So, I test drove a 2013 CM S All4, and a 2013 CM JCW manual, back to back (granted the JCW, I just drove within the dealership parking lot just for a clutch feel).

Just for background, I currently have a 2011 CM S All4 manual.

Clutch feel? The JCW and the '13 CMS feel are identical.

Well, take it with a grain of salt since these are new cars with less that 50kms on the clock and of course, this is based on my personal feel/experience. The clutch seems to bite a bit earlier (you start to feel it about halfway or just above half, instead of 3/4 way up like my 2011). When you're already rolling (1-2, 2-3 shift), it feels the same as the 2011's clutch. I did a lot of stop and go's (like if you're in traffic) and there was no clutch burn smell. The feel was also very light (although that might be because the clutch is very new).

So, did they change the clutch? It seems like it. But is the change that drastic? I don't think so from my personal experience. The feel is still unlike the clutch feels of Subaru or Audi manuals. Although I would like people with more than a few hundred miles on the clock on their 2013's to chime in.

Only time will tell I guess.

 

I have a 2013 CMS fwd with about 1500 miles on it and it feels fine. But then again, when I test drove some 2012 models before ordering my car, I thought they felt fine.

 

Jump into an ALL4 and you will immediately notice the difference in clutch feel over a fwd!!

That's a shame that there is not much of a noticeable change in the 2013's! I was hoping/thinking I would trade up to a new (JCW) one at the end of my lease. The Q3 is looking better and better.

 

Well. I am considering to trade for a 2013 which is why I test drove. But I'm on the fence now. If it was a drastic difference, it would have been a no brainer.

 

They changed the pressure plate because people were complaining about clutch feel, which I am one of those people and my car is in the shop for right now.

 

From an earlier post in the "spare yourself and dont buy a countryman" thread:
I guess that makes it six people.
I'll probably be the seventh who needs to learn how to drive. I don't like the feel of my clutch and I don't drive it on steep San Francisco streets if I can avoid it, but my 2012 clutch has not failed yet.

Tongue in cheek aside, I do hope you get the upgraded parts and that they are more durable, but it looks like the CM clutch served you a piece of humble pie.

 

Sorry sir, pressure plate and clutch disk are completely different devices. Yes same assembly unit but serve two purposes. clutch doesn't slipe nor has it ever. The updated pressure plate will fix the pedal feel people are experiencing.

Thank you for taken one of my quotes from another thread and trying to shove something in my face, I'm not the six one, you can be the six one. I'm simply stating the fact that it seems to me that there's very few cases that people are burning clutches compared to people not. No one likes a troll! I know you have a bad attitude towards your car and mini but others love these cars and I myself, would stand behind mini and there product!

Ringo star-"peace and love"

 

I guess we will agree to disagree but pressure plate failure is still a clutch problem and It should not happen on a new car.

Yes, I have an attitude towards the dealer I visited and MINI about their handling of the clutch on my car. I don't despise MINI in general. Still love the R53, but I am unhappy with the clutch on my car and will likely sell it earlier than I planned because of it. I have three contenders and the top one right now is a BMW 335 xdrive with a manual which would make it my 11th BMW vehicle. I really want to see the upcoming 4 series which hopefully will come with all wheel drive and a manual. If I had that bad of an attitude towards the company I wouldn't even look at one of their products. That being said I hope delay it for a year or two and as long as people post about clutch problems on their CM I'll add my $.02 when I feel like it.

 

I got my R60 S All4 (yep manual) just before Christmas. I now have 4600k on it and no clutch issues so far. It seems that the updates they made late in 2012 solved the main problems they were having.

 

LOL! 4600K tells you nothing. Come back in a few yrs and give us an update

 

True, time will tell. That's only over the last month. My last car was a 2004 Passat I bought new and traded it in with 286k miles on it.

 

MINI is not replacing anything because people don't like the feel

If they are replacing the pressure plate, something is wrong other than how it feels to you. Of course you would never admit that, given you have bashed those of us with clutch issues on this forum. Humble pie indeed.

 

MINI/USA has replaced Fenton's 2011 clutch as an experiment to find out if the '2013' clutch solves the long-reported problems.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3689582