Whenever I depress my clutch pedal with the motor running I hear a nasty metallic grinding sound. I've searched the board for a couple hours and haven't really found anything useful. Does anyone have any thoughts as to what the issue may be?

Thanks!

 

When you say engaged, does the noise only occur when it's fully engaged or when you are gradually releasing the clutch to engage? If when fully engaged, does it make the same sound idling in neutral or only when moving?

GotMINI

 

Sounds like a shot throwout bearing.

Jeremy

 

Indeed it is the throwout bearing, pressure plate, or some combination of the two.

Just asking, but do you put the car into neutral with your foot off of the clutch when you are at a stoplight? If you keep the pedal in all the time that will severly limit the bearing's life.

 

It makes the same sound from the moment I begin to depress the clutch all the way to the floorboard. If I'm idling in neutral with the clutch out then everything is fine.

 

Generally, I keep the car out of gear at stoplights and only use the clutch when shifting.

 

So the problem only occurs when you're depressing the clutch? I'm not sure about this, but is it possible you have a defective master/slave cylinder? Given the description of the sound, though, I'm more apt to agree with the other posters saying it's a defective throw-out bearing and/or pressure plate.

GotMINI

 

If the pedal feels very soft with limited travel and won't come back off the floor then it is the slave cylinder. The brake warning light will also come on. It will be very difficult to shift into reverse and the lower gears without grinding and it will be very hard to downshift. I know, I've been through two of them already. Poor design of a hydraulic clutch in my opinion.

 

Where is the slave cylinder located? I can't find any diagrams.

 

Item number 14:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...78&hg=21&fg=10

If you look under your MINI on the driver side, you should see something that resembles item 14... I can't recall if you have to remove the so-called skid plate to see it, but you'll notice it as that piece actuates a lever that comes out of the transmission.

GotMINI

 

Do this , just touch the clutch pedal with your foot . Do not depress . If it makes the noise instantly , it is the thowout bearing .

 

Well from all the input I've received from you guys I'm going to replace the clutch disk, pressure plate, and T/O bearing. Thanks to everyone for all your input!!!