I have 03 R53 with 86k and currently i might have to replace release bearing or flywheel since it makes chatter noises. I feel clutch never replaced before but still running fine though. Is it okay if Car runs until clutch goes bad even though release bearing or flywheel makes noise? I can hear noises only when I start up the car and noises goes away while running.
How often do you guys replace clutch? What product? Valeo?

 

Got my 05 Cooper to 180K, but that's was being easy and having a NON S. Mine did the rattle also, its was not the clutch but a bad throwout bearing and the pressure plate finger was worn. The fingers will keep wearing till it gets worse and you can hear and feel it in the pedal.

I would say 100K for a stock MCS, and 150K for a Cooper NON S ( if you baby it)

For the MCS: this is the best simple kit. Valeo Single Mass Flywheel Conversion Kit 52151203 All the info is there and other things to look at while you do it.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ts-needed.html

 

So do you think i better replace the clutch kit or leave until it goes bad?

 

 

I could not take the noise and at the time I was hoping the fingers on the pressure plate would not jam and break. I limped my along as much as I could but again i was worried about being stranded.

 

Its quite in the video audio level , but i can hear the rattle and it goes away with the compression.

 

Maybe I will go ahead and replace them in a month. Since subframe is dropped, i will also replace control arm bushings (psb product). What else do you recommend? Supercharger oil change or?

 

Yea, do it all at once. Much easier.

Bushings/ Ball joints? everything else:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ll-joints.html





Check your Power steering lines while you are at it :

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hose-pics.html







and the steering column Noise: 32306870777

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-any-tips.html





Yes, its in that link above.

 

So is the rattle only present when in neutral and the clutch isn’t engaged? If so this could be the dual mass flywheel, otherwise known as the Chewbacca noise. Mine did it starting around 60,000 miles, and continued until I replaced the clutch at 367,000 miles. It always worked fine, no issues, just chattery.

 

Good to know you enjoy Chewbacca as co-driver for 307,000 miles. He must have been hell of a chatty guy.

 

The clutch on my R53 was first replaced at 187.000km when the release bearing went. Plenty of mods on the engine, and I certainly didn't go easy on it. The first symptom was a slight grinding noise at idle with the clutch pedal fully depressed. No noise when the pedal was released. That noise got louder and louder until the bearing failed completely after about 2000km.

Replaced the clutch and flywheel with the Valeo kit. It's much nicer and lighter to operate than the stock setup.

I had the chewbacca noise from about 100.000km with the old clutch, but only once or twice on cold mornings.

 

Can you comment on "rollover" noise (sounds like diesel clatter) with the Valeo setup? Advantage of a DMF is supposed to eliminate the rollover noise when in neutral and clutch pedal released.

Thinking of the upgrade with some power mods and I am on the fence because of the potential rollover noise

Thanks.

Regards,
Jerry

 

Haven't noticed any such noises after the clutch was replaced. The Valeo kit has springs on the clutch plate which should take care of dampening (instead of the DMF) when the clutch is released.