Long story short here. I go into my local and only mini dealer for a clunking sound that is only heard when the car is in neutral and the clutch is out. The sound immediately goes away when you press the clutch. The clutch pedal also squeaks and binds when getting pressed down regardless of the car being on or not.

They initially accept that it is covered under warranty except the clutch itself. Then change their mind and say i have to pay for the tear down to find out what the problem is because the clutch is not covered under warranty. After way to much arguing and talking to managers etc. They agree to replace the throw out bearing and if i need a clutch i will pay for it. They will then check the flywheel also only if i buy a clutch.

This doesn't sit right with me. I have read numerous threads on here saying that the fix for this issue is a new clutch pack and flywheel.

I have even seen people reference a TSB about the flywheel issues.
Does anyone have proof of the TSB?

What are my options to get them to replace everything under warranty?

I have a 2006 MCS with 42000 miles and two weeks of warranty time left.

And they absolutely will not install any other clutch than an OEM BMW clutch. So no cheaper/better clutches. Again seems crazy to me to replace a clutch that only lasted 42000 miles with the exact same one.

They want 480 for the clutch pack and i can only guess about an hour of labor to install it.

 

Here's a post I found from two years ago: http://www.carcomplaints.com/Mini/Co..._failure.shtml. Here's another post within NAM: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ty-help-2.html.

Explaining a clutch is defective can be a hard thing to do. Most shops will probably assume it's due to the driver/driving. If you have been driving clutch vehicles for awhile, explain so in a calm but assertive manner. Contact MINI USA and get clarification on what the warranty covers. You can also consider contacting a different MINI dealership and see what their service advisor says. With 42K miles, you are now in the extended phase.

My old '02 MCS had 115K miles when I totalled it. I was just about to replace the clutch, flywheel, and throwout bearing (which I will save for my current '06 MCS). If you have not done any mods, a stock replacement should be fine. If you want to upgrade, try going to Eurosport Design: http://www.eurosportdesign.com/c-240...flywheels.aspx. I bought the ACT Streetlite Steel flywheel (it's about half the weight of the stock one; don't go less than that) for $385 and the SPEC Stage 1 clutch kit for $260. These should be good enough for a 15% pulley, CAI, and tune.

 

I took mine in a couple weeks ago and got a new clutch without having to try very hard. It sounds like it depends on the dealership.

 

The sales manager came through for me today and turned my awful expiernce into a decent one and will be a good one as soon as the car is 100% fixed at no cost to me.

 

That's good to hear.