Hi Everyone,

Biscuit here - first-time Cooper owner - '06 MCS MT - just picked it up in December and LOVE it. Have a few quick questions though, 1 important and 1 less so (but still bugging me).

First, the important:

*When starting out in 1st gear, I sometimes get a high-pitched whine as the clutch lets out and it slips into gear. It's sounds like it's something spinning that is then rubbing up against a housing or something that results in the high-pitched sound. It fades once I get into gear and start accelerating away. Does anyone know what this is? I got the car with only 12K miles on it, so I can't imagine the clutch or tranny is shot, but I'm also not a car expert by any stretch. Any ideas? It never happens when shifting into any other gears, and it's about 50% of the time when starting out in first.

Second, the minor annoying thing:

*I have an interior rattle up on the dashboard - it sounds like it's coming from where the dash meets the glass of the front windshield, right in the center. If I press down on the dash near the light sensor thing while driving it stops. Anyone else had this rattle? Any good, easy ways to fix it? I was thinking of just pressing a piece of small rubber in between the dash and the windshield to secure it, but don't know if that's a good call or not.

Thanks so much for any responses, and thanks to all of you for posting in general - all the things I've read on here have made buying/owning much much easier!

Best,
Biscuit

 

i've been told that this is a spot of oil that drips down onto the clutch plates and thats why it makes that noise. i took mine in to have it serviced and it was immediately addressed.
i have the same rattle and cannot seem to shake it. I'd be interested if someone does know a good way to clear that up.

 

Thanks a lot for the help. I appreciate it, and hope that's the case (much better than needing a new tranny!)

Do you know how it was fixed? I'd like to be able to outline it for them in detail (my dealer doesn't seem to be the sharpest).

Thanks again!

 

Oh, and I'll let you know if my 'jam a piece of rubber in there' solution works on the dash rattle.

 

i'll look at the work orders and try to get a better answer back to you.

 

Don't know about the dash rattle, but we just had our 2006 MCS clutch and flywheel replaced because of the clutch noise that began around 3000 miles - car has 13000 miles on it now. All previous posts suggest that the noise is relatively harmless, but for a new car to do that is unacceptable.

But, yeah, ours did it engaging first gear, rarely engaging into second, and occasionally in reverse, usually on wet days.

 

Thanks Green. I appreciate it. It will help to know if it's that or what GregO is mentioning.

Greg, thanks as well. My service rep told me that the clutch/tranny is in an encased housing and that it would cost $1,700 to open it up. And that I would have to pay that $1,700 plus another ~$2,000 if it turns out that the cluth/flywheel is making the noise because of 'normal wear and tear'. If it's a defect then it's covered by warranty. Since I'm not the original owner there's no way for me to know how it was driven beforehand.

Anyway, did your service rep mention this at all? Is there any way that you know of to diagnose it without having it opened up? I'd hate to have them pull it apart and then say (even if it was a defect) that it was bc of normal wear and have to shell out the $1,700 or the full ~$4K.

I realize I may be asking for too much here (wishful thinking), but just thought I'd ask how your fix came about...Thanks again.

 

I have had many with a similar complaint(although I would have to hear it to verify), and the problem was that the clutch and flywheel were chattering due to hot spots etc.... We have covered them as part of the 3yr/36k mile maintenance package. It is not from normal wear, because the clutch isn't slipping and disc isn't worn out...

 

12,000 miles?? Normal wear and tear?? No way! Unless the car was abused for the first 12k miles (which I guess you don't have anyway of knowing), there's no way it is wear and tear.

 

There is a TSB that specifies how to deal with the dash rattle. IIRC, it requires removal of the dash cover and installation of a cushioning material around the "pin" that supports the center of the dash cover. My dealer first tried a shortcut fix on my '03 MCS by wedging foam tape into the gap at the leading edge of the dash cover; it was unsightly and didn't last. He then did it the right way (I had to cite the TSB#), and all has been well. Done under warranty. Good luck!

 

I agree Dan - I am just nervous to say 'no way it's wear and tear' and then have them open it up and claim it's just that. Without owning it for those first 12K miles, I just can't be sure. But I'm with you - it's highly unlikely.

Omni, do you know the TSB# or where I can find it? I'm guessing that's something that's pretty easy to find but I'm a newbie so could you point me in the right direction? Thanks for that!!!

