Hey all!
I am hoping I may get some pointers.
So my issue is a pretty bad one. I was driving and all the sudden it felt like my clutch started to slip because I would change gears and the RPM's would shoot up to 5-6k before dropping back down to normal levels and then accelerate.
Then a bit later on in the day, the clutch would not engage at all. I am able to change gears without even pressing down on the clutch and the car isn't moving, as if the clutch pressure plate is stuck or something.
As of now the MINI wont drive at all. It starts and sounds fine. But it wont go into any gear, not even reverse.
Its a 2012 Countryman base model.


Any ideas what I should look at or should expect when I get it over to the mechanic?

 

How many miles do you have on the clutch?

I'm new to Mini, but not new to manual transmission cars. You have a few things you can check. Here is what I'd check if it was me in your shoes.

*Check your master cylinder on the clutch and make sure you have fluid and its at the right level.
*If the level is good, in list the help of a friend and check the slave cylinder on the transmission to make sure it moves freely when you press the clutch.

If the slave moves ok, you might be in deeper trouble. Generally if a clutch starts to fail, its progressive, getting worse and worse over time until it just don't hold torque. Doesn't normally happen in a day. Since this hit all the sudden, the first things I'd look for a fluid leak at the cylinder. With most newer transmissions, you can force them into gear, meaning if rev the engine and push on the stick, as the revs drop it will slide into gear.

 

Thanks for your reply.


I have 115,000 miles on it now. About 90% of those miles are all highway miles if that makes any difference at all. I drive a long distance for work daily.
Honestly, I was looking all over for the master cylinder container and I cant find it. I need to look at the service manual to see where MINI hides it.

What you said makes perfect sense and that's what got me baffled. It just started acting up a couple days ago for the first time. Then today it failed completely. In my experience clutches don't work that way, it is gradual and fails over some time. Not 2 or 3 days.

At first I thought my clutch is a goner due to my high mileage and the slipping in the past couple days, but then after thinking about it some it seems like a stuck pressure plate. But with MINI's who knows.... That's why I posted on this forum specifically

 

I was bored with nothing else to do, so I went to look for the clutch fluid container, and.. I couldn't find it, however I did notice and odd line running out of the break fluid reservoir. After a few minutes online and yup, its a shared reservoir, crazy germans..



found this http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm its not for the R60, however you can assume that if they use it on the other cars they'd use the same equipment on ours

 

WOW! Thank you! I would have never imagined it would be like that. It is so weird.
Just as a precaution, do we need to use any special type of fluid? Or will any DOT3 fluid be ok?

 

Being that Mini seems to be anti-user servicing I'd say check the manual but I think you'll come up empty. ECS lists DOT 4, but check the cap of the reservoir.

 

Dot 4 81220146735

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/81220146735/

 

I'm afraid it's not your fluid that's at issue, here. It sounds more like you need to replace your clutch. Unfortunately, that's bigger buxx than buying a bottle of fluid. Find a reputable MINI shop that has experience with clutches and get a quote. for comparison, we're a little over $1300 for a CM clutch.

 

Yup I figured it was the clutch. I am not the kind of person to pay $1000+ in mechanical labor costs. I have never had a problem unbolting and unhooking things then putting them back together and getting my hands dirty during the process. Although I am sure its not a simple job and would be worth every penny if done in a shop based on average shop prices. I understand MINI is not very mechanic friendly, but its just an engine with a transmission/clutch. And the clutch works just like any other, its a disk with a pressure plate which needs to be properly aligned and tightened.
Getting to it is the hassle.

I have built many engines in my time and have a few qualified mechanics who are good friends and are willing to help me with this. Also YouTube is a great help these days.
I will end up ordering the clutch kit online and this is something I will be doing on my own after some more extensive research. Just the symptoms were weird as it failed so quickly after it started acting up, and I just needed to convince myself it was the clutch before I went any further.

 

I suppose there is no chance with my high mileage that MINI will honor their known crappy clutch? I have read a lot that they have changed the clutch even after warranty was up on the 2012 Countryman model. I know for a fact that I know how to drive with a clutch without tearing it up and have been doing so ever since I got the Countryman brand new.


And it irks me how the symptoms just started a few days ago and it failed this bad so quickly after the first slipping symptoms.

 

Just remembered some early CM had clutch issues. But is was for the All4

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...his-month.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-s-2012-a.html



We have the clutch and guide tube here:

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2012-...etrain/Clutch/

 

It may not hurt to try and see what they say in regards to the clutch and warranty. We do have some clutch kits here if needed and if you think you can tackle the job yourself, you can see how much it would save you. It's great that you have friends that will be able to help you out. If you need anything, be sure to let me know and good luck with your project! It'll be satisfying once you get the job done.

 

Thanks, but the link you provided is not working.

