I've done a coupla searches on this site about this, so it could be that I have a somewhat known clutch issue on my recently purchased #0826 GP...low miles @ 6250m. For me it only happens when it's cold...Socal style winter...40-50 degree nights that is, not real world style cold.
It's not a low moan or high pitched squeal, but more of a mid range sound. Only happens when I'm taking off in 1st gear and goes away after a half hour or so of normal driving. I'm lucky enough to have just shy of a year left on the factory warranty so I will def take her in for a look-see, but it's always better to have real world feedback from Nammers. If you have any comments on this condition, then fire away.

THX

 

Does it sorta sound like Chubaka moaning ?

 

More like Mrs Chewbacca...higher pitched than Chewy. It's just as I let the clutch out in 1st gear from a standstill.

 

Your dual-mass flywheel is jammed, causing a clutch to vibrate when it is engaged. Unless the sound is bothering you to the tune of $1500, don't bother fixing it. Some people would pay good money to have Mrs. Chewbacca riding shotgun.

 

Well this GP still has another 11 months on warranty (& only 6500 miles on the car) so I would think this is covered. In this case I'm looking into having it fixed, it doesn't bother me but it would if it got worse. Thanks for the comment.

 

Yes take it in, I had mine fixed w/o me telling them to.

 

I've had the same problem on both of my GP's and on my MCS. I had the clutch replaced on my MCS under the warranty, but the squeal was back within 20,000 miles. I've learned to live with it and considering the dealers propensity for breaking other things when they work on my car. I've opted not to have them replace the clutches on the GP's

 

Yikes what did they break?

With that in mind can anyone reco a decent dealer in the SFV of Socal? I was thinking of taking it into Mini of Universal City, since they are a smaller operation and nice low pressure folks, but to be honest I know nothing of their service rep.

Thing is this is a virtually new GP with only 6500 on it...and will remain a garage queen for the most part, not a daily driver...so I still think it's worth having Mini deal with it.

 

If it's under warranty, get it fixed. Why wait for more problems later that will cost you money.

 

I'm just waiting for my work schedule to open up to get it into the shop. It's been colder and wetter than normal in Socal this year and the squeal/moan is getting even worse ie. it doesn't go away after warm up...and this isn't my daily driver. I don't know how you folks that have it, live with it....I think it's really annoying and I do feel it affects the feel of the clutch performance. Mebbe mine is something worse. Week after next it's going in.

 

So today I visited Mini of universal City here in socal to have the "Chewy" clutch/flywheel issue looked at...you all know that we have to pass inspection before service, don't you? After almost 3 hours and on a Sunny warm day here, my GP would not squeal a bit...of course!!! It did it all the way there but as I drove with the Tech, it was a perfect case of "could not replicate". He was cool enough to agree with me that it could indeed be different if left overnight so they could check it as a "cold start" condition. It will be another month before my work schedule opens up again for me to drop it off...not too mention having to book ahead for a loaner. At least I seemed to make his day bringing in a rare bird, and it was great to drive around the rest of the day without the dang squeal.

 

Chewy made an appearance at about 28,000 miles and departed around 50,000 miles. Clutch still holding well at 200+ whp after 75,000 miles. Don't bother replacing your clutch if you can't find someone to do it for free. The noise will go away long before the clutch does.

 

The Garage Prince is under mechanical warranty until 10/10 so I'm trying to use their dimes on this. I would probably live with it if it was my dime. Since it seems to go away when at warmer temps it may only be a winter bug...a mini flu.

 

I was under the impression that it is the dual mass flywheel, not the clutch. while you're changing the flywheel, might as well do the clutch, because the work is labour intensive.

 

Well i won't know for another period of time until i can get back in. You know it's funny how these dealers know that we all chat with each other on thee forums. When I mentioned a TSB on this issue, they ribbed me saying that we know more than they do. FTR i told him i never found the actual document, but that we certainly discuss common maladies with our cars.

Here we are in the second decade of the 21st century and the damn dealers still try to ignore our online communities. It seems they just wish we would stay dumb and grateful customers, who wander in after seeing one of those great commercials (can you tell me one auto ad on the Super Bowl that was good?), or awesome newspaper ads or "Unbiased" auto journalism . This is one of the reasons, among many, why the auto industry is still in for a rough ride, regardless of what the country of origin is.

I love driving my GP, but I sure would hate to work in the business of making, selling and fixing them.

 

^^ Yeah I completely agree with you, they do whatever they can to disregard or discredit the consumer so don't have to fix the issue, even when they KNOW it's an issue.