While waiting for the tow truck, I was wondering what the cause might be. I had little warning going up a hill in bumper to bumper traffic. My coworkers were kind enough to push. Nothing for me to check since it's pouring rain. It became harder and harder to get into first gear. I could only get in 1st gear 3 times. I pumped the pedal as much as I could but that was the end of it. Stuck in DC suburb traffic on a Friday.

I guess it might be master/slave? Shifts just fine with the car off.

Thanks

 

Anyone?

Car is home. Brake/Clutch reservoir level is normal. Sounds very squeaky when I press the clutch pedal in.

 

When this has happened to me before (not in a Mini) it was the clutch master cylinder that went bad.

 

Thanks! turned out to be the slave cylinder. It is leaking. Talk about lucky!