[TBentley]

Hi All,

I took a new Cooper S on contract hire (Lombard) in March 07, the car has only done 12K miles (and has not had a hard life as motorway miles in the main).

The clutch started to slip on the motorway over the weekend and this quickly resulted in a total loss of power and a hell of a lot of smoke.

The car was taken by RAC to dealers who have stripped the clutch and advised the contract hire company that the clutch has 'gone' due to abusive treatment and that the clutch and flywheel are 'blue' a clear sign (according to them) that the clutch has been abused. I can only assume the clutch / flywheel took on the fetching blue hue whilst more or less bursting into flames on the motorway

Despite having full maintenance (covering wear and tear) neither Lombard nor the dealer will pay for a replacement clutch, to me it seems clear that the clutch must have been defective as 12K miles is no life at all for a clutch.

The car has had no abuse / trackdays and mostly motorway miles.

I'm at a loss as to how the dealer can be so categoric (and wrong - I'm categoric as I know I have not abused the clutch) in their diagnosis.

There seems to be loads about gearboxes being replaced but not a lot about premature clutch wear?

I would really appreciate any help you may be able to give.

Thanks..

Tony.

I have spoken to Mini UK who were very disinterested / unhelpful.

[simeds]

i had a clutch burn out at 8k on a r53 mini, had it replaced under warranty

[TBentley]

Simeds,

Thanks for response - I take it that they just replaced it without a problem?

[simeds]

I had to agree to pay for it to be replaced if it 'wasn't found to be faulty' when they dismantled everything. It burnt out properly after slipping, don't forget that smell in a hurry.
Don't know how they find out if its faulty or not though. In fact the one they replaced it with was faulty too I seem to remember so they replaced that straight away. Faulty clutches obvioulsy do exist nad get past the factory q.c !!

[camini]

I had 2 clutches changed on my r53 cooper - under warranty. Did tell them I knew everything about faulty mc gearboxes & clutches..

Actually, after time & thinking about it, the clutches weren't on their way out - just worn unevenly which make them 'shudder' when pulling off - even then replaced no questions asked.

I would escalate if possible or go to another dealer - try to find other people with this problem.
Prove you're the only driver and did not abuse the car.

cam

[Mor7s]

Hi All

My 2003 MCS JCW has been to the dealership today as I noticed a ticking noise which goes when clutch is depressed. Has a used warranty so they are arranging to take out the 'box in 10 days time to check it out properly - I too got the warning that if it is found to be a worn clutch I have to foot the bill for the job......a whopping £800 inc VAT!!

On basis the noise was there when i purchased the car and until i found this site at the weekend i was blissfully unaware it could be clutch or flywheel I do NOT plan to be paying for the work.

Having said all that there is no slipping, no judder pulling away and no notchy gearchanges so I am hopeful not the clutch at all but a flywheel or gearbox fault. Only done 38k and 5k since I had it so fingers crossed and I'll let on that I too know all about MCS faulty g/boxes etc first chance i get.

Is there anyone out there who did ultimately get stung for the cost of the work on the driver abuse or worn clutch front (other than the OP who could be a possible).


mor7s

[HWS]

My 2002 MINI Cooper has been better than any of the fine
German cars I owned for the 45 years prior to 2002
And More Fun! It's been an amazing car!
(And I'm not really complaining now - just puzzled)

But, yesterday near the end of a beautiful 250 mile ride in the sun (just for fun)
the pedal stayed on the floor - and would no longer disengage the clutch.

Dealer's first guess was a failure of the Master/Slave hydraulic actuator.
But, they've found all that to be OK; - all the fluid is still in place.
So, they are now going to replace the clutch - and perhaps the flywheel, if needed.

This is a big reliable dealer (Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, MINI and Infinity)
where I'm always treated as if I'm 'somebody'.
They have the parts - but I was surprised to hear they'd never replaced a MINI clutch.
(I don't mind being the Oldest MINI Driver with the Most MINI Miles,
but I think I'd prefer not being the mechanic's first Clutch Job.)

