I have a 2005 R53 that I had to get towed yesterday.... I was on my way home in the middle of downtown Milwaukee when my clutch pedal suddenly went dead. I pulled over and had the tow truck take me to a garage nearby that happened to specialize in European cars (including minis). I knew there was something wrong with either the master or slave cylinder. They called to tell me that they were both leaking, so I had them replace both. I just drove my car back from the garage this morning and it doesn't feel like the clutch is disengaging all the way now. I notice it the most trying to get it into first gear (which takes way too much effort) and I don't want to be burning up my synchros. The clutch also feels softer than it used to. I don't know if they didn't bleed the system correctly, or what. I know that the clutch is engaging almost instantly as I start to lift off the pedal, where it used to start to engage somewhere around 1/4 of the pedal stroke. Is there something that I can do to fix it without bleeding the whole system, or should I just take it back? Can I just adjust the clutch to engage later? I think the problem is that the "friction zone" of the clutch is too late in the pedal stroke and never fully disengages. Thanks

 

The clutch hydraulics on these cars are REAL tricky to bleed. Sounds like they left some air in the system. Bring it back and have them try again.

 

i have a 2008 R56S with 70,000 miles.

on Wednesday i noticed a hesitation in the clutch grabbing after work. the next day i was looking for the problem while driving and noticed it more. by Friday, the car drives like i am riding the clutch the whole time. when it feels like it is finally grabbing, i give it some more gas and it did nothing but rev up into the red!

is the slave cylinder not working right?
is the clutch finally on it's way out?

 

Feel your pain Tish. It is a pain in the *** to bleed the system. I finally got mine bled by leaving the clutch pedal depressed overnight with a 2x4 and letting it gravity bleed itself, only then to find out the connection going into the slave cylinder from the hard line is leaking like crazy.

Best of luck.

 

Maybe I'll give the 2x4 idea a go... I can't take it back until Thursday anyway because by the time I'm home form work the place is closed already.

 

I took it backand they bled it again and I'm having the same issue... I have to fight far to hard to get it I to gear, which means the clutch is still slightly engaged.... I think I read something about precompressing the master cylinder before installing. Is it possible they didn't do this?

 

Pre compress the slave, not master. And yes, it's something they may not have done. I believe only a MINI specialist, or a forum member would know. I've never had to do that on other cars I've owned.

Can you call, and ask them to describe their technique or procedure used to bleed the clutch? If they don't mention compressing the piston in the slave, then I would insist they do it a third time -correctly. In my opinion they "should" know "how" to work on every car they accept to work on... If they missed a detail, it's not your problem. You could direct them toward the "BMW Tool" which is necessary to do it "right" or they may choose to fabricate their own with a couple peices of scrap metal and some long bolts, nuts etc.