actual kit and has inspected the kit to see if the bearings are bad, to see if the rotors are flaking,etc. . You can usualy tell from the inital add the condition of the kit based off their pictures and description.