Fellow Mini Motorists,

I feel like I am stuck in a really tough spot here. 2 months ago I had run in with a bad accident in my 2014 Mini Cooper Countryman in the Outer banks. I swerved off the road to avoid collision, and when I did I got myself jammed in the sand. My mini is an ALL4, and I have lifted it to help with the snow. I thought, this wouldn't be much different and attempted to drive out of it. I ended up frying the clutch and the input shaft plus a couple other parts relating to the hydraulics in the transmission.

It was towed to Checkered Flag Mini in Virginia Beach that weekend and I spent the next month between Insurance claims and repairs. I also had decided to upgrade the clutch since it was being opened up and went with the JMTC Stage 5 Clutch and lightweight flywheel combo. Mini didn't want to put in an aftermarket part unless it was of high quality, and when I showed them the website they were fine, and installed it without hassle.

My car was returned to me, with a new check engine light (that's another story), an additional $200 charge that shouldn't have been on my bill (still not resolved), and I drove it home (carefully) without any issue. I am not a speedster in my larger tires and taller profile, I prefer steady and smooth. Over the next week I started to learn the clutch and how it felt compared to the mini OEM, there was no break in requirements, and it wasn't much different, but there were no springs on this one and it had a bit more of a chatter when engaging. I started to hear a groaning noise happening after the first week when I entered 1st and Reverse gears, as I was coming off from a dead stop, and as I was engaging the clutch, applying gas, and disengaging the clutch pedal.

I contacted Checkered Flag and set up a service appointment for the next week. I continued to drive and during my weekend it started to slip on the highway in 6th and 5th. I immediately contacted Checkered Flag again and said this could not wait I needed to bring it in. Being that Checkered Flag is 2 hours from my house I opted to go to the closer Crown MIni in Richmond, VA. and was told it was my clutch was going bad. I explained I was 2 weeks out of service, that was completely ridiculous, so let's look at it to see what's going on, what caused the issues, and open it up. They refused to do it and said that they would have to charge labor to open it because of the aftermarket parts and because they weren't the original servicers. I contacted checkered flag, they said they'd look at it. As I was going to bring it to them, i got the call from Checkered now saying they wouldn't open it up without charging because of the aftermarket parts. So I contacted the service manager, we talked about it, and he agreed that he would 1. never install another aftermarket part again and 2. would look into what happened and open it up without charge.

Over this last weekend I was told that the same man who agreed to do the service is now refusing to look into it.

I am calling him back tomorrow, but what other options do I have? I have the number for the GM of that site. I also have the emails of the VP and the CEO of Mini. I have tried to contact Customer Service over the weekend, but they said they cannot force the service as they do not own each facility.

Anyone else had anything similar to this happen? What did you do? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Phillip Dobbs

 

In flat rate shops like those, in a typical "Come back", ( That's when the car returns to he shop for same issue after repair was completed) the techs are not paid for your second visit....and since you refused to use OEM parts and went aftermarket, not sure I blame them.

Maybe contact the clutch manufacturer, see what if anything they can add. Maybe they are willing to speak with the service advisor ?

Most flat rate shops have an adversity, and rightfully so, to installing aftermarket parts. Mostly due to the crappy directions supplied by manufacturers. Then there's how in many cases the parts don't fit work properly due to the vast range of application for the part usually resulting in the techs having to spend more time modifying, altering the part for proper installation. Then if the part should have issues, not work properly or end up costing more to install,, the result could be a poor MINI customer survey for the Service Advisor and/or the Tech = Loss of that months bonus for the Advisor or the tech, which can be hundreds, sometimes over $1,000. dollars....

The updated clutch for the ALL4's is the one that came in the original JCW Countryman, so it's plenty strong enough for your needs. And when it comes to aftermarket clutches in a MINI, you take your chances because it's a labor intensive job...going back in a second time is not something I would
want to pay for so I stayed with OEM.

Does OS Giken make a clutch set up for the ALL4 yet ? Since they've been making them for MINI's for many years, maybe that would have been a better option if available. Would be the ONLY aftermarket clutch I would trust...my 2 pence.

GL!