The dealer is telling me this noise is normal. I've driven a lot of manual transmissions in my day and have NEVER heard a flywheel this noisy. They are going to replace it but say the new one will likely make noise as well. A little noise is acceptable to me but not this much. My VW GLI was the 1st vehicle I had with a dual mass flywheel. It was a quiet as can be. When I had a big turbo kit installed, the stock clutch and flywheel took a crap withing 2000 miles of the upgrade. I had it replaced with a one piece lightweight flywheel and was warned that it wouldn't be as quiet as my stock steel dual mass flywheel. It did in fact make a noise but not this bad. I pull up to stop lights in this thing and people look at me funny as if they expect to look over and see a farm tractor. Does anybody else have a flywheel/clutch assy this noisy? At about 14 seconds into the video you will hear the noise somewhat go away. This is when I disengaged the clutch and then a few seconds later, I engaged the clutch. Your feed back is appreciated.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-797uIdyuQ

 

Wow there is no way that is normal. I've had my own issue with clutch noise, but never something like that. Through all the big and small mini meets I've been to I have never heard that noise so I don't understand how the dealer could say that is normal.