Very insightful....thanks for the lesson,I suppose i could have Googled it....any rate the update on my clutch is I shall be picking up my machine today with new clutch installed all courtesy of Exton PA mini cooper at no cost to me.
Although I like driving the JCW I am losing confidence in its reliability as I had it in for engine failure light recently and again it was kept over night and I am moving towards a VW GTI as a possible replacement,just a thought?

 

you should make them do the valve cleaning (Walnut Shells) while it is in.

due to the direct injection design of all newer cars the valves build carbon and that is where the check engine light is coming from.

This can be done under warranty but you need to tell them it is running rough and you don't have the power you had.

It is a common problem with all direct injection engines regardless of manufacturer.

We can talk about air oil separators later, but make sure they do this!

 

Thanks for the information but they are giving it to me in approx 2 hours all bundled up ready to go.
I have a maintenance appt around Aug and maybe I could add this to the list.
On that note how do you feel about oil cans which a supposed to reduce this carbon build up?
Thanks again for the information and be talking

 

Clutch changed out by Ottos Mini cooper of Exton ,PA at no cost to me and feels like the clutch pressure plate is doing its job and also gear change seems a lot smoother.

 

Now I'm wondering If I should try and get mine replaced because of the howling sound....I've had this sound for maybe over 2 yrs now...so I can't really tell if anything is getting worse or if my clutch just likes sounding like a wolf.

 

Richie,The sound I had was infrequent but would make a noise now and again....the the best way to describe the sound is a low frequency whistle as you ease the clutch off to move off....the tech had trouble listening to the noise as it was so infrequent but when it did happen he caught it and agreed it was the clutch.
The dealer had no hassle with replacing it,gave me a loner car and today I am a happy customer.They told me they had put an updated clutch in so I can only conclude it was more "beefy"
My warranty runs out in May and it will cost a further $3400 to renew it so I am considering purchasing an A3 Audi as the base price is 27k and I can get 22k for this machine plus the 3k to purchase the warranty I am close to base price?

 

Yeah, I may have to bring mine to the dealer to have them listen to it. My warranty is up in October, so I'll see if it gets any worse this summer. I don't want to get rid of it though, the car is too much fun to drive.

The A3 is nice, but it will def be a huge difference in driving style and feel. I like the new GTI, less money and pretty fun to drive.

 

Yes I was considering the GTI as well always liked that car and agree the JCW is fun but a little worried about the problems I have had in the last year so if I do keep it I will not hesitate to renew my warranty for $3400
On the topic of the clutch,if your warranty in Oct then you have to have it looked at as from reading on this forum it t will cost the price of a renewed warranty and you do not want to fork out that much when it appears Mini should be responsible as the clutches were not built to operate with a JCW.........GOOD LUCK give them a call and get rid of the howling wolf!!

 

My '12 jcw clubman is just under 9k and I am getting my clutch replaced under warranty for excessive slipping.

 

9k miles that is unreal......must admit I have not been impressed with feedback rgds JCW clutches.
Since I have had mine replaced I am still getting used to it but feel that when it grabs on take off it does not seem as positive as the original and today I even took it on a slope and moved off a number of times just to get the feel for it.
My other beef is the hard low tires pick up every hole in the road and Philadelphia suburb roads have so many holes and cracks in them I am wondering why the public is still paying road taxes when the state of the roads are so deplorable?

 

Just purchased 09 JCW with 90k miles
The clutch chatters on take off.
Being 50 and know what I am doing and being a ex-machinist, I know a warpped flywheel when I feel one.
What exactly are the complaints or "failures" one speaks off?
I also have the "click" in pedal.
My car has a warranty til 100k miles so I feel good.., so far..., I hope

 

if you have a warranty stop, don't pass go, and advance to your nearest service center.

The problem you are experiencing is a worn out throw out bearing (plastic) make them replace that under warranty since they won't cover the clutch. Failing that pour a little oil in the bell housing and complain about an oil leak on that side of the engine (what ever it takes to force the warranty company to remove the transmission) and while they are in there purchase all the clutch parts and have them put your parts back in instead of the old ones.

