Really love my 05 JCW.. had it for 2 1/2 years now and it's still a blast to drive!… I've done a lot of servicing and improvements on the car since owning it… All without incident... but my latest venture to replace a worn clutch seems to be cursed from the get-go!

From delays in parts arriving to wrong or damaged parts being sent by vendors and what seems to be a battle from every nut and bolt in its removal. I think I've gone through a box of bandaids on this one.

It would be OK if I was new to mechanical work but I've been working on cars for ever, and have all the tools that I need to get the work done including a hoist in my Home shop.

Normally just love wrenching cars but I'm looking forward to the end of this one.

 

Sending you a digital beer (or six). I've been where you are so many times, I can relate - and empathize.

 

👍🏻

 

A list of do's and don'ts would be great to have in the archive.

There are certain things I will turn my own wrench on and then there are those matters that I will punt to a pro. If I were doing a clutch without a lift, would think you remove the entire engine/trannie from the car.

Every winter when we take the "elf on the shelf" out for the grandkids I wish that Santa would leave me one of those little guys to work on my MINI, but I heard they have them locked up in the MINI factory.

 

Would be great to hear some of the challenges you ran into. I'm certain at some point in the future (hopefully a long time from now), I'll take the clutch challenge on as well.

 

For me most of the challenges where from "happenstance" rather than job specific... just seemed like everything that could go wrong did!

i would say though that if I was to do it again, and wasn't going to service subframe.. I would pull the engine

Having a hoist ( and access to air Tools) as I do makes a big difference to ..however don't try and drop subframe if your using a 4post lift like I have as it's that much tighter!

 

I picked up a scratch and dent clutch/flywheel which was also shipped pisspoorly. I wonder if we ordered from the same vendor...

I'm in the same boat now. I knew what I was getting into, but I thought I'd have more time to work on it. I just wanna drive it :-)

Check out my thread. I'm halfway through a clutch replacement (and a nearly complete overhaul), I've detailed some of the issues I've had and what to do. Overall it isn't TOO bad. For how much rust I saw on the suspension components I expected much more of a problem getting everything apart.