well we shall see tomorrow since I pick up my car then!

-Josh

 

Is there something special about the Mini Clutch? $2000.00 I had a clutch replaced in my VW for $500.00 (Parts and labor.) Its not a Mini, but damn...For $2000.00 I see a light weight flywheel, and a performance pressure plate and clutch

 

It's Tennessseeeeeeeee, they don't like them foreigners too DAMN much there, much less work on them foreign cars. Pays a premium for the "privilege" of driving one there, I'll bet.

 

Ill have exact numbers tomorrow but i think the parts ran somewhere around 900 to 1100 and the rest was labor... but after seeing what they actually had to pull out to get to it... i was impressed

-Josh

 

Here in New Jersey the parts are around $400 including the flywheels and the labor is $1400 at the flat rate buck retail (that is no discount at all applied).

Replacing the clutch in a Mini is a big job. Mine took 6 hours of very experienced work. I think the flat rate is 12-14 hours.

Rich

 

I'll post an exact number when I get it....

-Josh

 

Our guy said 8-12 hrs depending on shop,distractions,helpers,etc.

 

clutch = 270.80
flywheel = 652.32
back up light switch = 23.12
total = 946.24

labor = 1035.00

total cost = 1981.24 + tax
------------------------------------

STAGE 2 Lightweight Flywheel and clutch kit for MINI Cooper "S" - 12.25 lbs
$899.00

from here

soooooooo even the M7 flywheel is $599 but I guess OEM still has the crappy warranty... and it got done in 2 days...

*sigh* learn from my mistakes...

-Josh

 

You wore out a flywheel in 10,000 miles? I can see the disk being wore out, but the flywheel??? Did you see the flywheel they pulled off? If so, how did it look? and the $1000.00+ for labor? Your Quote: but I guess OEM still has the crappy warranty... I hope they dont use the same reason they did for your last clutch and flywheel and not warranty it.....

 

The Mini flywheel is something they call "dual mass". It is made up of a few pieces that rotate in each other with a rubber mechanism that looks to me sort of like a vibration dampener.

The bottom line is that these flywheels are not worn in the typical sense but they make a horrible noise when they go bad. Mine was replaced yesterday at 42000 miles. The clutch and disk looked fine but I replaced them anyway. And the flywheel also looked clean but it is impossible to see inside to do a real analysis of what is going on with them.

///Rich

 

That sucks Josh. $2,000. for a clutch! That new Civic Si is starting to look real nice.

The tires don't surprize me, I'm on the warning bars on my second set of tires with just over 20,000 miles and my front brake pads are gone, but when you live in Dragon country that is to be expected.

Did you say $2,000 for a clutch? It seems like I find something disappointing about MINI's on a daily basis.

 

Quote: It seems like I find something disappointing about MINI's on a daily basis. Im starting to notice this 2. Makes me a little nervous to own one. I just replaced a clutch in my Turbo Cordia for less then $400.00 with me doing the work. That included a ACT HD clutch kit street disk and resurfaced flywheel, new throw out bearing ect. Just thinking about $2000.00 for a clutch replacement makes me a little sick. Maybe only the rich should own a BMW.....Oops.....I mean a MINI

 

Yeah, very nervous. And I don't believe down shifting is whats causing it. So at the 100,000 mile mark Josh will have $20,000. invested in clutches. What happened to form following function? That's what made the classic MINI an automotive icon. Shame on BMW. There are too many bullet proof cars out there to be putting up with this crap. And to think I got rid of my '99 Miata to get a MINI.

 

I could have got a higher performance clutch for less money..

I realize this after the fact, not that I wasn't told BEFORE but I really do need my car becuase driving over 100miles a day is what I do... normally

Next time I have to replace a clutch it won't be OEM...

-Josh

 

You should take a video clip of how you up and down shift, I'm curious as to why your clutch wore out so quickly. Do you up shift without lifting the throttle? Do you blip and match rev when you down shift? Do you heel and toe when you drive hard?

 

I do shift lifting the throttle. Sometimes it slips a little.

I do blip the throttle while driving around town and when not driving hard. However, when I run the dragon I run high RPM's so I don't blip it (BADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD)

Heel toe... no

kinda off topic but when I accelerate hard and I have ASC on... it cuts out at 1-2 and 2-3 shifts (if I ever get to 2-3 since thats doing almost 70) hence the reason I have it turned off 90% of the time.


-Josh

 

He enjoys driving it hard,go for it.Are you going to 2006 Dragon?BC

 

when don't I go to the dragon is a better question...

yea should be, but will be driving home each night...cuz I am cheap!

-Josh

 

I see, thanks for the information!

Some tips if you do want this clutch to last a little longer. Learn heel and toe, it'll be useful for dragon runs and it'll actually allow you to drive faster and have more stability. http://www.waycoolinc.com/z3/essenti...e/shifting.htm

And when up shifting, give the engine a half second or so to rev down before you engage the clutch again. The reason why ASC cuts out between shifts is: Engine at 6500rpm 1st gear, you shift into 2nd, engine revving at 5500rpm while you engage the clutch = wheel speed doesn't match engine speed = wheel spin, ASC comes on, lots of clutch wear

So what you want to do, is: Engine at 6500rpm 1st gear, shift into 2nd, wait a split second with the clutch disengaged, engine rev down to 4000rpm, clutch rengaged = wheel speed and engine speed are approximately the same = no wheel spin, no ASC, very little clutch wear.

Obviously, it is slower if you shift like that, but thats only half a second, and its not like you really get anywhere faster with that half a second, right?

 

Drove my 73 Vw for 26 years (daily) except when i was stationed overseas.Sold it with 365,000 miles driven conservatively,never replaced the clutch.Down shifted when needed never any problems.|Q

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh now theres the answer, extended periods of time at the dragon is not considered "normal wear and tear".

 

Now I've never been at the dragon but how much shifting do you really need to do? The speed limit is in the 30-40 mph range and even if you keep under 70, then all you need is 2nd gear.

I agree with xtremepsionic in that you should let the revs drop a bit between shifts, especially on 1-2 and 2-3. You might have really benefited from a lightweight flywheel as that will allow the engine to rev faster.

 

317 turns offers a wide range of corners from hairpin to somewhat sweeping... You could easliy run it in 2nd... but you will find places where you could have used 3rd or even 4th... Yes speedlimit is 30 but some places 30 is slow.

-Josh