While the transmission is out have them replace all the seals like rear main on the engine, etc. if there is a seal anywhere near where they have opened up replace it.

Your fly wheel is not the problem.

Also you should complain about the engine running rough (walnut treatment) and the knocking when it is cold, (which is a timing chain replacement) at your mileage.

Do it now while you have the warranty......... don't wait.....

You may be very good mechanically but there are certain things i won't touch especially if someone will do that for you at someone else's expense.

Look your warranty over carefully to see what component inside there is covered to justify the removal of the transmission.

 

Wow, really... And that is not fraud?

 

No, it's Chess!

 

Hey Guys,

I would really appreciate some advice here. Running into a bit of a road block with my car :(

My car has only clocked 50,000km when I was advised of the clutch slipping. Armed with the Valeo technical bulletin, I took my car in today to get it diagnosed. I was initially told by the dealer that my clutch problem is as a result of the slave cylinder leaking and therefore affecting the clutch. However, when I went to pick up my car, they told me that the extended warranty people have denied the claim but have agreed to replace the cylinder free of charge.

I have no idea of what a 'wear and tear' clutch / flywheel should look hence I've taken some photos. I would really appreciate if you guys could offer me your opinion as this is really doing my head in :(

 

What is this veleo tech bulletin you mentioned?

Looks like some hot spots on the flywheel but clutch plate looks ok from the pics

 

Should I still get the clutch replaced? Does that mean the fault is mechanical? Or normal wear?

Thanks,
Joe

 

31k miles (50000km) shouldn't be bc of wear. Seems too short but there are so many variables its hard to tell. I only have 13k miles and hear significant flywheel chatter upon pedal release so who knows.

If its all apart already just replace it all.

 

if it is apart replace it all!

 

Agreed just replace it all a long with oil seals etc......so you do not have to climb in to that area again until the next failure?

 

Just got my jcw back from the dealer and they replaced the clutch. It only has 2500 miles on it. They said it was really warn out as if the clutch wasn't completely releasing??? The reason I took it in was because I was smelling a burned smell inside the cabin, but not like clutch at all. So I took it in for check up and that's where they found it was the clutch. Never launch the car or did burn out, actually since I got it never have press the sport button only when I test drove it for the first time. So I'm confuse on why this is happening.

So after driving it, it's going back to the dealer. Hearing and feeling a weir vibration when I'm in reversed. This sucks.


What I don't understand is on my hatch, it was stock with 48k miles and did alot of tracking and traveling and never had any issues with the clutch or any major components. And this jcw coupe should have a better clutch then my cooper s jcw.

 

Hey Meckonica,
FYI
It was the flywheel; warped w/ tons on tiny heat cracks.
Never experienced or heard of a t/o bearing causing a shudder

 

Just took my Clubman in at 40K for the clutch slipping. It was mostly noticeable in 5th or 6th gear when I'd punch it to pass someone and the revs would go up but the car would barely speed up. Didn't notice it that much off the line.
They ended up replacing the flywheel and clutch set. No questions asked, covered by warranty. Don't know if having extended maintenance affects how they treated me.
Feels totally different now. Enough so that I double checked the part number to make sure they hadn't given me the set for a non-JCW mini, but it checked out. Have they changed the design of the pressure plate? Or had it just degraded so slowly that I hadn't noticed it?

-Steve

 

I was told by my dealer they had replaced my clutch with a new revised model but these days am lacking a bit of confidence in my machine and wonder if the timing chain is the next problem as that is also a weak point on the car along with the design of the scoop and transmission plus clutch?

 

When i replaced mine at 127000 it was so bad that i could pop the clutch at idle in first gear and the car would just begin rolling.

The dealership guys bet me that i would stall it at least once because of the different feel........ and they were right.

The new clutch is a totally different feel than what we become accustomed to over time.

Enjoy..... and get the carbon treatment done!