Noise and MINI's solution
 

I have an 05 MCS I purchased on 12-31-04 and put the JCW kit on as part of the deal. I drove it for one day until I could get into service for the install and did not notice any noise. I picked the car up and drove it about five miles and took it right back because I heard a rattling noise while stopped with the clutch out. Needles to say they could not find anything wrong (go figure) even though the sevice rep heard it? The noise continued and got louder until at times it sounded like a helicopter was flying over the car but always stopped when you depressed the clutch. The sevice department now can hear it and asked MINI for a solution. The solution they say is installing an optimized fly wheel? (what ever that is). This part is being shipped over from Germany and is not on the parts list the dealer has so the rep can't tell me what it is. Any thoughts? I have some great comments for Hendrick Mini in Charlotte.:confused:

"an optimized fly wheel"

I like that. It sounds cool!

I know it sounds real cool like I could add it to my signature, but is it a fancy name for a Band Aid. I really don't trust the dealer right now. And some of the issues with the install makes me wonder.

I think its a pretty common problem to hear tapping while the clutch is out and in neutral. A few others have had the flywheel replaced and it fixed the problem. Most dealers will just say its normal.

If you search for throwout bearing you should find a whole load more info on it.

Luke

It's like a normal flywheel... only OPTIMIZED!

Maybe you can attach a strip of paper across it saying "Optimized for your protection".

That's "Sanitized for your protection". :smile:

No, seriously, you should ask Domonick (sp?) at Hendrick's. He works the service counter. He has always answered the strange questions I have asked in the past without flinching and seems to genuinely want to help.

(Sounds like the throw-out bearing to me, but I'm an OLD shade tree mechanic from way back with no experience with the new fangled cars on the road now...)

Sorry but Domonick is part of my problem, he heard the original noise and when the tech did not want to hear it he switched. After my JCW install and all that has happened since I have a real trust issue with Hendrick. I was pretty jazzed to have a local dealer, I had to buy my 03 in Greenville. Domonick said he ahs no idea how long it will take for my "optimized" fly wheel to get here.

Sorry to hear about your problems.


Domonick has a boss. Have you tried the chain-of-command?


Maybe you need to remind him (in a nice way) that you are profit - he is overhead. And he needs to answer your question to your satisfaction.

Yea we went Tarzan and I have gone to his Boss and he is being pretty nice right now. We will see how it goes. I drop it off today to repar the scratches in the engine compartment from the JCW install, who knows when the fly wheel will get here?

Wow. That is one great line.

I will remember that one.

Cheers,

Tony :thumbsup: