I'm still not in a Mini but started the paperwork to buy a 2005 Cooper S with 40000 miles on it today. One thing I'm curious about is the price of a new clutch and labor on it (from BMW or 3rd party). I know that at 40000 miles and the way it feels the clutch is bound to go within the next year or so.

Thanks in advance!

 

Parts: Clutch kit is around ~$600 (may be wrong, but this number seems firm in my mind)
Labor: Anywhere from $1-2k, most shops on the upper end of that range (from what I've seen)

Anyone else correct me if I'm wrong, please.

How do you know it's going to go? Is it not grabbing? Not having driven one before, how do you know that's not just how it feels?

Easy test...put your car in gear @ a full stop, with the handbrake on. Then just let off the clutch completely. How fast it grabs/stalls should be a pretty good indicator of clutch wear.

Mine at 48k with some aggressive shifting is no worse for wear in this test or street driving.

- Matt

 

You got some interesting way of finding the condition of the clutch. I would not do that in my car.
generally speaking, if it's not slipping while fully engaged in gear then you should not be concerned.
the easiest way for me to find out is to drive in 4th with slightly lower RPMs and floor the throttle. If RPMs don't jump up wihout increasing the speed of the car, you don't need to worry about your clutch.

 

Clutch kit from local dealer: $300.77
Labor done at a local shop: $932.87
Total including local tax and misc charges: $1,272.74

 

I agree, kit can run from $250-$300
at "cost" it's $187 - from what I hear

A local shop did mine for roughly about that price 8 hours of labor @ $95
http://www.socalminicooper.com/ - thanks matt!!

My clutch blew at 48k miles

 

You guys have lucked out with cheap labor and parts...every shop I talked to off-handedly put the rates/parts at much higher figures.

- Matt

 

I'm in california, so I guess it's a matter of finding the right shop.

 

I just had my clutch and faulty dual mass flywheel and master slave cylinder replaced under warranty on my 05 S and the bill was $2,900. Only 25K on the car.

This is because, at least at the dealer, they replace the DM flywheel with the clutch because it cannot be turned and trued

 

Mine was in and out the same day. They get replaced with "re manufactured" parts. Judging by symptoms, it's going to need to be replaced again, and we're only at 25 k miles.

 

at least yours was covered under warranty. mine wasn't due to me "living in San Francisco with all of those hills and traffic". they charged me about a grand more than you also. I wish I would have known about NAM back then before I got suckered into that deal....live and learn i guess...