I had an annoying noise coming from the engine bay for the longest time, like clicking noise, when pressed the clutch it went away, so guessing what the problem would be took it to my service. I also had a flat spot that i was trying to deal with, said as well get it fixed. We took the car on a test drive and service tech said it is a throw out bearing, needed to replace, and also we noticed that the by-pass valve is resisting to move, not acting smooth. Couple of hours later i got a call, and they told me that they ordered a new clutch, flywheel and to bearing, and need to replace the bypass valve freaked the hell out of me. I asked SA if everything is covered under warranty he said yes, we will see. My clutch was fine, is this a common practice? Lemme know if anybody experienced this situation and had warranty realted issues due to mods? Oh btw, Mini Center of San Antonio gave me a loaner CVT, that thing is impressive.

 

hope your car's back soon, berky. yep, those CVT's are damn cool.

my car makes no noise and runs fine... OT bearing huh? do you keep your
foot on the clutch pedal while you wait for the light to turn green?

 

no i don't, trust me Ken, i have not owned an automatic but my current truck. I was very suprised on this. Man, not even on my VW GTI moded to the hell.

 

Good luck berk. Hopefully they'll get it fixed quickly. I didn't really like the CVT loaner I got. The tranny slips a lot when you step on it.

 

Scuderia, first of all gotta say, cool name.
can't comment on the flatspot, only the noise w/ the tranny.
I had the same thing with my November 2004 build MCS. They changed out the flywheel and clutch under warranty, and 15,000 miles later, no issues. If I recall, it was something with the 2-piece flywheel Getrag was using at the factory. They didn't feel it was a real long-term issue, but were cool enough to take care of it based on my description (just as you describe it). I think it may be a "known" issue, but only replaced if the customer brings it up.

 

mine has the same built date too

 

Wow, our cars are almost twins.. HB/BK here.

Maybe it was a bad batch of flywheels at that time, but the dealer knew right away when i described it. Good luck, but it'll be good as new in no time.

 

Sorry to hear your troubles. I had a somewhat similar problem I guess, a little different but ended up being the clutch. I was getting new brakes and wheels put on by my shop (whom I totally trust). I went to pick up the car and they told me that the install went perfect but now the car wouldnt move at all. It just wouldnt go into gear. Called NW MINI and they said it sounded like a tranny issue and I had it towed in (1 hour away). The next day they finally told me that it was the clutch and it needed to be replaced after only 35,000 miles and it wasnt covered because it was normal wear and tear. Normal wear and tear after only 35,000 miles and it never slipped or showed any sign and then just broke? I argued my best with the support of my shop, and they didnt budge. I had to pay for it. Boooo NW MINI. No loaner calls where available either. Nice warranty a**holes. They even told me that they had 3 other MINI's in the shop at that time getting clutches at less than 40,000 miles and one was at 18,000, but wasnt covered!

It really depends on the dealer though, there was a clutch thread at one time and many had much better luck than I. Good luck and let us know.

 

yeh, sounds like just a bad batch of parts. goodluck berky.

 

Berk, there are lots of people in my club that have cars about the same build date that have had the same problem. Like Ken said, looks like a bad batch of parts...

 

looks like, and hey i will have a new clutch assembly anyways hopefully

 

Hey, maybe you could get them to put in a lightweight flywheel? :-) I'm kind of hoping my clutch goes under warranty so I can have them slot one in. Too much labor otherwise...

 

Same problem,checked posts here on NAM,clutch, flywheel, and bearing replaced under warranty.Dealer checked with Mini and flywheel was changed at same time as there was an update available.I believe they have had problems with clutch and flywheel and dont want to go in twice under warranty.Dealers will try the clutch wear angle since they make more money on non warranty work.Most clutches that come out look good but display a squeal when being let out in cold weather.The throw out bearing is replaced as a precaution.

 

Good luck and best wishes to the patient for a speedy recovery

 

quick update, they called me today and said that they will change the flywheel under warranty and also advised me on the clutch, said might as well change it, i gave an ok on that. So far, very smooth and Mini Center of San Antonio is doing a great job, as usual.

 

Sounds good Berk.

So why am I the only one that had to pay? I argued and even wrote a letter of complaint with a letter of support from my shop and to NW MINI and MINI USA and never even received a response.

 

I do believe that Battle Cattle had to pay to replace his........ You arent the only one

 

just had the same prolem fixed under warranty at Westchester MINI, very painless. except for the week and a half they had my baby! that was agonizing!

 

Its a 12 hr to do the job with 1 person if they leave tech alone without any side tracks.It seems certain dealers automatically say no.If the car looks like its been beaten or customer already has bad relation with dealer it seems to be no.Most dealers have to file a request thru regional rep,2-3 days response time then schedule job.I left car for observation,picked up and scheduled when I got go ahead. No charge and they are under instructions to replace flywheel on all clutch changes from Mini.

 

sounds good, berky. keep us posted on your car's progress.

 

Is that a bad idea? How can you prevent from doing that when you're sitting in stop-and-go traffic?

 

Stop-n-go traffic with a fast rhythm doesn't give you the option, really, to stick the tranny in neutral, but it's apparently better for the clutch mechanism to be engaged with the transmission in neutral when you're going to be sitting for a bit. Easier on your leg, too. :-)