Wasn't sure where to post this as I've got a 2008 Clubman S but I suspect this relates to all Minis.

I also have looked at some of the other posts related to clutch slippage, acceleration hesitation, etc.

What I'm seeing is that if I quickly accelerate, that there is a range in the 3000-4000rpm, where the car doesn't respond immediately, the revs increase by a few hundred, without the car accelerating much, and then drop down again into a normal rpm vs speed acceleration profile.

It seems to me that this must indicate clutch slippage, as I'm getting RPM increase without speed increase. However, other than this the clutch feels fine. There are no issues with shifting and the pedal feels ok to me. I tried some uphill driving and didn't feel anything amiss.
Could someone give me some good tests to try to look for clutch slippage?

Are there are any other possibilities for the behavior I'm seeing? I presume that any issues with air intake, turbo, etc, causing hesitation would not result in the RPM bump up/down I'm seeing.

I've got 107K km on the car on the original clutch but I have had both the slave and master clutch cylinder changed about 2 years ago. The symptom then was inability to shift gears.

I don't ride the clutch but I've seen all the posts about premature failure of the clutch on Minis.

Thanks, ...Roger

 

I guess I'll try putting hand brake on in 5th, and rev the car and let out the clutch and see if it stalls or not, and report back. That seems to be one of the tests to do.


http://www.cartalk.com/content/acid-...lipping-clutch

 

Yep, what you are describing is a worn out clutch. You have enough miles that it's time..

 

However, I just did the 5th gear, release clutch pedal, in park, test, and it tried to stall right away.
I'm just not convinced yet it is the clutch?!

 

What I'm seeing is that if I quickly accelerate, that there is a range in the 3000-4000rpm, where the car doesn't respond immediately, the revs increase by a few hundred, without the car accelerating much, and then drop down again into a normal rpm vs speed acceleration profile.

This was the tip off. If the revs increase without an increase in speed, usually means the clutch is worn. Shouldn't do that. The more worn it is, the more the revs will increase without an increase in speed. Sometimes a clutch gives out quickly, sometimes it's a slow process, which sounds like yours..

 

Yours is worn, but not badly enough for the 5th-gear test. That's all.

Time to budget for a clutch replacement. You can let it go for a while if you like, but it will get worse with use.

 

We have clutches here if needed.

 

The handbrake test, and if its revs out and you can sometimes smell the clutch when it revs out like this and catches.

I would go from a dual mass to single mass performance clutch while you are there otherwise you will have to replace the clutch kit and a new dual mass which should not be resurfaced. Everything linked here.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2008-Cooper-R55-S_Clubman-Coupe-L4_1.6L_N14B16A/Drivetrain/Clutch/