I have a ‘05 MCS with 141k miles. It had all the normal oil leaks that were fixed except the rear main seal. Well the clutch started to slip just a little and would sometimes chatter so it’s time to replace the clutch and rear seal. Well in the mean time I added the Molylube leak seal and believe it or not it stopped the leak. Well I also have noticed the clutch stopped chattering and hasn’t slipped in a few days so before it gets too cold and nasty out should I go ahead and replace it all? And is that Molylube stuff just a bandaid? I bought all the parts and as you know it’s a big job and can’t decide what to do???

 

I was in the same boat with my SC rebuild or EWP swap. My advice is go for it.

At least you won't have to worry about it in the future. Keep in mind the clutch is a wear item.

 

... and oil seeping onto it from the rear main seal doesn't help much.

You are doing the right thing, change the bearing seal while you have the clutch out... +1 on good job.

Best of luck.

Motor On!

 

No experience with the MINI but with two other cars both developed rear main seal leaks and while the leaks were severe enough to spot the garage floor and make a bit of a mess under the car neither one affected the clutch.

Unless the MINI is different in this regard and it may be but it may not be that the clutch stopped manifesting slippage/chattering is probably just a coincidence. While slipping can be due to a contaminated clutch it probably would not go away right away. And chattering is not a symptom arising from a contaminated clutch but in my limited experience due to wear. The clutch disc rivets are contacting the flywheel.

The Molylube stuff probably contains some ester compound which causes the seal material to swell up a bit. This can stop a minor leak but likely it won't stay stopped.

My advice would be to just bite the bullet and replace the rear main seal and at the same time replace the clutch and any associated hardware.