 

Ours started chattering intermittently around 3000 miles. We ignored it but it got worse on some days than others. At the first routine service visit, we mentioned it to the MA, and asked them to check out a sqeualing/chattering/grinding metal noise when the clutch was engaged. They could not reproduce it until they were taking the car in for a carwash; the MA heard it and asked that we leave it to be addressed. They found no abnormal wear, but reported that they replaced the clutch and flywheel, all under warranty. Regardless, no new car should make noises like that - it is not "normal". So far, no noise, but it's still very early. Good luck. Greg

 

Biscuit: For the dash TSB, see post #122 at https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ht=dash+rattle
which states that it's SIM #51-04-06 for 2005-2006 models. If that doesn't work, you could do a further search in these forums for more info on the topic.

 

Thanks Greg, I agree. I just dont like that my dealer already said he'd charge me $1,700 to check it out if it ended up being wear. I may head to another dealer to get an idea of how they'd handle it.

Omni, thanks, that's really helpful. I'll reference that number when I take it in...

 

Unrelated and unbelievable, some jackass sideswiped my front bumper today. He wasn't even looking at the road! Brand freaking new mini, all mangled now. I can't believe how mad I am - I must seriously love this car. Depression.

 

Yeah, that's crap. I don't doubt that you could mess up a clutch in little time, but...give me a break. Not likely. While Mini of Sterling annoyed me a couple times with minor things, they've been pretty good overall, so kudos to Yolanda there.

Sorry to hear about the sideswipe. Try not to let it bug you, get it fixed and motor on...I assume and hope that no one was hurt.
Greg

 

This exact thing happened to me w/my 05 S at 24K; see post "chewie in my clutch".

Diagnosis: "glazed" dual mass flywheel, sound happens when clutch and flywheel overheat under load in first gear.

Cause: dealer theorizes excessive stop and go city driving exacerbates the problem, more annoyance than driveability. Owner theorizes sketchy flywheel.

Fix: new DM flywheel, clutch, P Plate, etc., DM flywheels cannot be "turned" so it requires a whole new assembly. :impatient About $2,600 at my dealer, mine is covered under warranty because my dealer is awesome and doesnt jerk people around (it helped that I was able to reproduce the sound to a tech by doing the following at his suggestion: stop the car, engage emergency brake, put in 1st gear, give it a little gas, and *slowly* release the clutch. Hold yr ears.)

I'd complain to Mini USA or go to another dealer if the current one is jerking U around; this is an issue of crappy parts (spec the DMF, not clutch) not holding up as they should, and not yr fault. Hell they're even having the same problem w/R56, but that engine has so much torque the glazing problem can be "fixed" by the owner, so Im told. Good luck.

 

I get some chatter while the car is warming up and squeak (very faint) when letting in first gear. I dont see any harm in ignoring it, and when it does go i will do a performance clutch/flywheel. There is no harm in ignoring it... Right?

 

I have a freind who's Aug 04 build 05 MCS was built the same time and she's had the noise now some 50K miles with no problems. It's an annoyance, and not a drivability issue. A perf clutch and a h/d flywheel--one that can be turned--sounds good esp. if U dont care about warranties (or yours is expired). I'd prob do the same but my dealer's so cool and isnt balking at replacement, and tacking on a *nice* warranty on the work.

Hell since sat my car hasnt done it, but it's been real cold out.

 

Thanks Sequence. I think I will try another dealer. This one put on the defensive almost immediately. Pretty lame.

Some Guy, I don't know about you, but when I put up over $20K for a virtually new car with a full 2 years under warranty, I don't want to ignore it. I want it to work the right way. So I'll be paying a visit to get the glazing checked out. Hopefully under warranty.

 

Biscuit yr in a good position to have that option to try another dealer. The closest "other" MINI dealer to me is 445 miles away in Albuquerque. And I agree: if this is something MINI acknowledges as a problem, it's their responsibility to get it fixed right. Good luck in yr clutch quest!

 

i ended up with a new clutch too for the same reason, under warranty.

 

Hey, I dont blame you at all! For me though, the combination of the fact that this isnt a drive ability issue and that going to my dealer is a royal pain in the butt is enough for me to just ignore it.