Hello Everyone,

It's been a while since i've posted since working so much but I thought I would catch up with my most recent run in with BMW/MINI.

My JCW 09 with 38k miles was having oil leaking from the turbo oil valves so I scheduled an appointment ASAP to get this repaired. Upon coming in the car started to make a small ticking noise and was not having power (No slipping nor gear issues) and I was really worried. Had the car towed into MINI dealer for repairs and they started to diagnose the issue and called and told me that my clutch was slipping on them...odd and then I worried of the repair because they stated flywheel might be damaged.

A week later they call and inform me that they received the parts and opened it up and flywheel was cracked and clutch was needing replacement fully. So I had to agree to the service and the bill of $3200 for the repair because flywheel nor clutch is covered under any of the warranty (wear and tear items, never heard of the flywheel not being covered).


After all was said and done I had the valves covered under the warranty with no issues but I had a 3200 bill for the replacement of my Flywheel/clutch.


I was wondering if anyone else has had issues with their clutch this early in mileage, i've heard the clutch is soft. Any aftermarket ideas for the future? This car is a commuter and i've been driving a manual car for almost a decade and this is my first clutch replacement.


Please tell me your thoughts or opinions, or ideas on preventing this in the future. I really don't want anymore non-warranty repairs on this MINI.


Pictures of clutch and flywheel below:



Clutch was bare on one side and the other was perfect.

 

Are you the original owner? There are lots of issues with early clutch failure.
http://www.carcomplaints.com/Mini/JC..._failure.shtml

Do a search on here any you will see lots of others.

 

Second owner, from 18k mileage. The clutch is supposed to be the JCW clutch but not sure

 

I think it is. Read below

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-or-false.html

 

Hmm, very interesting read. Thanks for the info. I still would like to hear from others and see if there is aftermarket ideas for the progression of the car. I really don't feel like maybe replacing a clutch or non-warranty item again in my car. Kinda sad to see a clutch die at those mileages

 

After doing some research it does appear to be a factory clutch. So I was wrong sorry.

 

Awesome, thanks for letting me know...even though I feel now the JCW clutch is far too weak for the car.

 

I can't believe how many stories I've read about Mini clutches failing with low mileage. And almost every time the driver is accused of abusive driving. And a clutch failure under 50K? Wear and Tear? Pulease.

I may not be the best driver in the world, but I have owned 7 cars with standard transmission. 5 of them were driven over 100k. none of them less than 50K. I have never, ever had to replace a clutch. In fact, I can't ever remember needing a clutch related repair.

Hey, how come there's no THUMBS DOWN smiley?

 

Here are some more
http://minicooperforums.com/forum/ge...h-issues-4907/
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...utch-wear.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-problems.html
http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenan...h-failure.html

 

Very very sad to hear and trust me it shocked me too. I had a Mazdaspeed3 and that clutch was abused to death by my wife trying to drive my car and learn. She probably rode that clutch pedal for 10k while daily driving and it survived till 70k when the car had a untimely demise

 

http://www.miniproblems.com/
http://www.faqs.org/car/mini-jcw/

 

Here is a story about the Countryman clutches
http://blog.caranddriver.com/mini-co...ng-this-month/

I think you get the hint about clutch failures.