http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwX4T...ature=youtu.be

Please watch the video to hear the noise and see when it is happening.

This is a 2009 S r55 w/ 73K miles.

I'm hearing a high frequency buzz (a chirping may be more accurate) when the clutch is fully disengaged. This occurs in neutral as soon as the car is started and throughout my commute.

It's present 90% of the time. It fades in and out SLIGHTLY, but it's very subtle.

I would not have noticed this noise as abnormal or even recognized it's presence besides from it's complete absence when I shift.

I'm not a mechanic, but is there a loose cable that needs adjustment? Anyone here know what this is? Anyone personally fixed a similar noise and can tell me what you did? Any of the veteran mechanics want to chime in? I'd greatly appreciate the feedback.

Thank you!

 

I'm not a mechanic, but I would suspect the throw out bearing. When you press in the clutch, you're putting pressure on the bearing, when you release, much less pressure and if the bearing is worn, has a chance to rattle around. Makes sense? Am assuming the clutch is original? If it is the bearing, I would consider replacing the entire clutch as you are at 73k miles. Probably best diagnosis will come from a mechanic that can listen to it real time..

 

Hmmm... Would that be a prophylactic fix? Is the worst that can happen here clutch wear? Can driving on a worn throw out bearing cause any other problems? If I'm going to be replacing the clutch (including replacing throw-out bearing with a metal one and possibly flywheel) anyway (and it's a very inopportune time... Have a baby on the way), I might have to wait a few months.

I'm use to getting 120K+ miles out of a clutch. Louisiana is flat flat.

Grrrr... Guess I need to ask way to take a look at this video.

 

Many years ago, I did all my own mechanical work as I couldn't afford someone else to do it. During those years, I changed out several clutches on different autos and fortunately the basic design of a manual clutch hasn't changed much. Soo, if the clutch isn't slipping, I would think a marginal throw out bearing would go a long ways. Hopefully others will chime in that know a lot about mini clutches as I could be wrong.

And yes, a car that isn't tracked and proper clutching, it should go past 100k miles. But with what I've read about the mini, is hard to say. One thing I do is throw it into neutral and release the clutch when at a stop light, cuts down on bearing wear.

 

I cruise in neutral often and almost always rev match before shifting out of neutral. I don't track the car. It's just a daily driver. I'm having no other symptoms of clutch slippage. I've had a few episodes over the years of fighting a hill and recognizing that horrible smell for a few seconds (ugh! Cringeworthy for sure!) but I haven't had anything like that recently in this car.

I'm going to give Way a call on Monday to get his opinion and be very vigilant of clutch symptoms, but besides from a barely noticeable noise, I have nothing to go on. Actually the video picked it up QUITE well.

Is it diagnostic that the noise occurs as soon as the car is started and is not shifted out of neutral? Would the throwout bearing be able to move at that time?

Thanks again for your insights!

 

I've been watching a ton of youtube videos... all of them sound HORRIBLE. My noise is slightly annoying, but it's nothing compared to the stuff I'm seeing online.

I'm going to come off sounding really stupid here, but I just had my timing chain replaced as part of the recall and I'm wondering if the noise associated with that (which I was told was normal before) was masking this normal noise. You'd think they'd have tried to sell me on a new clutch if the noise was obvious... they did find the water pump was leaking and I went for that.

Is the clutch noisy in our cars? Is this a normal noise? Anybody NOT have this noise? Thanks!!!

 

Since I don't believe the mini has a pilot bearing my guess would be that it's the throwout bearing. I've also seen it where the end of the clutch slave cylinder needs to be greased because it's rubbing/rattling against the release fork. It would be a pretty easy fix. The slave cylinder shouldn't be hard to get to from under the car. It's on the side of the transmission facing the front of the car. Two bolts and it will come out. Dab a little moly grease on the end and see if that helps.

If it's the throwout bearing it could go on like it is for a while. When a throwout bearing fails though it's never pretty. Probably best case is that you can't get the car out of gear. Worst case would be the busted TOB wears a groove in the transmission input shaft and you need a new transmission.

 

And this morning the noise is totally absent. Hmmm. I'll keep an ear on it though.

Guess I should plan on a clutch job. I'm planning to do intake, exhaust ( leaning towards high flow cat instead of catless), FMIC, supporting turbo mods (keep the stock turbo), and a tune in about 6 months. I know I want a metal TOB, but should I get a performance street clutch for a beefy daily driver or stick with a new [cheaper] OEM clutch? I will rarely (if ever) track the car, but I LOVE accelerating.

 

I had similar symptoms in my old car, a Honda CRX. The noise was a rattle, though, and not a chirping noise. Mine would rattle when the clutch pedal was released, and when I pushed the pedal in the noise would slow down and stop.

The problem was the input shaft bearing in the transmission. I had inadvertently damaged it by chronically running low on transmission fluid. (Always make sure the car is level when adding fluids or checking fluid levels. Oops.)

If the noise just stops suddenly when you push the clutch in at all, I'd think that the T/O bearing would be a more likely suspect.

 

I could not hear the sound on your video.

When stopped always put the gearbox in neutral. It is much easier on the throw out bearing. MINI uses a pretty poorly designed one.

 

This information is very helpful. The slightest pressure on the clutch reduces or eliminates the noise. It apparently doesn't happen all the time as it wasn't present today.

Sounds like it is the TOB starting to show signs of wear. I'll start saving for a clutch job. I'll keep a close ear on it.

So wannabe racers watching the light with there foot on the clutch and already shifted into first are wearing out their TOBs? Huh. Always wondered if it was bad on the car or not. I'm always in neutral because I hate pushing my door to the floor when I'm still.

 

Update: noise disappeared several weeks ago and has not yet returned. Hooray!

 

^^^ Great news!