I've been 'clutching' without a single failure for over 66 years. (Yes even all my BMW's)
Just seemed strange that an entire clutch would fail this suddenly
without ever showing prior signs of distress, like slipping, shuddering, 'burning', etc..

[carboncrazy]

Im sure a car that has done 261,600 miles is bound to need a clutch.

Joe

[HWS]

Actually, it was the Throwout Bearing that failed, but we were all surprised to see
that the rest of the clutch looked so good it might have gone a lot longer.

But, since they were way down "in there" anyway, they replaced the entire clutch and the slave cylinder. So, I shouldn't have to worry about that for another 200,000 or so.

The car looked so good and the weather was so beautiful that I 'took a little ride'
to a favorite restaurant 100 miles away for Dinner. Everything felt like a new one.

Gee, this is a Great Car; -
Still not a rattle or a squeek, not a shimmy or a shake -
and not once has a window, a door lock, or the sunroof even 'acted funny'.

"When are you going to get a Newer Car?"
"Why?"

[KenL]

What a great story HWS - enjoy your MINI...

[Tobes]

TBentley

did your clutch used to smell on hill starts or say reversing up a hil ie with greater lkoad than a normal pulloff?

Thanks

[Mor7s]

new box fitted under warranty and no more ticking - mind you only had it back 3 hours. will check when all cold again in morning which was when was at its worst.

Oh and tech noticed lack of power when he roadtested so also replaced faulty boost pressure valve result is car back to being much more repsonsive. Only downside is now has a pronounced hiss on acceleration - so loud in fact i thought windows weren't properly closed as i drove home - so will be back at weekend for second opinion

[JustACooperClubman]

Hey HWS, you shoul dbe VERY happy that the clutch in your '02 MINI with 261K has lasted that long. The factory clutch in my '05 R53 S died at 25K miles! It was replaced under warranty.

The truth is.... The MINI OEM clutches are garbage. (Sorry HWS you are way more the exception than the rule) and they tend to fail prematurely. Some folks manage to keep their clutch past 100K miles, others (Like me) have experienced premature clutch failure.

Also HWS, you are the first '02 Cooper owner who has not experienced problems with the equally bad 5-speed Midland Gears transmission.

Your car probably was not built by humans.

[HWS]

I've not been reading these threads long enough to realize there might be other 2002 Coopers
which have not provided the same stellar reliability I've experienced.

And transmission problems on the 2002s? Honestly, my heater motor makes more noise.

No, I've never yet considered 'trading' her,
but your reminder that my next one might be made by 'humans'
(especially on a Friday afternoon - or Monday morning)
makes me determined to Stick With the MINI I've Got - and be Very Thankful.

(We just passed 263,000 miles this afternoon.)

[Tobes]

Have R56 s works. with 1600 miles Clutch started to burna nd smell on hillstarts. Dealer has investigated and apparently the clutch plate is warped so will be replaced under warranty

[HWS]

They must have done everything right while replacing my clutch at 261,600 miles.

I'm at 281,000 miles now, and everything was going beautifully - till I hurried to the garage yesterday and found a flat tire. But a flat tire - even a clutch - can't change my judgement that this MINI is an Amazing Car!

Next weekend is MTTS - Chicago. This is just one of four "MINI Takes The States" events this year. Hundreds of MINIs from Mid-America will gather Friday July 25th at Chicago - then drive about 150 miles North to 'Road America' near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for two more days of activities.

I'll have the 'best seat in the house' as all those gleaming cars line up, rev up, and hurry up to get onto that Beautiful Road Race Course - winding more than four miles up, down, and around the wooded hills of Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine.
They've asked, "Would I be willing to serve as 'Flag Man' to wave them all onto the track?" "Absolutely! - I'll be there!"
(And, after the last one passes, I'll see if I can catch up.)