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The original clutch made noise when the pedal was depressed. This only happened a few times and it was just in first gear. When I mentioned this to the dealer during the scheduled service they said they would install a new clutch ass'y including the flywheel under warranty per a service bulletin from BMW
They had the mini one day. Dropped it there @ 0900 and it was finished @ 1600 hrs. 7 hours for a complete clutch install !! Was that possible ?? Anyhow, now the clutch engages at the top of the stroke. It used to begin engaging much lower. Just off the floor to be exact. It was much easier to drive when it was lower. The pedal is now way off the floor and much more difficult to drive on an incline. Maybe we are just used to the clutch engaging close to the floor since we have been driving manual Toyotas for 30 years and that's where they grad.
They are going to drive the vehicle next week and try to adjust the clutch travel.
Now I am wondering if I should have even let them do the clutch repair.
It was better before they worked on it.
It's an 08 Convertible S.
Almost @ 18 months on a 36 month lease. Like the mini but we'll turn it in at the end of the lease. It's loaded with options and the buy out is about 17k.
Neither one of us drives it hard. It's been good except now we don't like the clutch release.
One good thing about them giving you a new clutch...you don't have to worry about buying a new one. Also if there is a SB, I think they believe that it would be failing soon....so by getting it fixed now, you will not get stuck. Remember, that a clutch gets broken in, so drive it a bit....and it should get a bit closer to being "normal".
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The engagement point on these clutches is said to be unchangeable and that the mechanisms somehow adapt over the life of the clutch to keep the same engagement point.
However, I have heard multiple times that people experience different engagement points with various clutch kits. The OEM kits are pretty consistent at midway engagement. Most aftermarket are right at the floor. I recall a few that engage at the top of the stroke, but forget if they self corrected. Break it in carefully and report back.
My 2nd OEM clutch, 3rd clutch total, felt odd for about a thousand miles. After that, it felt better. But the engagement only moved in about a quarter of the stroke if that.
The previous clutch (SPEC 2+) engaged close to the floor during and after break-in. It melted to the pressure plate about 8,000 miles later despite a gentle life.
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9/29/2002 EB/W MCS Broken - temporarily retired
Original owner since 2002.
Ok. we'll give it a chance. The dealer did tell us that they will pick up the vehicle on monday morning to see if there is an adjustment for the free travel on the clutch stroke.
If not we'll just have to drive it as is and hope it will change or we'll get used to it.
I still can't believe they could have changed the entire clutch assembly with the flywheel in 7 hours. they had to take at least 1 hour for lunch. can the clutch be changed in 6 hours ??? I have a difficult time changing a RWD clutch in 6 hours. I'm just wondering what they really did and if they were bilking BMW for warranty work. The hourly rate was 105/hr.
Not complaining about the time it took to change the clutch and flywheel. I'm just wondering how they did that in 7 hours. I thought it took much longer to do a clutch job on a Mini even with the proper tools and a lift.
7 hours is very reasonable, i would expect the fumbling mini mechanics to take longer but 7 hours is no problem. anyone should be able to easily change a clutch in these cars in 5.
The original clutch made noise when the pedal was depressed. This only happened a few times and it was just in first gear. When I mentioned this to the dealer during the scheduled service they said they would install a new clutch ass'y including the flywheel under warranty per a service bulletin from BMW
WOW--good for you and good for MINI thunderhead! Do you know how many posts are on this site from people who had trouble with their clutch and the dealers refused to replace them under warranty?
A Technical Service Bulletin from BMW?? Haven't heard of that before. Do you know the number of the TSB?
Happy Motoring with your brand spankin' new clutch!
Do not have the # of the TSB. They showed it to me. Stated that the clutch (complete ass'y w/dual mass flywheel) should be replaced upon the customer complaint about noise. My wife heard the "Chewabaka" sound. I never heard it and I drove the vehicle at least as much as she did. The clutch was perfect before replacement. Now it engages close to the top.
Today they drove (dealership tech & service manager) it and all involved said it was perfect. I'm happy but I think my wife is not satisfied. She'll probably not appreciate that vehicle for the remainder of the least. Yesterday it was sunny and warm and she drove her 5speed 4runner. She had been driving 5speed Toyotas for 30 years.
Not sure why Mini did not include a threaded rod to adjust the clutch engagement. All the hyd clutches I have worked on have this feature.
Oh well. Time will heal & eventually she'll get over it and drive the mini more.
I plan to drive it all winter. It snows a lot here in NE Ohio. Anybody out there drive their Minis in the snow ? Any tips to get around ?
Just had a similar experience. Noticed some fluid if the car sat for awhile. When I moved the car after sitting, my first shift produced a subtle whine. Nothing major, but I was concerned the leak was a main seal. Anyway. Turns out the thermo housing was leaking as well as the crank sensor. Then they replaced the cluth, flywheel, and some alignment tubes or something. I just picked the car up about 30 minutes ago, and the clutch is waaaay easier to push down and it engages higher. But it's also a lot smoother. I figure I'll baby it for the next 500-i k and see what happens. I was curious if the coat the clutch with something to aid with breaking in, like some brake pads. Anyway, a new clutch for free isn't a bad deal in my book.
