Thanks for the compliment-I did decide I could not part with her!

The second clutch was done by dealer under warranty. This time they found clutch disc wearing into rivets, hot spots/cracks on both flywheel and pressure plate. Had to replace real main seal, clutch disc, pressure plate, & throwout bearing.

Also noticed power steering pump and fan seized and was replaced under warranty (2nd one of these). My final request was for a new E brake.

Add insult to injury, the shop had her out in the -20 weather over the weekend and that was it for that battery. Just put the new one in last night-all good.

The dealer provided a MINI Paceman loaner during the work. Nice gesture since I did not qualify for one-and it just made me appreciate my MINI that much more!

Glad to have her back- This R50 lives on!


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I was thinking the same thing. My 03' JCW R53 has 120,000 miles on it, and the stock clutch it still holding strong. Sounds like someone is slipping the hell out of the clutch and putting it through some unusual abuse

 

My '05 R53 clutch went 295,000 miles before the T/O bearing exploded. Clutch still had some grooves on it! Be nice to your clutch, brakes are cheaper. Don't use the clutch for down-shift slowing, speed match the down-shift and let the engine slow you down. Have that clutch all the way out before the rear end enters the intersection when starting and speed match the up-shifts. Put 'er in neutral at red lights and save the T/O bearing, they're not sealed bearings and can cook themselves when over used. Don't sit there with the clutch engaged. The guy behind you can wait. Go for it on the third clutch and keep that beauty rolling for another 200,000 miles at least!

 

I think MINI clutches are a total crap shoot and it has nothing to do with how you drive. I've owned 5 other cars with clutches, put over 150K on all of them (one was a '74 Vega!!!) and my MINI is the first car I ever put a clutch in (at 70K). I've also never replaced a power steering pump on any car I've owned, or a thermostat housing. My MINI has had 4 power steering pumps in 75K miles and 3 thermostat housings. Its just poor parts and engineering.

I spent more in repairs on my MINI last year than on my other three cars (1999 Accord-185K, 2008 Accord-55K, 2005 Lexus RX-330, 140K) combined and it was driven fewer miles than any of the other cars.

I absolutely love my MINI , but it was built for fun, not reliability.

BTW, I put a Valeo clutch in it. Rather than giving my dealer $2400 for a MINI clutch, I bought the Valeo for about $500 and my mechanic installed it for $1K. So far I like it. Ask me again in 70K miles.

Dean.

 

Sounds like you may just have some bad luck. Ive never messed with the power steering pump, thermostat, water pump, or clutch.....and my 03' mini has over 120,000 miles on it.

 

I second what was said above! I just changed mine at 150K and it was still good. Installed a Valeo. However, I am not impressed with the clutch disc size on this unit! I hope it holds up as good as my mini original.

Replaced power steering pump, fan, control arm bushings, lower motor mount bushing, brakes twice in the front. Other than that Gas, tires and oil!

 

I'm hoping it holds up better.

Dean.