Maybe someone traded it in because they felt the clutch slipping...or maybe the dealer put a new clutch in and the mechanic made a mistake. Whatever the case, if they will make it right, I say keep it. If they blame you or give you the runaround at all, tell them you want your money back.

 

That's what the wife and I had basically decided. My thinking is:

1. It is in AMAZING condition - I mean, the leather is absolutely mint, not a single sign of wear, the Carfax shows they serviced it religiously at the dealership. Single owner from 10 miles old to now. From the carfax service records, they drove it roughly 5,000 miles per year, with the occasional 6-8k. They owned it for 9 years and 9 months.

When we saw the mileage online, we immediately called on it. They hadn't had it in more than 24 hours, and hadn't even run it through their inspection. During their inspection, they changed the head gasket and a taillight bulb.

The only other issues are that the tire pressure light is on, but all tires are good (records show 2k miles on them), and the external light failure light are on (but all lights are working, even the license plate light. Otherwise, no codes, no leaks,

2. If the clutch was slipping, I definitely didn't feel it during the test drive (even did the 3rd to 5th test to see if it would slip). It didn't. Drove it 2 miles to the store and back last night, parked it, and then this morning it was shot.

 

Your driving the car was probably the most aggressive the clutch and drivetrain has ever seen in its 10 year life. So I bet you the clutch was worn to the degree of the previous owner (wear pattern) and when you started driving it, it just could not cope with the new dynamic. Its a clutch,a wearable component like brake pads. A wearable component may not be covered and they may charge you for some portion of the change. Be prepared though because suppose they say you need to pay for a clutch? If you don't want to pay for the clutch they will gladly take the car back, make the repairs themself and turn around and sell it. Since it has such low mileage I would get it repaired and drive on. You mention that that the car had a head gasket change? Is that correct? Head gasket seems premature for the miles!!!

My JCW that I purchased had 71K on the clock. The dealer had it for 3 months before I bought it. They changed the clutch 15 days before I came across it and whola it was sold. So clutches can go at any dynamic and based upon a person's driving habits. Maybe Granny kept her foot on the clutch pedal while waiting for the light to change at every intersection at every moment. As was said before, I would approach the dealership and see if they will exercise some goodwill and make the repair for you at no cost but even if they were to come back an say "you can pay for the clutch or return the car for your money back", I would still fix the car and pay for the clutch out of my own pocket. By the way did the dealership offer you an extended warranty when you made the purchase?

 

Looks like a nice car.

 

Clutches are funny animals. Can be fine, then boom, it's toast..

 

Have it towed to the dealer. Ask for your money back. Let them come up with the plan to fix it for free. At that point bring up a extended warranty - get it at their cost.

You have a good hand, just play it.

 

OK so s little old lady/old man rode the clutch too much and burned it out. The next question is did they follow the 15k per year oil change that for the N14 has not turned out well. Have the chain guides been replaced?

 

WnW I was thinking the same thing, I almost have the same story with my 08 "S" I bought from a mini dealer, 55k on the clock mint inside, dealer replaced rear brakes and tires. Drove it 2 months (3k) and started getting the death rattle, Tensioner was changed at 30k but the chain was now stretched beyond limits. $1600 later it has all new guides, chain and tensioner. It runs great and I change oil every 5K religiously.

 

The OP said he didn't want to talk about R53 etc so I assume he knew about the inherent problems with the R56 and I hope he made sure the oil was clean and knows that he has to change it often and be meticulous with maintenance to keep the car going.

 

Where did R53 come into the discussion?

 

In the very first post. I'm just saying it looks like he's done some research on the different Minis, otherwise I would've warned him about all the R56 issues.

 

Despite some of the experiences some have had with their R56s, I for one love my 2009 JCW R56. it has performed well and has received the level of care that it deserves. Recently I did the oil leaks on the vehicle, coil packs, valve cover, timing chain tensioner. The clutch was changed prior to my ownership. My brother is a master mechanic on German and other european cars so I manage to keep on top of all my vehicles needs and maintenance.

 

I have an '09 S and I like it too, but if I wasn't a mechanic it would've cost me a fortune over the past 2 years.

 

Sorry for the slow response, work got in the way.

Sunday we had it towed to the dealership (Schomp Mini in Littleton, Colorado - they have been amazing).

Monday morning we swung by at 9 and asked for the sales manager. Explained the situation, told him we hd only put 19 miles on it, etc. He walked us to service, got us set up with the service manager, and told us he would call later on Monday with three options, once they had diagnosed. Three options were:

1. Fix the car to our satisfaction, at their cost, and get the car back.

2. Find a comparable car that we were happy with, even if it were slightly more expensive/newer, and get us set up in that for the same price.

3. Refund all money and call it a day

They called and let me know that the clutch was shot. Basicaly what you all described - PO had probably never broken in the clutch properly, rode the pedal, etc, and the driving I had done just did it in. They also discovered that one foglight was out, and a tire pressure sensor was bad.

They are replacing all three items, at their cost. We are going with option 1 to get the car back.

For the maintenance questions, it was religiously maintained. Serviced by the dealer every 3-5k. Tires purchased and installed by the dealer. Brakes, fluids, etc. the engine bay seriously looks brand new.

They replaced the head gasket the day I bought it because they saw some “flakes” of gasket hanging out. Wasnt a bad gasket, but would need to be replaced soon.

Decarbed twice in that time. Last one was 10k ago.

All brakes done 4k ago

For the r53 comments; yes, I am familiar with the general standards of the r56 not being... terribly... reliable. With that said, I also am not a stranger to turning a wrench. That is part of why I bought an older car - so that I could make it my own. I work full time from home, with the occasional (1-2 times a month) 15 mile trip to the office and back. My previous truck had a total of 5k miles racked up on it in the last two years. I need something that is reliable enough for that, but in which I can also have as a weekend toy to get out and enjoy the mountains in. I expect to have to work on it, replace parts, fix things. My main concern was that a clutch being shot that quickly was a common issue that I just hadn't come across on the forums in the couple months I have been researching and stalking

Once I get it back, I will do my best to post an introduction (to both myself AND the car)

Thanks for all of the helpful comments; I come from the German car world, and it seems that this thread has already had more welcoming/comforting/helping comments than I usually got over there. Thanks!