2006, JCW MCS, about 12,000 miles and still under the original warrantee, but not maintenance.

Recently I have heard a sort of squeak when letting out the clutch in first gear. Not all the time, and usually in the morning.

The dealer says I need a new clutch, about $3,000, but that if I buy the extended warrantee for $1,500 the clutch and whatever else they find...flywheel?

from what I read hear, i wonder if I even need a new clutch. The noise is the only symptom.

I don't expect to put many miles on the car, but I drive it pretty hard, and ;lan to keep it. So the extended maintenance will probably runout before I reach, say, 35,000 miles.

Any advice? Pay the $1,500 and let them see if there is anything to fix, or just drive it home?

Cheers.

 

You're under warranty, but not free service. IF the car needs a clutch, they should pay for it!

If you're not under warranty because of dates, then a new clutch should be less than that at a non-dealer repair place. $1500 or so (~$1000 for labor, about $500 for parts....)

where are you based? There are lots of good non-dealer Mini shops that will treat you better than this.

Matt

 

Actually the warrantee excludes clutch repair/replacement, so I think I have to determine whether I believe the clutch needs replacement because, remember, the car drives fine or if I should just get the maint. warrantee extension that they offer, even though mine expired in April.

I don't know what to do.

 

That sounds like the "Chewbacca" noise, it's the dual mass flywheel, and I don't think it hurts anything, my '03 has done it all it's life and the clutch is still fine. Especially if it only does it occasionally, if you can stand the noise I wouldn't worry about it.

The reason the dealer is saying they'll have to replace it is that there's nothing else they can do - they have to replace the flywheel to fix it and they'll always replace the clutch parts too since it's already out.

Problem is, there are a number of accounts of people who've replaced their dual mass flywheel only to have the noise come right back again. It doesn't hurt anything, it's just annoying sometimes. Mine does it fairly infrequently, and the clutch is not worn out, so I just ignore it.

 

Its fine, mine makes the same noise, usually more so when its cold, but iv been driving it everyday, i drive it hard, and i plan to keep it, no reason to replace a clutch that is working fine, ur not gonna hurt anything by pushing the clutch to its last leg even if u did need to replace it now.

 

My '02 MCS intermittently had that "Chewbacca" sound when cold from about 25k to 98k when the clutch throwout bearing seized. Replaced the clutch, car now has 135k - no clutch noises. Dealer "could not reproduce" when it was still under warranty. Don't worry about that sound, just another MINI quirk!!

 

If it doesn't slip or chatter I would save my money. 3k is insane!

Is the noise "In the bellhousing" or could it be the armature that engages the the clutch.

 

Lots and lots of people here have had clutches replaced under warrantee. Some dealers are more of a pain than others though....

Matt

 

That noise is just the flywheel. This will not cause any failure, but is more annoying than anything else. Listen to Minidave, he is usually clear headed and on point.

 

check out post #34 in this thread
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...l-noise-2.html

 

That's great, but mini's not doing that anymore, since the clutch lasts about forever even if it makes a bit of a Chewbacca noise once in a while. No, it's not right, but the dealers are far enough apart that it's kind of a pain to go far to find another who *may* replace the clutch with another OEM part that'll end up squeaking a bit anyway. Me? Mine makes a noise once in a while, I'll live with it since it engages firmly (40k) and works fine.

Short version: "They all do that". And you don't have anything to worry about.