I have a 04 Cooper S w/ 28k miles on it. About 1000 miles ago my gearbox start having problems. Here are some symptoms:

1) The gearbox is very very very stiff. It's a workout to put the car in 1, 2, and sometimes 3rd. Always.

2) Sometimes I can't put the car in gear. I have to release the clutch and try pushing again. Intermittent.

3) Going into reverse sometimes makes a LOUD grinding/tearing sound. Intermittent.

4) The clutch is very hard. Always.

I took it to Crevier Mini last week and they said it's probably an abused clutch and that it's not covered under warranty. Anybody know if something else could be causing this? I don't want to spend $1,500 on a new clutch at only 28k miles.

 

My car had similar symptoms. Then the release bearing got rough and noisy, then the pedel firmed up, it's almost ceased now. The clutch itself has never slipped. No idea if that is all that is wrong yet since work is scheduled to start soon. My car was only at 32k when this happened.

BTW, my mechanic quoted me $800 labor for completely replacing the clutch/bearing/pressure plate/throwout bearing slide&fork.

 

This is not covered under warranty?

 

My warranty was gone long ago when I started to mod my car. If I hadn't, it is expired by time now anyway.