Has anyone had issues getting a clutch replaced under warranty? I was driving through Laurel Canyon this morning to go to brunch and got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. After about 15 min of stop and start, I could smell my clutch. I've been driving stick for 11 years, I know how to float a clutch and etc. I couldn't believe my clutch was smelling up a storm. Then once I got back onto flat/downhill land I was having a heck of a time getting into gears. Still went to brunch for about 2 hours, got back on the road and the clutch is still not wanting to go in gear very well.

I'm concerned about my clutch not being covered under warranty.. I've got 21K on it and it's never been abused. I can only think of one other time where I could think of my clutch getting a little warm and that was in SF.

Has others able to get their clutch replaced? Is it something else possibly?

 

I had an issue with the pressure plate, and the dealer redused to cover it under warranty as it's "a wear and tear item." Had to get MINI USA involved, and the only response from them was that they stand behind their dealers' word. But I have read of others having better luck than me.

Good Luck.

 

Yeah, I am reading horror stories at the moment of people getting $2000 invoices or estimates for a clutch replacement. I'm not feeling too good at the moment. I'm in the process of moving and can't afford dropping $2000 on a clutch.. (no pun intended) I've never paid even half that much to have a clutch replaced..

 

Keysersozeh,

Would you kindly explain what you are doing or what you mean when you say you know how to 'float a clutch'?

YD

 

Well i'm a working student so the $2,300 the dealer quoted me almost killed me. I talked to a few of the independent MINI shops, and Steve's was able to complete the job for $800.

 

Floating a clutch, is where you engage/disengage the clutch while applying a little gas to keep the car moving a little forward. People tend to do this while moving a little forward at an intersection or even while on a hills. This keeps you from having to almost drop the clutch while on a hill or rolling backwards down it when you engage the clutch in 1st.

I'm currently getting a lot of noise on the clutch pedal before it engages. I'm wondering if it's the plate that's causing that. That would make me feel better. I simply can't afford the bill for this.

 

You just answered your own question as to why your clutch is going away and smelling. Bad technique.

Unless you intend to keep spending a lot of money replacing clutches, I suggest you adopt a proper technique. I'm not fussing, just explaining.

YD

 

I've never had a vehicle that had difficulties or issues with that technique, it's rather disappointing that doing that for a short time would have this affect. Thanks though.

 

Your clutch should be covered under the free maintenance agreement, we cover them and don't get them kicked back. Should have at least 3yrs/36k miles or 4 yrs/50k miles

Chad

 

It is 3/36k and the clutch is covered. Look in your manual and then take the manual to the dealer...it says it all. end of story....as for it not being the proper technique....bs...it does not matter if he is floating his clutch in traffic or not...it should not go out at 21k

 

Provided that you were not abusing the car.....I don't see a problem.

Chad

 

Sorry, but floating your clutch IS NOT good technique.

YD

 

Spoke to the dealership yesterday.

They are replacing the flywheel because they have a bulletin about it. When they removed the tranny they said the clutch needs to be replaced. He said from what he saw it looks like the clutch had seen above normal amount of action. He gave me an option.

I could pay the $300 for the new clutch and all the labor would be covered due to the bulletin for the flywheel needing to be replaced. OR I could try to claim everything with the possibility it could be kicked back in which I would then be on the hook for the $2000+. I'm not a betting person, but I like my odds with the $300 versus the $2000+.

I'm not thrilled about the $300, but it's better than more than that.

I asked the tech, is it common for Mini clutches to blow this early. He mentioned that he has seen clutches come back at 1,000 , 5,000, and even 100,000. Which really didn't tell me a whole lot.

I'm not exactly thrilled with the out come, but I'll happier than what it could be. I appreciated the tech phone call and thanked him. This conversation could have gone very differently.

 

and a pina colada, my friend....

 

Wear and Tear is such a load of crap. Everything on a car is going through wear and tear. I've already had my flywheel replace due to a defect, free of charge. It seems that now Mini is denying more and more warranty requests. One of which is my good friends 07 MCS with 4000 miles!!! This just happened yesterday, and they can't shift...at all. This is a load of crap, and frankly if MINI is denying clutch repairs at 4000 miles now under "wear and tear", I think we should all be a little worried. They're starting to sound like VW, which is the worst possible scenario.

 

No, the worst possible scenario is acting like GM. When my Vega's engine blew at 32,000, they claimed they considered that to be a normal GM engine's life. They actually put it in writing.

 

Like I said, I'm not thrilled but I feel better about only giving them $300 for the part and only that versus $2000+ for everything.

I've spoken to a good number of car people over the last 3 days and we are all shocked that my clutch would be failing this soon. I really hope this doesn't come to be the norm.

4,000??!? I would be fight tooth and nail on that one, that's just obserd. Unless you gave it to a 15 year old for them to teach themself how to drive stick.. there is no reason why it would fail that soon.

 

I would take that letter to the same dealership and show every potential customer that letter.

 

When I had my skate shop, I had it posted on the wall.

 

I was driving up the canyon this weekend and at the very top on the steepest heel I had to stop and then go again (the car had 3 passengers and some cargo) and the car wouldn't go. I can start moving the car on any heel with hand brake or without, never had a problem. In this case it looked like the engine wouldn't pull the car up. The clutch would be fully released and my gas was fully floored and the car would stutter and wouldn't move up and finally stall. It took 3 attempts of stalling and trying to move again. Now I’m concerned and looks like my clutch is slipping when I shift in 4th and 5th. I can't tell if it started slipping before the accident or just after. May be it is not slipping at all and it is my imagination. Any ideas? What should I do take it to the dealer? What should I tell them?

 

I have been told that if you put the car in a high gear (say 5th gear) at 40 or 50mph and floor it the RPM's should not increase much. If the RPM's increase a lot fast than your speed the clutch is slipping. If its not then the clutch is fine.

 

That's just it, they are fighting like tooth and nail to get it. They've brought it up with the dealership executives and they're still thinking it over and passed on another request to MINI. I think MINIUSA has said a few things to their dealerships on repairs or denial thereof. A lot of'em are recieving declines and kick backs after people have paid for repairs hoping they'd get something covered under warranty. So my buddy just laid down $2500 for labor and a new clutch, all in a hope that they won't kick his re-request back.....for an 07 with just over 4000 miles. What a joke. I thought I'd have a MINI the rest of my life, now I'm not so sure.

 

Thank KHD, I'll try that. My car is only 8 month old with 5k miles on it. How much will dealer charge for just looking at it?

 

They shouldn't charge you anything, unless they start taking things apart and find out it's wear and tear.

Bazarus, where you located?

 

That was my worry, was this going to be the preview of things to come with my mini. I was on here reading around for a while before I took the plunge ordered Jerome. I couldn't be happier, but when I hear and see this, it makes me worry.

There's a part of me that sees this and really makes me 2nd guess the idea of getting mods. I know you shouldn't mod if you can't afford the possibility of needing repairs, but after this week.. and hearing about the possibilities of the expenses.