I see failure reports on the MCS cars a bit in here, with some recent threads. Any base MC's afflicted as well? Or is it just the S model?

If no base models have issues, what could be the problem with the MCS clutch? Its either the same unit as the MC, or better/beefed up. Why the S only (if thats the case)?

 

Interesting. 94 views but not one reported MC clutch failure so far.

 

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There isn't a lot on the S model either. A few but it's not epidemic.

 

True. Maybe its that the MCS drivers really DRIVE their cars

I can DRIVE mine as hard as I can...still not passing that family in the CamCord if they don't want me to, lol.

 

My mini has the smothest clutch and transmission of any car I've ever driven. Not a single problem yet.

 

I may be one of the rare ones, because my Cooper is in the shop right now getting a new clutch kit installed. I was experiencing a groaning noises when depressing the clutch and shudder in the 1st to 2nd gear shift.

 

Ahhh, so we do have one. How many miles?

 

30k

 

I've had a couple minor issues with my 08 MC.

At 14.6k miles my clutch return spring broke. They actually had it in the shop for 3 days (while I drove and got addicted to an MCS loaner) because they only had S clutch parts in stock and had to get one from Germany.

At 30k miles I took it in for some other service but asked them to look at the noise the clutch was making. With the car running, gearbox in neutral, and clutch pedal released, there is this chirping sound which is quite audible. If you place the absolute slightest pressure on the clutch pedal it immediately stops.

They diagnosed as a clutch throwout bearing. They said they would replace it now under warranty or I could wait and get it replaced closer to my warranty expiration so I could leave my warranty period with a new clutch.

I decided to take their recommendation (and throroughly documented promise) to wait a while. That might have been a mistake as the noise has subsided quite a bit and my hopes of having a brand new clutch on their dime as I leave warranty might be diminishing

 

Interesting. I would think that documented promise would still work though, as they did note the problem at one time. Do you drive in lots of stop and go traffic?

 

Maybe they are all driving automatics. Maybe people driving an S, tend to drive 6 speeds. Or maybe they are not driving a clutch properly. Sitting at traffic lights with foot on clutch, excessive speed downshifting, slow and prolonged clutch release. So hard to truly make that determination. My son nearly burnt out a brand new clutch in an Audi TT, sloooooowly releasing a clutch while rolling backwards and trying to use his clutch as an anti-roll brake. It started smoking and smelled like trees burning.

 

They probably will still honor their promise; I've had pretty good luck with them so far.

Even though I'm in the metroplex, I actually don't have a lot of stop and go traffic. My work hours are flexible so I commute during off-peak hours.

 

I picked my car up yesterday after the new clutch kit was installed, and it is much more precise with no shudder or groan. I think I had a gimpy clutch from the beginning.

 

There's another thread about this, but I thought I'd chime in. My non-S Clubman suddenly developed a shuddery clutch last week, at 49K miles. In for evaluation on Thursday.

Grr.

 

update: took it in just before Christmas and 44k miles. they replaced the whole clutch assembly under warranty. turns out the throwout bearing was worn unevenly BECAUSE several of the clutch plate fingers were deformed.

so now I have a new, free clutch at 44k and it actually is smoother than the old one - doesn't "grab" quite as much as the other one

 

Getting a little worried about the clutch in my 08 which is at almost 60K miles now. No noises or slippage, but a little shuddering at times and since I got my 2011 clubman I've noticed how much higher the engagement on the 08 is. Enough that it takes me some time to adjust when going between the two cars.

Is it normal for the engagement to get higher as things wear out or could it be something else -- like a hydraulic issue?

Engagement was quite high on my mazda3 when I traded it at 130k and as long as I can remember so perhaps it's nothing to worry about.

p.s. David - my 08 looks just like yours except with the stock grille. Thinking of getting an S grille for my clubman!

 

FYI, the S grill doesn't fit. You have to buy the JCW grill that's made specifically for the Cooper. There's a how-to in my sig.

Regarding the clutch issue... 43k miles on our '09 and no known clutch problems.

 

I haven't looked into the grille yet other than I think the 2011s are also slightly different.

 

Good call... Yeah, for the '11 Coopers, I'm not sure there are any other simple bolt-on options at this point.