I own a 2012 MINI JCW. My wife has a 2013 MINI JCW. They have a VERY different clutch feeling.

I'd describe it like this:

2012: Resistance (push back) all the way through the pedal travel to the floor (100% of the throw).

2013: Resistance (push back) 75% of the pedal throw (towards the floor). After that, the pedal becomes "lighter", like it's assisted, for the last 25% of the pedal travel to the floor.

We both hate how her clutch feels/drives. She wishes she could get hers to feel more like mine. It's very hard to get a good feel on her clutch because right when the clutch is about to engage, the clutch become heavy (when you are lifting up your foot to engage the clutch, the assistance seems to come off and the pedal becomes "heavy" again) right at the wrong time in the pedal travel.

We've taken it to the dealer to see if there was a problem but they assured us this is how the 2013's drive. They even brought us a 2013 roadster so we could feel its clutch, and it matched my wife's 2013 clutch feel (lighter/assisted the last 25% of the throw).

I thought a clutch stop might help as the clutch seems to be fully disengaged before the last 25% of the throw. I ordered the $10 BMS clutch stop, but this does not even come close to stopping the pedal throw (and when I tried to remove it, I broke it, plastic POS).

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions for a clutch stop that will work on my wife's 2013?

Does anyone have experience driving both years? Can you confirm that we are not crazy and that the clutches are different?

TIA!

 

Here is what I have experienced. I had a 2012 Clubman S manual for about 4 months before my 2013 JCW Hardtop I had ordered arrived from the UK. The 2012 was very hard to drive in that the clutch seemed to engage all at once at about mid travel. The 2013 JCW is a dream to drive in comparison to the 2012.It has what I would call a wider friction zone as far as travel is concerned compared to the 2012. I do know that the 2013 JCW clutch is a different part # than any other according to my SA. They recommend that clutch for any replacemant clutch in any model according to a service bulletin they showed me.

Edit: I went out and pushed on my 2013 JCW clutch to see what you were describing. What you are feeling in the last 25%, when pushing in the clutch,
is the total release of the clutch as the diaphragm fingers on the pressure plate are totally compressed or flattened out to release the clutch disc. When engaging the clutch the fingers are pushing against the throw out bearing until the clutch is fully engaged, giving you the power assist feeling. As for the 2012 it was beast to drive compared to my 2013 JCW.

 

anyone else?

 

I personally *love* the clutch on my 2012 N14 JCW. Pressure and travel are both perfect, and no annoying clicking / spongy sounds like a Honda K-series clutch.

 

BMS clutch stop for the win. Takes second to install and is easily removed. Highly recommended. I'm running it on my 13' fJCW and the clutch feels fantastic.

http://burgertuning.com/clutch_stop_mini_cooper.html

 

Do you have any pictures or anything showing the difference? I'm interested in this as well. Also, how noticeable is the change?

 

I tried the BMS and it did not make a difference on the clutch throw. Maybe I put it in the wrong spot? Can you take some pictures of where you have it installed? Plus the POS plastic broke when I tried to remove it.

 

Immediate. I no longer have to push all the way down. Helps for faster shifting.

How many rubber washers are you using? I find two is the sweet spot.
It only goes in one way. On my previous 2010 MCS, I actually had to snip half of the rubber post for the stop to fit in all the way. On my '13, the post did not need any modifications.
I can take some pictures tonight after work.

 

Finally got mine in the mail. Definitely worth $10. Took 30 seconds to install.

 

Can I get some pictures of it installed?! On a 2013 would be prefered. When I installed it, it was nowhere near shortening the throw..

 

I will try to get some pics later. Although mine is a 2010. Should be the same I'd imagine.

 

BMS clutch stop installed in a 2013 fJCW R58. 2 rubber washers installed. Removed 1

Makes for a very pleasant clutch pedal throw feel.





Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

I am still convinced that I put the BMS stop in the right place on my wifes 2013 fJCW R56 and the clutch pedal never hit it.

Anyone else have photos?!

 

 

thanks, i'll have to take a look tonight

 

No problem.

Sent from my SM-N900T using NAMotoring

 

Been driving manuals since 1955, and I must say that the clutch in my 2013 JCW Hardtop is the best and most drive-able I've ever owned. Maybe I just drive different than most folks. I never take my left heel off the floor when operating the clutch pedal, I just rock my foot back and forth as required. It's just so much easier to me to find the "sweet spot", and it's repeatable every time. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth!

 

That's how my grandfather taught me to do it 35 years ago. And been doing it that way since. Also have a 2013 MCS.