This all started about 2 weeks ago...

I have a manual 2002 Cooper and it's been a dream since the day I got it. No problems what so ever. About 2 weeks ago I notice that when I would start in 1st gear, the tires would slip or more skip when I started to accelerate. It happened like 1 in every 30 neutral to first starts. My first thought was I gave it too much gas and the tires skid. The next couple of times made me think it was the tires.

Last Friday, my brother drove the car and brought the skipping to my attention. He said I probably need new tires, which made sense seeing how my tires were getting kind of old.

The next day, my father drove the car and with his return, he told me something is wrong with the front right wheel. He said the wheel was skipping or rubbing against something. We got in the car and backed out of our drive way which is about a 40º angle and the car backed out perfectly. While sitting on the street my dad did a quick start...

The car skipped as it usually does. This is where the Nightmare started...

We pulled back in the drive way and he advised me to call the dealership and get it checked out on monday. That same day, my brother decided to wash his car; with my car already being clean and shinny, I decided to put it on the street. When I began to go up the hill in reverse, the car made hideous grinding noise... that of a incorrect shift change. I had a look of horror on my face. I pulled in and maneuvered the car to now drive out the drive way and in 1st gear but it made the same grinding noise at the same point.

Scared out of my mind I parked the car and left it for Monday.

On Monday, I called the dealership and made an appointment to have the car checked out. I drove it up the hill in first gear with more gas this time, and It began grinding again. My dad said he could maybe get the car out in second gear but when he put the car into 1st, the car just revved really loud. He put the car in reverse, 2nd, 3rd, all gear and there was simply no response from the car.

Road Side Assistance-

MINI sent a tow truck to pick up the car (no cost) and we had it at the dealership 20 minutes later. The service advisor said the clutch is covered by my warranty but he thinks it's the transmission which is also covered.

Good, so my car will be fixed by tomorrow.

NO

The next day, (yesterday) I got a call from MINI and the results were in. I needed a new clutch. The guys says, "We have a clutch here and the job would take 15 hours, a total cost or $1,550."

Bad news... My Matinence warranty ended on April 10th 2005. 10 freaking days ago.

I don't know if I'm going to have Mini fix it but right now I don't have a car and I'm in need a new clutch. Does anyone have any suggestions? Has this, either a clutch replacement or warranty issue, happened to anyone else?

Thanks to much!

 

I don't know MINI's offical policy or that of your dealership, but most manufacturers have the documented warranty and have also given the dealerships the latitude to cover items under warranty under extenuating circumstances provided they not go more than a certain amount over mileage or time. Our Suburban had a $200 item covered under warranty when it was 2 months expired. Note that I believe this was "grace" and not required. I would find it odd if MINI could not and/or would not accommodate 10 days. The PR alone would be worth it for such a short overage period. Contact the service manager or the owner of the dealership and present your case.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

Bastards!

 

There's no point talking to the service manager. Just go straight to the owner or general manager of the dealership and see what he/she says. If that fails, ask the dealer to put you in touch with the Zone Guy -- the BMW rep who looks after dealers in a geographical area. He is the one who will have the authority to let the dealer perform an out of warranty repair. If that also fails, you can escalate to the high mucky mucks at BMW North America.

Most manufacturers would cover this sort of thing just for the PR value. But you never know with BMW. They're not big on PR.

 

If MINI/BMW won't cover it, I wouldn't let the dealership perform the repair. Ask your local MINI club for a good, reliable service station, and have them do it. You'll probably end up saving at least a couple hundred dollars.

-Paul!

 

How many miles are on your car?

 

Ouch, DW! My '02 MCS is at 61k and no clutch problems... hope it stays that way... yikes!

Godspeed.

 

This happened to one of the guys on the MetroplexMINI.org board.

He ended up getting a BETTER aftermarket clutch for a lot less.

 

Oh that sux, I feel your pain! I have had things just outside the warranty period too. *Most* of the time, after some discussion with the Manager and/or Owner, if I have been a patron of the dealer, I would get a nice break, such as parts covered, or 1/2 the cost covered, etc. Do not expect them to pick it all up - it's possible but not likely.

 

Ten days ago? I would raise holy hell with everybody until you get the dealer to fix it. Talk about engineered obsolescence!

