I've got an awesome 2007 Cooper, 6 speed m/t but recently it seems like 2nd gear doesn't fully engage and often grinds. It's worse on deceleration. Is there any linkage or clutch adjustments?

 

Try bleeding the slave cylinder. It's very easy on the R56. Make sure to keep the fluid in the master cylinder topped up while you do this. It's easy to let it get too low and suck air into the clutch hydraulics.

-JL

 

Thanks for the info, I've worked on muscle cars and this is the first thing I've gotta deal with

 

I used a HF vaccum bleeder (along with my compressor) when I did mine. It worked pretty well. Bentley says to remove the slave, and use "BMW special tool xxx" to hold the piston in while bleeding. I just used a ratchet strap to cinch down the actuator rod with the slave installed. Big C clamp probably works too.

 

I have not seen the Bentley manual for an R56, but no tools are needed at all. Simply put some clear tubing on the bleeder valve and open it by hand. Fluid flows through it pretty quickly. This isn't gauranteed to fix his issue by any means, but he might as well try the quick and easy stuff first.

I've had enough clutch release cylinders fail on previous cars (non Minis), that I bleed them once every year or 2 at a minumum. When they've failed, they finally leak just enough fluid to get some air in them and it gets harder and harder to disengage the clutch. Eventually I could not get the trans into or out of any gear.

-JL

 

Bled it once, no change. I tried blocking the rod with a putty knife, but the cylinder leaked out of the side. Now I've got a board holding the pedal down for the night to see if air would escape and resolve the issue, It seems odd that it only grinds 2nd gear, never any other and not every time. Possibly they use syncros like old school American Trans' do, I'm not sure. Still Hopefull. Thanks everyone for the suggestions

 

Just got it back from the dealer, 2nd gear synchros bad. After corporate approval, they split the cost with me 60/40. My cost $2,600, that hurts! Hopefully, that's all I'll need to do for a long time. They are awesome cars!