I was under the R56 yesterday trying to find out where a coolant leak was coming from, and I noticed this exposed hole. Can someone tell me what this hole is for, and why it's supposed to be exposed like this?

 

Just a guess, but is it the clutch inspection hole?

 

I have a similar hole in the same location in my MG Midget. I think the purpose is to let out any oil that may enter the clutch housing from a faulty rear crank seal. In my MG, the hole has a loosely-fitted wire pin in it that moves around and keeps crud from plugging the hole.

That said, I wonder if MINIs are supposed to have a rubber plug or something in that hole.

By the way, hello Bugeye1030. Sounds like we're similarly afflicted. ;-)

Spridget

 

Is it safe to drive with it exposed? Is there normally some type of plug for this? Thanks.

 

I had a Porsche 944 that was supposed to have a rubber cover on it, but I didn't know it....drove it for about 8,000 miles before I got one on it - no problems.

Hey Spridget! Nice cars!