___I have allot of clutch rattle / chatter when the clutch is DISENGAGED. When I press in clutch it goes quiet.... R53 2003 model....

not sure if I have after-market clutch or not.

____Ive got 122k on this mini... WHATS THE BEST OIL ? I was thinking maybe a thicker OIL due to the miles...?

 

If this only happens in neutral with the clutch out, you most likely have an aftermarket lightweight one piece flywheel. What you are describing is very typical of lightweight flywheel chatter. It gets worse as the car is warm and gets worse with the AC on. It all but goes away as the RPM's go up. You can go to a different, thicker oil. Drawbacks are that you get harder shifting when cold. UUC (great write up on their site, uucmotorwerks.com, of what gear rattle is and how to take it) recommends a mixture of Redline 75W-140 gear oil and Refline D4 Synthetic ATF for BMW transmissions with that issue. I suggest going to their website and see if this is for you. I personally put a heavier Amsoil MTF and a sprung hub clutch in my car and the rattle is now tolerable. This car I am leaving the stock dual mass flywheel so I don't have to deal with it as a daily driver.

 

Your release bearing is going, common on these cars from what I can tell. Mine was gone and made some nasty noises that went away when pedel was depressed.
Are you asking about engins oil? I would still use the factory spec oil unless your burning it, leaking?

 

+1 on that you probably have an aftermarket flywheel and clutch. If so, not much you can do to eliminate the rattle other than replace the flywheel/clutch. As Wertles points out you may be able to reduce the rattle.

 

I agree. That description sounds very common for an upgraded clutch/flywheel. Question is, has it always done this since you purchased your R53? Are there any other symptoms besides the noise? Does it make this noise when it's hot and cold out? Not sure if you're wanting transmission or motor oil, but for transmission Red Line is a popular option for MINI's. According to their application guide here, Red Line MTL 75W80 GL-4 HERE.

 

Thanks for the reply.
I have owned my r53 for about 3 months and it has done it since purchased... pretty noticable but as soon as I engage the clutch it goes silent...
I was talking about motor oil. I am running REDLINE in my getrag now

 

Anyway you can contact the previous owner and ask what clutch they put in there? Oil options here or you can keep the trend with Red Line here.

 

You likely have the dual mass flywheel and possibly the original clutch that came with the car from the factory.

The dual mass flywheel is EXPENSIVE and, as it wears, it makes a lot of noise. Especially if you replace the clutch without changing the flywheel.

There are some advantages with the dual mass flywheel, but the chatter it makes when it gets old is not one of them. This is also a common issue with BMWs with manual transmissions.

When I replaced my clutch the first time, it got really bad and the noise masked a problem with the replacement clutch. After a year, I replaced the clutch and flywheel with a single mass flywheel set up. Much simpler and no clutch chatter. But the clutch does not grab quite as hard as the original stock one.


I use Castrol Syntec 5/30.

 

I dont kno sounds like throwout bearing to me...

 

I'll say it for the second time, release bearing.

 

yea much more likely than an aftermarket flywheel, pretty common issue with these cars.

 

If it is the release bearing.. what are my options...

also I have the ALTA pulley mods and I am getting allot of rattle when the AC is on.... pretty distinked sound .. I just went out and ordered a Timing chain tensioner but it doesnt happen when AC OFF.. Is it possible that when the AC is on the tensioner may not be working properly or extending out enough?

 

new clutch. I've got one in my trunk going in soon. Luk oem supplier $100 to my door from rockauto.

 

It's the throwout bearing....mine does the same thing

Unless it's super bad sounding, I'd just leave it.....wait until you actually need a new clutch, and then replace everything at once.