 

Yeah, they really planned on it failing on a specific timeframe

 

Yeah, they really planned on it failing on a specific timeframe

you do not really believe this do you????????????/

 

If you can't get it fixed under warranty, I would strongly consider going aftermarket for the next clutch. Something more durable like Spec or similar. As long as you're spending a grand to open up the tranny, I'd give M7 a call and see what he might recommend :smile:

 

I hope he was kidding but I doubt it. Believe it or not there are a LOT of people that truely believe products are designed to fail RIGHT after the warranty runs out. We make jetski engines, and I hear it all the time. We have 1 and 2 year warranties available. They are also no-fault warranties (you can install it yourself and if it fails for any reason even lack of oil, wrong fuel, water, etc. we cover it). Because it is such a lenient warranty we are VERY strict on the time frame. I don't feel sorry at all for someone that has a failure just outside the warranty period, especially the 1 year. #1 they could have purchased a 2 year. #2, they ALWAYS say 'but I only used it a few hours' - to which my reply is - then you should have used it more. #3 is pretty common - 'I just installed it!'. My reply is - well then you should have used the product within the warranty period! It's not ym fault you put the project on the shelf for a year!

Bottom line is there are a lot of customers in the world that expect unfair treatment. This is NOT about this thread's poster BTW, just a rant in general about people that want full warranty coverege when they don't have any.

 

Oh this is sad! Please keep us posted if you decide to escalate up the chain with MINI. I have heard of others having issues right after their warranty ran out, and the dealership DID fix it free. I keep my fingers crossed for you...:smile:

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"
05' HB/W on it's way - no name yet

 

Warranty or not, a clutch is a wear item isn't it? Unless some kind of manufacturing defect can be proven, I don't think the dealer would be under any obligation to replace it.

 

Thanks everyone for all the information!

I'm calling to speak to the Zone Guy right now and if that doesn't go well, all hell will break loose when Mini of North America is informed.

If THAT all fails, I guess i'll be looking into a new clutch which will most likely be an aftermarket clutch.

Squirlz, the clutch is covered under the 3 year, 25k mile maintenance warrenty. The dealership said it would have been covered 10 days ago.

MSFITOY, I'd like to hear more about that clutch if you have the time. Could you PM me some info on it and M7? Thanks so much!

SpirderX, my car only has 21k miles on it!!!!!

 

If you end up not being able to get MINI to cover the repair this would most definitely be the route I'd go. That's what I figure I'll do actually, once parts start to need replacement, with brakes and such; replace with better after-market.

Sorry to hear about that, sounds like a problem I had with an S10 I drove a few years ago. Had to force it in to 3rd gear and baby drive it around that way to get to the dealership. No fancy free tow from Chevy.

 

this is a great Idea!! Getting a new clutch is a bear!!! whether you do it your self or have it done and so if you are going to spend the money which is mostly in labor...get an after market one...if you wear that one out...well then you know it's not the clutch...LOL

chris

also these things happen...it's fixable...yes at a cost...but at least it's a wear and tear part...not soemthign else

 

I had a VERY VERY similar problem with my 03 Cooper at around 30,000 miles. It would make a hideous sound when starting out in first. So I started using second and it was doing the same exact thing as in first. So I called my dealer and told them I was on my way. I made it 3 miles from them when the The car just would not go. The sound is hard to describe. I had the car towed to my dealer and the told me the same thing that it is probably the clucth and it will be some crazy amount to fix. I couldnt believe it. I had to sign a paper stating that if it were infact the clutch that I would need to pay for the repairs. So I was steaming they gave me a new car as a loaner and said they would call me when they knew. 1 week later I got a call expecting to hear that I was going to have to come up with 2-3 grand. My advisor informed me that it was NOT my clucth it was the whole transmission. They replaced and I was back motoring a few days after that. The description of the sounds I gave led them to believe that it could be the clucth and thank goodness it wasnt. There was no way I could have gone through a clutch that fast. I am very gentle with it. Also if the clutch did fail even if you were still in your 36,000 3yr service contract IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED... I dont get that either They will replace brake pads and rotors and not a clutch... I have spoken with other COOPER owners and I know 3-4 more others who had the same problem I did around the same miulage as well. The build dates wernt the same though.

 

Don't forget to throw in one of these while you're at it.

 

Oh, and one of these, too...

 

I'm glad that all changed for '05. Mine is actually covered for 50,000 miles with the rest of the warranty, as i paid an extra $380 for an extra year maint. plan. My SA said to 'make sure' I need a new clutch just before 50,000 miles

 

Haha thanks for the story03ibmini. That is exactly what happened to me with the noises and all. I'm going to call MINI back and see if they can take another look cause he said it might be the transmission.

XAlfa, car parts are foreign to me, hahha. What are those? How much do they cost?

The flywheel looks really nice!

 

Mine is going in this very moment...I hope:smile: DT?