Thanks to all of you for your support and insight!

 

/rant on
I'm sorry for going OT on this one but it seems you are one of the lucky few who didn't find faults with Global's service and general customer relations.
/rant off

 

Not to jump on the anti-bad service bandwagon, ur maybe I do, but Umm...Global....I wouldn't stop there if my car broke down next to them.

I've got better service at junkyards looking for old VW parts.

 

"a little under 2400" probably :(

 

Im aware of their past issues but, they have two very good SA's now and have made improvements. They took good care of me and my car

 

yep, sure do.

 

We will probably never find out what happened here. It could have been one day, one line worker at Gertrag did something wrong and a batch of transmissions went out with a defect. There are still some that have not had problems with the LSD. Was it Vader who had an early build with LSD - he has an all yellow car. And I thought Ryephile also has an LSD - he has no issues.

 

You are correct - I do know Helix has a same build week as me with LSD and they've had no problems.

 

Lets hope it continues that way!

 

I have LSD, too--week 3 build. So far no problems at 5600 miles. Knock on wood.

 

Well after several hundred miles *KNOCK ON WOOD*... the problem has not returned.

Very very different feeling clutch now that the new one is in. This clutch engages right at the middle where the previous clutch engaged at the high end.. it was like learning to drive the MINI all over again for the first few miles.

On my way to Rocky mountain highs in the morning.. hopefully have some pics in a couple weeks

 

good luck.. i'm sure it'll be fine. :-)

 

John,

Just double checking......you had the gearbox grinding going from 3rd to 2nd and they fixed it by changing the clutch?....My car is going in on Tuesday.

 

Awesome news John! Glad to hear Ruska is back home. Good luck on your trip and please remember we want to see pics when you get back!

 

Man, I was salivating at the idea of a new R56 MCS manual until I read this and other related threads. I had a 2006 R53 MCS Manual (LSD) and sold it when I was having continual clutch/Flywheel and transmission issues. The car only had a few K on it.The MINI service & support was the worst I have ever experienced in my life. For the next several months, my life was scheduled around taking in and picking up my car from the dealership/s; always resulting in another visit but never a resolution. Finally one day the Tech did tell me that all symptoms were pointing to a faulty transmission but that they couldn’t replace it until it failed. ?!?! That's when I threw in the towel and got rid the car. All my emails to MINI USA and the dealership service dept had fallen to deaf ears. I loved the car but hated the "warranty" support. I swore to myself and my wife that MINI had lost any chance of getting my business ever again. A year later, I was all hyped up and excited about the new engine in the R56 but that was short lived once I started reading this thread. I cannot express the outrage I feel, knowing that BMW/MINI is still using the same “defective” flywheel, clutch, transmission. How arrogant for them to use the same faulty parts they were using for the past several years and keep this obvious “recall” under the radar. I have owned 2 BMW’s and the service is on the opposite side of the spectrum. That is why I was confident that the MINI service and support would follow suit; boy was I wrong. Anyhow, I guess I will have to buy an Asian car, even though it will never compare to the feel and handling of a MINI. Good luck to all of you who are currently dealing with this issue. I sure do miss my 2006 MCS but would rather have all my teeth pulled, than deal with the service dept at a MINI dealership. BMW/MINI needs to step up to the plate and own and FIX this ongoing problem!

 

Sadly, it does seem that MINI is keenly aware that MINI owners are willing to put up with design idiosyncracies and outright defects. Triumph and MG also had that attitude in the US.... MINI should take note.

 

Well...4000 miles later I am happy to report that I had zero powertrain problems on my roadtrip. I took a risk taking a car w/ an hour old clutch on a roadtrip and thankfully it paid off.

BTW.. 35.6 MPG average over almost exactly 4000 miles...*cough* speed didn't seem to make much of a difference in mileage...

 

FWIW, I have over 5600 miles on my MCS (with LSD), and have had zero problems on the drivetrain or engine...

BTW, mine is a week 3 build.

 

Yes...that exact issue and the clutch/flywheel change resolved it.

FWIW it's worth...I printed over 100 pages of examples of this issue to hurry the resolution along..

 

Well they just changed the clutch in mine and so far it seems to have cured the problem...

 

Good to hear!