 

Sorry about that! Try this - http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item0

 

I appreciate you posting the part. Howver I wanted to get it VIA Amazon to put it on my Amazon credit card. And the only one I could find is this one:


Is this the correct part?

 

I did a bit of research and looks like that sachs clutch kit does fit the 2012 Countryman.
This is based off of the caris website:
http://www.carid.com/sachs/clutch-ki...20813-sac.html


Unless someone tells me otherwise I will place this order within an hour or so using Amazon prime.

 

Well I ordered the clutch kit from Amazon. I also got a rear main seal and oil pan gasket just incase. I suppose if its the wrong part in the end I can just return it and wait a while longer.

Also figured I should do the brakes while I'm all in it. Ended up getting the front and rear Wagner ThermoQuiet Semi-Metallic disks.

I like to work on my own cars. And my MINI is no exception.
I have a 1978 Jeep CJ7 which I built from the frame up to welding in new body and floor panels. I also have a 2004 Ford F-250 which is my work horse. I just finished replacing the exhaust manifolds on it to new Gibson SS headers.


So yea, I am kind of verse with this type of work although this is not even close to what I do as a living. I really appreciate the advice you all have given me on this forum. The MINI Countryman is a tricky one and I surely can use all the help and tips I can get with fixing her up. I love this car and wont ever just give up on her. I got this car to eventually give to my kids when they reach driving age. So I will make it last one way or another, even if I need to eventually do an engine swap, I will.

 

Hope it works for you, but I must say it is a bit tacky to accept help of vendors and then show them up by ordering from Amazon, you could have just done that without mentioning it. Pet peeve!

 

Really?
I was under the impression this forum was not just for venders to sell products to people who need parts but for people who really own MINI's that have questions about their cars.
And possibly save some money in the process by getting the best kind of parts for the lowest price, no matter the vendor.
I had a question and I got some helpful advice which I appreciate, whether they were vendors or not did not matter to me. They answered and I did not check to see if they were vendors, and even if I did it would not have changed a thing for me. For me, they are nice people on a forum giving helpful advice, not stores looking to make a buck off me.


However I don't appreciate solicitation and I really don't like feeling like I owe anybody anything for advice that was given freely.
If you see me asking if parts I want to order from Amazon as showing somebody up, you have to look more closely.
I simply asked if the parts that I wanted to order will work for me, now I see its pointless unless I order parts from [apparently] vendors that "help" on these forums.
I consider it a bit tacky to allow such solicitation on forums which are supposed to help freely. I will order parts from whom I want and I owe nobody anything for giving advice freely on a forum.
I want to thank everyone for their very helpful advice.


I just spent almost $500 on parts (from various vendors that had the best price and fastest shipping) and have one hell of a job coming up.

Minnie.The.Moocher, you are not one bit helpful with your post and it is uncalled for to even suggest I am a tacky person.
I will be staying away, its honestly people like you that make internet forums a sad place.


Just a tip for the vendors who were indeed looking to make a buck off my hardship. Make an Amazon store, its easy to do and ALOT OF PEOPLE use it.

 

Alex,
Your expectation of this forum was spot on. We are here to provide each other with helpful advice and comments that will assist us to maintain and appreciated the Mini Cooper. From this forum I have gained many tips and information of my Mini that has its been one of the most maintained car that I have own and pleasure to drive.
As for the vendors posting, they have provided immeasurable service with their advice on this forum and information on their website. I really don't think they expect a "Quid Pro Quo" (something for something) relationship in this forum but would really appreciate the business. They may or may not have "best prices" found in the internet but do make it up with there customer service and personal relationship.

 

FIRST, I think 115K miles on a factory clutch ain't bad! Crappy clutch? OK, that's one opinion!
~~~~~~~~
I agree that the vendors who post here cannot expect quid pro quo, but they know that too. I don't think most posters (and vendors) here find fault with what you've done Alex. If you decide to stay away, then that's your decision but it's also your loss.

You can expect some flack in most forums because opinions vary. Some folks aren't bashful about expressing opinions, even those that might offend. After all they are protected by the anonymity of the internet and won't get punched in the nose!

I work in computers and have since before there was a "PC", and I have learned that casual questions about "how to" will usually NOT lead to work for me. (Unless it's "free" work which is often expected by friends and family.) Depending on who it is and where I am, I provide as much or as little help as I think is fair. If I post help on a forum I never expect direct business from it, but rather reputation points that might lead to a client at sometime. What I am saying is the vendors are grown ups who know what they are doing.

It's impossible to know the circumstances of everyone who posts, what talents they have and what they can afford. I think Minnie has a point about supporting vendors who support the forum, but maybe forgot that the vendors answered your question of their own free will - not because you posed it as "OK, any vendors out there, can you ...." You had no choice in their decision to post help.

Motor On.