just got my cms a week ago, built july 2012, and i can't say the engagement is awful. it's a little spongy for sure,and lacks feedback, but it doesn't seem as bad as people with 2011's have described. hopefully that means something.

fwiw, i KNOW i am not spending any more time with it engaging than our 2008 clubman. so if the cms clutch goes before the clubman, i should have a pretty good argument: it's the same foot driving both cars. how could i drive poorly in one and not the other?

should that happen (knock on wood) it would be good ammunition for others with premature clutch failures.

 

Day 1 and no answers yet. But I had NAV problems and another engine stumble at idle for them to look at too.

The fun part is in taking it apart, they found that I need a new transfer case and have an oil leak. The SA warned that a clutch and the goodies would be $2.2k and with a new flywheel is over $3k. I really don't think I can do anything but lemon this car. I love it, but this is trip #7 and day 18 out of servcie. Hopefully the 13s will have some improvements.

 

Sadly this is our experience as well with our 2012 All4. < 5K miles, clutch is failing. And we're *very* experienced manual transmission drivers.

The issue seems to be aggravated by our hilly conditions here (Seattle).

 

Sorry to read that the clutch situation continues to plaque many other owners. When we had our clutch replaced at just under 5K miles, the service advisor stated that the replacement parts had the exact same part number which meant that it was the exact same part - no improvements. said an improved clutch would have a new part number.

Considering all the reports here (a small sampling of ownership) and reports from national auto periodicals and blogs, you can not dismiss that the clutch is problematic. Not to say that everyone will have problems, but enough people have reported a range of issues, including complete clutch failures, that you can't deny the existence of a problem.

I hope that MINI USA works favorably with everyone that experiences premature failure as they had with me. Getting past the brouhaha with the dealer should be a little easier though.

This has really tainted our ownership experience with MINI.

 

Hopefully the aftermarket and independent repairers come to the rescue cuz it seems dealers are quoting anywhere from $2,200 to $2,800 for clutch refurbishment. I assume it would be about $1,000 ($400 to $500 in parts 3 to 4 hours of professional experienced labor and tax.)
Regardless of price, it seems a clutch should be designed lo last 150k miles under typical driving conditions. In 29 years of driving stick shifts I have driven cars (mostly BMW's) well past that mileage on their original clutch.

 

i read about an aftermarket clutch and flywheel. this will solve the issue, yes?

 

Justs a brief update: I heard today from Seattle MINI Service Mgr Ryan that they're trying to get MINI to replace my clutch free-of-charge, plus I can keep the loaner car until they get it sorted out.

Not happy about my car, but they do seem to be trying very hard to provide good customer service!

 

I couldn't be more disappointed in the handling of this issue with both my dealer and MINI USA. I'm seriously at a loss for words.

 

For those experiencing any premature clutch wear or symptoms that you think may be related to the clutch: make sure you document every instance with your dealer. Make them inspect the vehicle. Get the service manager involved. Get MINI USA's attention by strategically (and tactfully) leveraging social media outlets. They are paying attention.

I think this whole clutch thing stinks (pun intended) and ultimately think that MINI USA should be replacing all clutches with a heavier duty part. At least they are covering repairs in many cases. This is a band-aid approach and will impact my decision about future MINI purchases.

 

UPDATE. after 3 days, the dealership and MINI USA are splitting the cost
While I wasn't happy with the dealerships initial response, they shouldn't be paying a penny for a faulty product. The car won't be ready till next week, along with an oil leak, bad trasfer case, bugged out gps and engine stumble. that'll be at or over 30 days out of service.

 

The clutch issues continue (I live with the crappy clutch after 6 months and 11M miles)

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...untryman_all4/

 

Thanks for posting this link Rockland! Excerpt below:

"The reason we wanted to test the 2012 Mini Countryman with an automatic transmission is our Four Seasons Countryman with a manual transmission hasn't won a lot of friends. Not only does the clutch suffer from less-than-ideal engagement point and a lack of feel, but our long-term test vehicle went through a clutch in less than 15,000 miles. How come? The clutch disc is too small to handle the torque of the 1.6-liter engine under boost and the engine doesn't have enough torque off boost to get the Mini off the line quickly. Even if you don't intend to abuse the clutch, it's very difficult to launch the car without slipping the clutch excessively when you're trying to move off from a stop faster than the stereotypical Prius driver."

 

Got it back today. Service manager drove it up an incline to show "proper usage". Apparently you aren't supposed to shift above 1600 RPMs. As he stalled it and stumbled it up the hill. We pay a premium price for this product and this is not acceptable. I'd love to see him drive through traffic up hills or shift through an intersection while waiting for the RPMs to drop on a "race inspired brand".

