Hi! This is my first post, so please let me know if this is in the wrong section or something. I have a 2005 mini r52, its an s model, and I bought it two months ago at 52,000 miles. It's a very fun car, no regrets so far, I'm enjoying so much I put 4000 miles on it already. I'm a tiny bit concerned though because in 6th gear (it's a stick btw) at 70 mph, my car does exactly 3000 rpm. Today on the freeway, I noticed it ran about 150 rpm higher at 70 mph. Is my clutch going out? It doesn't feel like it though because I don't feel it slipping even when I floor it. I'm a little confused. Can someone enlighten me?

 

Did you have cruise control engaged one day and not the other and were both samples over the same roadway? Otherwise, making value judgments over only two episodes is like making fuel consumption estimates after only two tanks full. A meaningful 'average' requires considerably more input. I wouldn't worry about it just yet but keep watching it. Is this the 1st manual gear box you've operated? If so, there are some do's and don'ts.
One major do is clutch pedal to the floor EVERY time and one major don't is sit with it in gear and the clutch disengaged while waiting for traffic to move.

 

Another don't to consider is never use the clutch pedal as a foot rest when motoring.

 

I believe it is normal. My 05 S 160,000 miles does the same thing in 6th gear, It has to do with the way they are geared.

 

Yup this is my first manual car, and it's my first car actually. Well, no it wasn't, I don't really use cruise control, I was driving up a mountain when I noticed it was revving a little bit higher than usual. But this is a stick car right and not a torque converter automatic, so shouldn't the rpm at 70 mph be consistent at all times if the clutch is fully engaged and I'm in the same gear? My concern is that for whatever reason that day the car was revving 150 rpm higher than it usually does. Since then, when I drove the car the next day, the rpm dropped back to the usual 3000 at 70. Yes, I do make sure I push the clutch pedal to the floor every time, but just curious why is it a bad idea to leave it in gear with the clutch engaged at a red light? I do that sometimes because drivers here tend to be impatient so I get anxious when they drive up behind me at a stop.

 

You're wearing out the throwout bearing, and possibly the crankshaft's thrust bearing.

 

+1 I was just going to post that. As stated in various ways, THE only time to put your foot on that pedal is to shift gears or start the engine. Soon as it cranks over get her out of gear, off the pedal then get your seat belt set, spill a little coffee on the carpet and then head out.