Hey Guys-

Well I guess I drove a tad bit hard and absolutely destroyed my clutch. And when I say destroyed... I mean it is gone. I was able to get it to my friends house, but its not going anywhere else.

Anyway, it's the icing on a cake to a pretty shitty day: I have no more money for the next week. I had an awful date. And I broke my $300 camera. Today is the day where everything came crashing in on my head. I am surprised I am alive, but thankful.

Anyway, the real question I am asking is this. Obviously, I drove too hard or did something wrong and its blatantly clear that I need a driver's training program. But I need to take my mini there.

My real question: will my clutch not be covered under warranty since I have a 19% pulley??? I didn't think the engine had anything to do with the clutch, but am I wrong?? The car has 18k miles on it, so it should be good to go on the warranty for another 30 or so.... Anyway, let me know what everyones feedback is, and when I get it to the dealer in the morning I will let you all know the official outcome. Thanks for listening, it has been a day from hell....

 

from what I've been reading, the clutch is rarely covered since it usually goes prematurely due to driver error.

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe they'll chalk it up to driver abuse, but I guess you won't know until tomorrow so no need to worry.

 

...well after all that... i'm hoping you @ LEAST got a peck goodnight on the cheek from your date....

 

Good luck

I think you are gonna get stuck with this bill unfortunately.

 

No guys.... Say it isn't so..... PLEASE. Can someone be optimistic? Please? I just need someone to say "Yo Chris, everythings gonna be cool. It's not your fault." If I didn't laugh I'd cry....really hard.... haha

O Geez

 

To be safe change the pulley before you take it in. A Long beach Mini customer had a issue with the number 1 piston last summer. He left the 19% on and they were able to deny him warrenty coverage . Mini will be able to say you were making too much HP due to the 19%. Combine that with the ambigious " driver abuse " claim and you are going to be writing a check. You only shot is to lose that pulley. Don't want to give you bad news but thats the way they have done it out here.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

18k is a pretty short time for a clutch. If you have any chance with a free replacement, you need to put the stock pulley back on. As maxmini says "Combine that with the ambigious " driver abuse " claim and you are going to be writing a check."

 

You accepted this risk when you started modifying the car right??? Sorry I can't be more sympathetic, but I just don't see how this is a warranty issue.

 

Yo, Chris, keep cool - it's not the end of the world. I'm sorry you had an awful day - I would be rattled too if I went through all that you did.

Tow your Mini to your dealer, and see if they'll replace the clutch under warranty. If not, then go to a nearby tuner shop. It'll be cheaper than at the dealer. In fact, if you're going to have the work done at a local shop, you may very well upgrade to an aftermarket clutch and/or lightened flywheel for the same price as a dealer stock clutch replacement.

It's not the end of the world, though it may feel like everything's gone to hell. You will be motoring again in your Mini in no time.

Incidentally, what were you doing that caused your clutch to fail?

 

I don't know about your dealer but here they have been really good to me.

I have had the front right axle arm replaced (snapped it at 15k).

I've had the CV joint replaced (I think... trying to remember, went along with the above axle as there were a couple of things I managed to destroy that time)

I've had the brakes replaced (at 15K).

I've had the brakes replaced again! this time they had to replace all the rotors (at 28K)

They have always told me, Hey its covered under maintanence.

My MA told me when I bought the car (his words exactly): "Have fun, you have a service warranty that covers everything but tires. If you want burn out the clutch and come back as we'll replace it for free!"

My hope is to get the clutch replaced on mine right before the service warranty is out.

Oh by the way I run a 15% with m7 AGS, lower and upper strut bars and other such goodies....

good luck

chris

 

be the cause of clutch failure? Or is it more likely the fault of the driver abusing the crap out of it?

Personally I have no sympathy for this person as they made all the decisions that caused all the problems(except for maybe his date and if he abuses a car well.......;-).

Suck it up buddy and perhaps the next time you'll show a bit of restraint. Maybe. As for your camera...did you drop it? It's amazing how long things will last if you actually care for them. I'll tell you the same thing I've told all of my kids...if you pay attention to what you are doing then you won't have to do without and if you still break it because you weren't paying attention then I guess it just wasn't that important to you.

 

New clutch = $1600 . I have heard of aftermarkets for $800+ BUT... if you put on an aftermarket clutch then you are really opening yourself up to a whole new can of worms for more things that Mini will no longer cover under warranty. With the amount of warranty still have left on your Mini I would suck it up & let the dealership install a new clutch

 

Hey Silver - sorry to hear about your clutch. When I was 19, poor and in the military my stock 1983 Rabbit GTi with 40k miles pooped out it's clutch right in the middle of Long Beach Blvd. in Long Beach Calif.

I unfortunately traded it in for a 1985 Toyota Long Bed Deluxe - I needed to get around and it was cheaper for me to trade it in and get a new truck.

Clutchs have been known to fail in MINIs - my new 2006 doesn't feel quite as right as my 2005 - maybe it's still breaking in . I'd suggest having a heart to heart with your motoring advisor - Morristown MINI have good techs and that's probably where I'd start.

Good luck!

 

meanie

 

There could be a brite side. Now is a good time to get a trick flywheel, disk and presure plate. It all needs to be taken apart anyway.... or if the flywheel looks good, just a trick disk & presure plate... they will hold up better & there are some great vendors on this site that will advise you.
Just a thought...

 

I will freely admit: I just started learning the "right way to drive a stick" about 2k miles ago, so all the wear and tear was probably done when I was learning to drive stick. I feel like death. I hope APril Fool's Day was a day early for me, and that nothing yesterday really happened.

Still no money in my wallet. Dammit. Yesterday happened.

I shouldn't have even woke up. It was too damn cold anyway.

Fact remains I have a car with a busted clutch

 

What is the WRONG way? Don't understand ....

You mean you were grinding the gears, slipping the clutch on hills?

 

Some lessons are more expensive than others. Not sugar coated, but true.

"Drive it like you stole it is a cool bumper sticker, till you get the bill"

 

Sorry to hear it Chris!

 

I had my clutch replaced under warranty about 2,000 miles ago. And I had the 19% pulley among other things installed...

 

Clutch is a wear item like brake pads. I think you will foot the bill for this one.

 

It may not be the clutch itself but maybe the pressure plate as it was in my car... Again, replaced under warranty without ANY problems, despite having *extra* power... They even swapped out the disk as well... And then they proceeded to void my warranty on the headlights cause I had aftermarket highbeams installed... haha...

 

Can you define between the "wrong" way to drive a clutch versus the "right" way to drive a clutch. Just wondering if maybe I am heading down the path of destruction to my clutch in my MINI.

Thanks.

 

I say give 'em hell.

take it to the dealer see what they say. if they aren't gonna do it call MINI USA and ***** about it. I have seen bmw clutch's still good at like 80K.

I wouldn't want a car that the clutch goes out at 18k miles, that bullsh.. Make them put a new clutch in there.