3-2 squeal is a phrase I just spotted in another thread...but it struck a familiar chord. When I downshift from third to second (while driving fairly spirited), I indeed get a squeal. However, I do not get the squeal when downshifting from 3 to 2 when rpms are somewhat lower. Other than that, the transmission operates normally and very well. Is anyone else having the 3-2 squeal issue? I haven't taken it in for service on this yet but wonder if anyone else has and what was the outcome?

John at 6,800 miles...

 

Are you talking about tire squeal?

If so, you aren't matching the revs and are putting a lot of stress and abuse to the drivetrain.

 

Mini is saying that the squeal comes from the clutch plate getting glazed over due to non aggresive driving ,there fix has something to do with burning the clutch by down shifting at high RPM's.Check out 2nd generation stock problem / issues.My dealer say's theres nothing wrong with mine they have never heard of it before,along with the bonnet thats to hot to touch .Crevier is my dealer .

 

^^Exactly. You should be rev matching when downshifting from 6th all the way to at least 2nd. What that means is when you are in a gear, push the clutch in, tap the accelerator to push up the rpms, then shift into the next lower gear. I always do this. You can't even tell my car is donwshifting. I don't hear a thing all the way to 2nd. By that time, I'm almost at a stop so I just stop and plop into 1st gear. Hope that helps.

 

Yep that works also.
If you have not heard the squeal before ,it sounds like Chubaka from Star Wars when he's pissed .

 

My driving style is naturally preventing the squeal I guess..

 

I'm trying so hard to learn to do this correctly. When others do it (my husband for one), it's seemless, smooth, and consistent. When I do it...well, it's not pretty.

I WILL conquer the learning curve. Right now it's challenging.

 

is it a squeal like a little mouse, or is a squeal like turbo whine or is a squeal like straight cut transmission gear?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmJH84FnQa8

WTB straigh cut sequential box for my MCS :P

 

No, not tire squeal. Definitely a metallic sound. Like ball bearings that are stuck in place, squeal a bit, and then start to roll.

I'm matching revs when I downshift into second although I can't tell you the rpm level off the top of my head. I'll take a look at that the next time I downshift...

...again, this only occurs periodically...usually when I am going 30-ish mph in third and downshifting into second gear matching revs as I engage the clutch...

Mario Jr.

 

I just found the other thread regarding 3-2 squeal that someone suggested I find. Apparently I am not alone...

 

LMAO, that's a pretty close description!

I know three R56's are in Mini of Concord right now with this problem. One is mine, however that is not what it is in for, but I'm hoping they change the clutch while they have it to solve the problem. The other two are both currently having their clutches replaced.

 

It's called Wookiee Syndrome !

 

This is a "know problem" to Mini.......

Our MCS is having a new flywheel and clutch fitted as I type....

Ken

 

So you're saying my MINI will whine if I don't take drive it aggresively? Pffffft I'd call that a feature!

 

I have had this squeal/grind/vibrate happen maybe....5 or 6 times...

I have started driving a >bit< more agressively, basically not babying my clutch... I havent really heard the sound since.

The clutch compound causing the flywheel to glaze over sounds like the most probably solution to me. And the sound makes sense.

Nick

 

I have had the 3-2 squeal for about 2k miles now.
I have been taking the back roads to work for about the last 2 weeks (about 400+ miles) driving very aggressively and the squeal has become much less of an issue. It's still there occationaly but hasn't squealed like a stuck pig in some time.

 

I have experienced the same noise with downshifts from 3rd to 2nd gear. I believe it is from the synchro for the gear, and it does not seem to be a problem so far. I have heard similar noised from the synchros in other makes of cars.

 

I and the shop manager are pretty much 100% positive it's NOT the syncro's.....
if it were the syncros then it would be hard to shift into 2nd from 3rd. You would have to force it to get it into the gate. It's as smooth as silk to the touch, but like sandpaper on the ears.

 

New clutch and flywheel now fitted.......

Ive tried to get the noise to re-appear with no luck so far....
Technician who carried out the work mentioned something about "clearance issues" with the clutch which was causing glazing of the flywheel on some MCS cars.

Our MCS only did the noise after you had done a few miles so everything had warmed up, and only when driving in a spirited manner.........
It also did it alot more when there was more weight in the car for example with 2 or more people inside.

Ken

 

I agree mine has done it a few times and I beleive it is in the clutch disc/pressure plate/flywheel. I dont worry about it, I just stick the throttle power through the turn and keep on smiling!