 

Do I smell a recall? or is that the smell of the lemon law

 

Not sure if this is new news or not, but out of curiosity I did a Google search on the clutch part number shown on Mojito's receipt. The only result that came up was a special order BMW clutch kit from turnermotorsport.com for $292.95. I also looked up the part number on realoem.com. Not only did they give Mojito a remanufactured clutch instead of a brand new one, the same part is used with every N18 (turbocharged) engine irrespective of Mini model (including JCW models, although the new JCW CM is not listed, at least not yet). So the CMS clutch (All 4 or not) is the same as a MCS hardtop that weighs 20% less than the CMSA4 and is 2 wheel drive. Sounds like a recipe for trouble, although one would think BMW's engineers would certainly have realized the potential for problems and have thoroughly tested it...one would think. On the other hand they saved a lot of $ by not designing a different clutch. Hmmmm..... Note that according to autoguide.com, the first gear ratio on the MCS hardtop and CMSA4 are the same, although the final drive ratio on the All4 is slightly shorter, 3.65 versus 3.71.

 

Noticed one more interesting fact...the same clutch is used on all late model Diesel Mini's (turbo and non turbo) in Europe (that have a lot more torque)

 

so they want $875 to tear into it (which they forgot to quote me), $2400 for the new clutch or 3400 if the flywheel is toast. And we get a remanufactured part from a vehicle it wasn't designed for. Awesome.

Doesn't a BMW 3 series have an option for a 6mt with x drive? how can we not steal their whole system.

 

I'm just guessing, but I would think the X drive clutch and trans is totally different as it's for a car where the engine is mounted front to back, versus the Mini where the engine is mounted sideways.

 

Mojito, your service receipt states the resurfaced the FW. This car uses a Dual Mass FW, you cant typically resurface these.
The design makes it nearly impossible. On a DM FW the FW is spring loaded internally. Making nearly impossible to cut. (think- cutting a brake rotor that is not secured, instead, allowed to flex via a spring backing.)
What they probably did was whiz wheel the glazed surface. Not exactly 'dealership' proper.

The CMS4 does use a difference Clutch, its 235mm

 

Are you saying the CMSA4 clutch is larger than for other CM models?

 

If you have not done so- log a complaint with the NHTSA. If enough complaints are logged - it will lead to voluntary action by Mini/BMW or a recall. Here is the link-

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml

 

Brought in my 2011 Countryman S to the dealership because of the engine indicator light came on (the car failed to turnover yesterday first 4 tries). Told the SA that I have been noticing more clutch burnt smell - this is after complaining at the last service.

Got a call...car is ready, all the recall issues have been fixed....but techie is concerned about the clutch.

Can tear it down - worse case scenario: $3,100 to replace full clutch (not including 8.75% tax in CA).
If it doesn't need a fly-wheel replacement: $2,400

Miles on car right now, just over 18K. Noticed clutch smell - before 11K.
This is our 5th MINI - all have been manual transmission. I am not looking forward to possibly dealing with crap that I don't know how to drive stick.

The kicker is we bought additional warranty based on the MINI Finance guy's word that the additional warranty would cover the replacement of a clutch before 100,000 miles. The SA said that he has never heard of additional warranty covering a wear and tear item. Perfect...the merry-go-around cometh.

 

the extended maintenance plan covers the clutch to 6 years / 100k miles ... it is spelled out in the contract

scott

 

this is where it gets "fun". I have that plan, but it wouldn't be honored since they think its user abuse.

I love the idea of this car, but I can't in good conscience ever give MINI another dollar.

 

I have a 2012 CMS All4. Less than 3 months and LESS than 4000 KILOMETERS! I do not commute. The town I live in has very little stop and go traffic. Not really a terribly hilly terrain in Southern Ontario either. Last week, going up a slope in slow traffic, smoke started coming out of the hood. Thought the car was on fire. Managed to pull off and let the engine cool. Smelt clutch. To the dealer next day. Their solution has so far been - it is clutch wear, not covered under warranty, possibly due to my driving habits, and $2000+ to take out transmission and replace clutch! I was gobsmacked. I have tried reasoning with them that I am an experienced manual driver, do not ride my clutch and have not misused my vehicle. To no avail. They just won't accept this should be a manufacturing defect. I just had this very uneasy feeling about being at the receiving end of something unfair. While searching online, I found this thread. Wow! As I understand it, there are many owners with similar complaints. Not only should this be considered a manufacturing issue but MINI should not be replacing with the same part!