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Hello, this is my first post here and I'm fairly new to Minis! I just got my 2005 r53 6sp mini s hatch back in September. She was only 1800$ and had 185k + few issues but we've worked through some things. I have learned manual on this car and did well, I had someone teach me and they said I learned quickly and I didn't burn or damage the clutch woo! But recently I've notice something odd. I thought maybe I did burn the clutch because I would need to depress the fuel pedal deeper and it seemed to need to rev higher in order to move. I also hear a whine which seems new in the last week or so, not a power steering whine and idk if it's the supercharger bc i just recently noticed it, I will try to do more research to determine. It is constant from the time it is turned on at idle, driving, neutral and in gear, up until it is turned off. I'm worried I may have damaged something related to the clutch or fuel and possibly drowned the motor in fuel. I noticed this when I had to speed around someone and it seemed to choke a bit and ever since then it seems to need more fuel to go and it feels sluggish, almost heavier to move....It's possible the whining sound is unrelated to the other things i mentioned....I just wanted to note. I've noticed I have a tendency to depress the fuel too much/too long before releasing the clutch to transfer into gear and I'm working on fixing it but I want to make sure if I damaged something I can fix it! If anyone has suggestions or ways I can add more descriptions I would appreciate it! I am trying to learn how to diagnose and fix things. I am planning to replace the clutch with a stage 2 Kevlar sprung from action clutch (is this a good option?) and replace the fuel pump, filter, and try to check/clean injectors and check the fuel regulator assembly....
Whatever it is, I don't think it is related to your learning to drive a manual transmission on it.
Have you checked your airbox for clean engine air filter, no air inlet restrictions? Are oil and coolant levels OK? Does it make the noise regardless of A/C compressor on/off?
Try to listen closely at idle since you said it makes the noise at idle to see if you can close in on what is making the noise. Perhaps something on the serpentine belt drive (like alternator or tensioner/idler bearings).
Beautiful Mini.
I'll preface by saying; I'm sort of new to working on my Mini. I'm no seasoned (Mini) mechanic.
When my clutch began to fail - I couldn't even start the car.
Do the RPMS increase but not inline with speed?
My guess (FWIW):
Does anyone think that her belt tensioner maybe failing causing the serpentine belt to slip? Noise possibly associated w/a failing idler pulley?
Fuel pump, Clogged Fuel filter = starving for fuel? dirty (old) TMAP/MAP sensors?
I site the aforementioned due to minor (yet similar) symptoms I had several months ago.
I threw (replaced) all those parts listed (except clutch failure was 4 years ago), including plugs, wires & cleaned injectors.
No comment on your issue but I'm curious as to why people always block their license plates when displaying a pic of the car? They drive it every day uncovered. What's the theory about disguising it in photographs?
I would first start off with the A/C. Turn it off and on a few times. The motor should start to make a noise, mine is really loud but its almost summer time so I wont be using it until fall but it really doesn't bother me. (Louder than all the other broken things so i don't think about them). If you here a ticking sound at idle by your feet, it the throwout bearing, its fine. For clutch options, I would go with the valeo clutch kit. Light single mass fly wheel and can hold some power, you can also get it from FCP Euro so Free replacements if you are going to keep the car for a long time.
