I need help. My 03 mini cooper S has 66K miles on it. I smell a burnt smell under the hood and as i go into the 1st gear I hear a whining noise up front. Is that my clutch going out and the smell means that I burned my cluth somehow? Please help. It seams my car drives fine except for those two things.

anhfire

 

go up a hill in top gear ; a steep hill . don't lag the engine . the highway should suffice . but get it in top gear at say 2000 -2500 rpms ; you know , kinda on the low side but not lagging . then nail the throttle . if the rpms jump or climb then settle then quickly climb and settle without the car accelerating in rythym ; then it's safe to say your clutch is slipping .