First post here. My wife and I are looking to buy a R56 and have been on a few test drives lately. I've noticed a pattern and wanted to check with the experts (that's all you) on whether it's a common trait or not.

On the three Mini Cooper S models (all 2009) that I've test driven in the past week, when depressing the clutch pedal it will travel 3/4 of the way to the floor, then feel like it's rubbing against something that's providing slight resistance during the motion of the lever (in some cases making an audible noise). The point of resistance can then easily be pushed past until the clutch pedal is all the way to the floor.

Interestingly, I found that if I applied a bit of pressure on the left side of the pedal (toward the center line of the car) while depressing the pedal, the rubbing at 3/4 travel doesn't happen and the clutch feels and functions as I expect it to - supporting my thought that there may be an obstacle of some sort.

Clutch operation in all three cases seemed fine, it was more of a nuisance than anything else.

Just wondering if this is a common thing and that's just how the clutches on all Cooper S models feel, or if it's possibly something that can be adjusted in the mechanism? On the first car, I thought it was just a fluke with that particular vehicle but when I got to the second and third, I began to wonder if it was a common thing.

Would appreciate any thoughts that anyone has. Thanks!

 

It's a common problem that a lot of people just plain overlook since they're just stomping straight down on the pedal. Mine had this feel too. The clutch bump stop is just barely rubbing on some of the components in that area. But yes, if you press the pedal on the left-most section it won't rub.

The dealer fixed mine under warranty. They just spaced the pedal with some washers and it never had that problem again.

 

Thanks for the reply!

I figured it was something that a lot of people ignore. I could see it driving me crazy, so was hoping to figure our a solution before I pulled the trigger on a purchase.

Do you have any idea where they had to space the washers at?

Is the problem that I'm describing the same thing that gets solved by the BMS Short Throw Clutch Stop? Or is that something else entirely?
http://burgertuning.com/clutch_stop_mini_cooper.html

 

The pedal needs to be moved to the right so that would entail putting in shims on the left side of the pedal's pivot point. That's why when you put pressure on the left side of the pad, it's moving the pedal to the right clearing the obstacle.

All you have to do is show them that the back of the pedal is rubbing and they'll fix it. It's definitely not "acceptable". Make them get down on their hands and knees pushing the pedal straight down with their hand and they'll definitely feel it. It should go straight down to the floor without anything in the way no matter how you stick your foot on the pedal.

I can't really comment on the clutch stop. I never thought the dead space was offensive. I was plenty fast on track without ever using anything like this when I still had my MINI. If it aint broke don't fix it.