It's BAAAACKKK!!! Groaning 3rd to 2nd gear shift.
 

I can't believe my luck (well actually I can) my 3rd to 2nd gear problem is back. That means another trip to the dealer - for possibly yet another new clutch - this would be the fourth clutch/flywheel if they decide to replace it. (See this post for a litnany of all my other problems https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=96638)

I'm at the point where a conversation needs to be had MINIusa. I also have a very whistlely sunroof, and now a very odd clicking noise that happens when I first set off.

I smell a lemon.

Thats too bad, sorry.

time for the lemon law:sad:

Does this mean arbitration or mediation via the BBB?:sad:

I'm going to try and work through MINIusa first...if that doesn't work I'll have to get it repaired, have it exhibit the fault and then go through the lemon law process in Maryland (where I bought the car).

Oh jeez, I was hoping this wouldnt happen to you Kurt :sad: I agree with the lemon statement. I would have been hopping on that bandwagon when they had to replace the 3rd one. Good luck and let us know how it goes

Wow...sorry to hear this. Good luck with whatever path you take!

Just replacing my clutch for the 1st time on my 07 it doesn't even have 5,000 on it yet. I hope I dont experience the same problem as you. I hope you get the issue resolved.

Just dropped it off at the dealer - trying a different one this time - we'll see what happens.

I'm supposed to get mine back today with a new clutch and trans.
We're tracking it on the weekend with Phil Wicks ---- I suppose that Trinity and I will be the extreme beta test for the new trannies...
Look for reports and photos on Monday.

I realize I am no mechanic, but I question whether the clutch is responsible. If the noise is clutch-based, wouldn't it occur in some form during any/most clutch operations, as opposed to just in 3rd to 2nd downshifts? I realize that different gear changes may put different stresses on the clutch, but it sounds more transmission related to me.

I agree with you. However, I wonder why the noise goes away when they replace the clutch for some time. Perhaps the noise is present in all gears but you can't hear it due to road noise? Something is terribly wrong, regardless.

This noise you can hear if a train is going by.Mine does it less and less with age.

Wow. So the noise is getting better as you drive it? Wierd....

Perhaps some misalignment in the transmission causes a problem in the clutch?

My guess is that it's a heat issue; the metals are expanding at different rates due to the higher temperatures generated by the R56.
As the dogs in the flywheel grind down, the noise subsides. But all that nice retal residue is floating around...

Again, just my guess.
I can't wait to get my car back this afternoon and frolick a bit...

Car wan't ready yesterday.
If it's not ready today I'll lose it...

Mine was in the shop for 10 days before they fixed it. It took a call to higher levels of MINIUSA to get them to move on it. I was leaving on a 10 day roadtrip and they got it back to me literally 30 mins before I left town.

I feel your pain.

I'm in the same boat. Mine went back to the dealer today as the noise has reappeared after six weeks since they replaced the clutch. They've filed a PUMA report with Mini and are awaiting a response as to what to do next.

Duplicate post post from other thread:

Woo-hoo!
I got my car back yesterday with a "remanufactured driveline". Warranty invoice showed $2800 worth of work...

The initial feel is wonderful. I never noticed that the transmission was notchy previously --- it is buttery-smooth by comparison now. The banshee squeal is gone so far.

I'm tracking her tomorrow with Phil Wicks at the Talladega Gran Prix. We'll see how it performs and I'll be checking the bonnet temperatures of everything around me.
R56's at the dealer (including mine) had bonnet temperatures ranging from a low of 235 to a high of 240 degrees after a run. :eek2: That's the exterior of the car, on the bonnet --- that any passing child might touch while you're in the store buying a block of cheddar...

Did they give you a "break-in" guideline for the remanufactured driveline?

When I bought my MINI, I was told to baby it for 1200-1500 miles...can't remember at the moment...was VERY glad when I passed that magic number though!

Just wondering if you were advised to follow a break-in guideline even though it's a remanufactured driveline.

No break-in warning; in fact, they kept it intentionally to install the driveline before track day. I offered to bring it in after the session at first.
I think the initial break-in is for the motor.

www.lemonlaw.com can assign you a Maryland attorney (costs covered by BMW) for both the MD lemon law as well as the federal Moss-Magnuson Act, depending on which is best suited for your case. If you want a new car, the lemon law would be the route. (your car is still new enough to be covered under that law)

My dealer has now decided that the squeal is normal and they are not prepared to do anything about it. I feel a lawsuit is in my future.

We tracked the cars over the weekend with the AtlantaMinis and Phil Wicks.

My new trans ran pretty well but it did make the 3-2 squeal one time on the way to the track... ...only 150 miles on the rebuild...

I found out that the turbo reaches a high of 325 degrees F when you run it hard; that's why the bonnet gets to 240 degrees.
Too hot, in my opinion. That's just not safe for an exterior part of a car. And maybe that's what makes the clutch and trans squeal?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...n/100_2463.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...n/100_2433.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...n/100_2410.jpg

So after a new transmission, your car still makes the noise! I just can't figure out what it could be thats causing it.