I'm new to MC's and I have never had a clutch go out like this. Everything was fine with it. The clutch has never slipped before. I've burned out clutches before from harsh use, but never like this. This was going about 15mph with very little acceleration. Tried to put it into second and it wouldn't come out. The pedal is sticking and it shakes. The car also shakes and inches forward with the clutch fully pressed down. It begins ingaging the moment you begin letting up on the clutch and is even partially engaged when the clutch is fully down. I have never had a slave cylinder go out on me, so I'm not too sure if that is what it is. I do know that normal clutch wear and tear will cause a clutch to gradually fail, but it should not happen suddenly.
Its a 2003 MC with about 87,000 mi. I recently upgraded the air filter to a Green filter and replaced the plugs and wires for a little power and better mileage. I don't see how adding at most 10 hp to a NA Mini could cause a clutch to fail, but I'm no expert. Anyone have opinions on this? I would like some Mini owner opinions before someone tells me I need to replace the entire clutch/flywheel assembly.

 

I bought my mcs(2003)thursday(19th). This slave cylinder scares me since I live 200 miles from a dealer. How could I get one as a backup. I have a local guy who could probably fix it if he had the part.

 

Sticky clutch pedal sounds like it could be the slave cylinder to me. That or the throwout bearing on the clutch.

 

Incase anyone cares...(It's been a month since anyone has posted on this thread)

It was the throwout bearing...it was actually melted and into a solid piece of PLASTIC! I wonder why if failed in a high heat area... Oh well, from what I've been hearing...88000 on a factory clutch isn't bad for a MINI.

 

Guess they've had a lot of practice.

 

Let's see...it was about 5500 miles for me (2005 MCS)...on my way home after dinner with my wife...light turns green, 1st gear, a little gas, shift into second...wait...can't shift...clutch pedal stuck to floor...roll down the hill to wait for the tow truck for two hours...

Yep, I've been there

I had the clutch slave cylinder replaced (a VERY common problem on 2005s), and the clutch has never felt quite as firm since (now 17K miles). Just today, I took the car in because the clutch pedal was feeling all "crunchy". They lubed up the pedal, bled the lines, and couldn't fix it

So I'll be going back to the dealer in a few days for a new master cylinder. If that doesn't work, who knows...a new clutch?

Hope you have smooth sailing from here