so yesterday we took our ('04) mc to the mountains, wanted to go skiing for the day. seems like more people had the same idea so we got stuck in a traffic jam going uphill...
this is when it all started.. it smelled like burning rubber... we thought some rednecks were just burning car-tires or something stupid and closed the windows and drove on... uphill but no hardcore revving or anything like that (ok i admit, i stalled it a few times, but didn't really get into the reds or something) after half an hour or so we opened the window to see if the smell was gone, it wasn't... but all other cars had their windows down... so we got out of the car and found out it actually was us
now the question(s):
how do we know for sure what caused it? i have been reading a little (and am not technical at all) and it seems it is either the clutch or the rc-belt right? seems to be the clutch as it has been acting up since then.
so how much is it to fix something like that.. seems like clutch-kits are around $300 online but hey, i know my mini dealer, that will probably be atleast $2000... and if it is.. is there any way i can actually check it was the clutch (how do you tell?) and i am not geting screwed over?
oh and, if they would charge $2000+ would it be wise to just get a $300 clutch set online and get the local mechanic to put it in? (or anyone know a good one in LA? )
any help would be greatly appreciated as for now it just seems like this is gonna cost a lot of money wich i don't have
anyone wanna buy a nice '04 mini?

 

The clutch is a friction device. When riding the clutch slowly up hill you will heat up the surface and it will start to smell. It should not damage the clutch except for more rapidly wearing it down. What kind of issues have you been having since?

 

had some shifting problems (revving up before catching gear and clutch peedal feels less responsive) so it seems like it did screw up the clutch.. she's been to the mini dealer today and they said it needs a new one (they charge $3000 and also said we have leaky valves + right window stopped working wich they charge $450 for... are all mini drivers made out of money or something?)
it really really sucks!
will probably be selling it now as this is just too much. too bad cause i loved the little red monster :(

(so how come if i look online a mini clutch set is around $300... does the mini dealer just add a 0 for fun? or is it really a $2700 job to change those discs?)

 

You should be able to get your clutch replaced for significantly cheaper, especially if you buy an aftermarket clutch kit and get a local mechanic to do it. Replacing the clutch does take a significant amount of time and when you're paying the $115/hr dealer rate... it adds up quickly. I'd shop around for a local guy to see if you can get the work done... shouldn't cost you anymore than $1500 total, parts and labor... you might even be able to get it cheaper, just have to shop around. Good luck!

GotMINI

 

It sounds look you fried your clutch. The pedal not feeling as responsive and the gears "not catching" are both good indicators of that. Another way to check is to take your car out the highway and put into 5th then floor it. If the revs go up before you start to feel the car move faster your clutch is slipping.

When you were driving, where you slipping the clutch to keep yourself from rolling backwards or were you using the brakes?

 

guess mostly slipping.. weird though cause that is how i have driven in all cars i ever driven in.. never fried my clutch before

well it seems to be a fried clutch (was still hoping for the rc belt) so gonna shop for a cheap mechanic now... once your warranty is gone it doesn't really pay of to go to the mini dealer huh? thanks for clearing that up Alerious

 

hey are you in LA or L.A. as in los angeles? if you are in socal call danny at minicorsa in van nuys. he is great and very reasonably priced and HONEST. he is a MINI expert. google minicorsa for the website and his number and email or you can go to the vendor directory and he is listed there. tell him Andy sent you.

if you're not in socal dismiss this and good luck!