I bought my MCS '05 secondhand and the previous owner didn't gave much maintenance to the car so i had to. i spent some money on my MINI but now the clutch is making an annoying noise and i'm looking for a clutch. first i thought on getting the SPEC stage 1 but since i'm not a street racer or anything i decided to do some research and i came to the conclusion that valeo, luk or sachs could do the same. i'm looking for a OEM feel. need recommendations!!!!

 

I've been looking into getting a new clutch soon for my 05 S and I've came to the conclusion that it seems the OEM clutch is very capable. If you don't have any modifications, stick with OEM, since you wanted that "OEM feel." Even with simple mods, ~220hp the OEM clutch can carry it. However I have talked to a few people and they stated that 250hp is where the OEMs start to burn out.

 

SPEC clutches are not known for quality/durability and their customer service seems to be lacking as well- this based on other car forums I have been a part of and other peoples' experiences. I still have a SPEC gift certificate I won and have not used for this reason.

Pricey, but I think I am going to go with OS Giken when my clutch finally dies:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/os-giken-clutch-kit.html

Replaces everything (including the flywheel) and the components seem to be top quality and made to last- I think this is the only Mini clutch kit out there that comes with a metal throwout bearing?

 

Look into valeo's new solid flywheel clutch setup. It may holdup better than oem? I tried the lightweight setup' did'nt like them went back to stock.
Jeff

 

My original clutch lasted 153,000 miles.
Replaced it with a Clutchmasters FX200. Lasted 15,000 miles.
Went back to OEM.

Jim

 

I had good experiences w/ both Spec and Clutchmaster clutches in the past. OEM feel and held up 400+hp just fine

 

Personally, when i get my new clutch (in the next year or so, i learned stick on this car), i am gonna go for a clutchmasters fx200 with the lighter flywheel. @jimz68- did you follow the break in procedure? I've heard of this happening to people when they don't follow the procedure for the break in period. Its supposedly, very important for making the clutch last long enough...

 

Yes. It was a problem with the pressure plate. Must have been one built on a Monday or a Friday.
I realize it was a freak thing. Not going to bad mouth the product as there are plenty of them out there working fine. Just didn't work for me.

Jim

 

IMO Valeo all the way. The cheapest option out there hands down, too. wamotorworks.com carries them, and i believe has a few in stock.

 

I have used OS Giken and ClutchMaster (stage 1) and they are not like an OEM clutch!!

 

what's the difference between solid flywheel and stock. many clutch kits replaces the flywheel. it's a good practice to change the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder when replacing the clutch?

 

Dude this this cost $1689.00... do you know how many things i can get for my MINI with that kind of money.

 

I've had spec, clutchmasters and now I am running ACT flywheel and clutch setup. IT is the closest feel to stock and it just plain works.

here is a link from where I purchased mine. You will need to use their solid flywheel, which these guys also offer.

http://performance.importrp.com/act/...s/i-46403.aspx

It is quiet unlike all the other ones I ran. If it is holding my power, it will work well for anything you can thow at it.

 

If you want oem feel, get the oem...
The oem flywheel is a dualmass one, kinda $$, but it reduces noise, vibration and harshness at idle. Going to a traditional flywheel will change the feel of the car....
Same for a lightweight flywheel...will make it harder to launch smoothly, or drive in traffic and on hills....
For the clutch, oem for oem feel...the valeo one might save you a few $$ for basicly the same item...LUK also makes one that, and a dualmass flywheel that may also be oem ones.... Not sure, but might worth looking into.

 

Have you seen how much it is for a new OEM dual mass flywheel and clutch? So actually that price is not horrible. I have used their clutches in a couple of modified cars and have had nothing but good experiences.

I had a clutchmasters FX100 in my SVT Focus, same transmission as our cars. It started slipping at less than 10k miles and was worthless by 15k. Total piece of junk. I will not be buying from them again.

 

If you DIY it...it would be cheaper than paying somebody to install an OEM!!
Pricey....but you do get ONE major thing that improves reliability that NO OTHER CLUTCH HAS!!
A re-desgined Throw-Out bearing...metal one at that!!
My mini guy says many of the clutches he replaces are due to the plastic OEM/OEM equivalent bearing getting galled/melted.....
This would not be an issue with this clutch!
It is a bit noisy at idle...like any single mass clutch....but it is a max performance racing clutch......

 

I'm really intrigued by the Valeo kit that WMW and Detroit Tuned sell (http://www.waymotorworks.com/valeo-c...l-kit-r53.html and http://www.detroittuned.com/shop/?productID=492).

Does anyone have experience with this kit? I know this is a solid (single mass) flywheel, but does having a sprung hub clutch make up for that? Any additional noise at idle? Is the feel similar to OEM?

 

We haven't sold many of the valeo kits, but the few we did sell the customers reported back they were happy with the feel and it worked well.

 

Does anyone have a link for the best OEM resellers? I've got an 06 Cooper that's slipping pretty badly and I'd like to bring in the clutch (and probably the flywheel) to wherever I get it installed.

Thanks in advance,

Kevin

 

We carry all the OEM parts, just give us a call I don't have every part on the site. But I do have clutches in stock.

WAY
317.201.8670