hi,, i got a 2002 cooper s had it 18 months now,,when i bought it i noticed a noise from clutch release from standing start espicially more so in cold start up, fine when changing gear when on the run just at lights and pull off,,,it sounds like chewbacca / wookie noise if that makes any sense,,,seems to be now on pull off at times when engine is warm , ive just put up with it because car drives fine,,is this an expensive fix?..steve,

A search on chewbacca revealed the following post ...

My 03 MCS makes a Chewbacca type noise when I pull off, when the car is cold (but never when changing gear). It's the clutch/flywheel (something to do with the glazing?). Mine's been doing it for 10 months now with no other detrimental effect except for the annoying noise!

More info here: http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/179108-noise-front-car-please-help-diagnose.html

and here: http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/159387-strange-noise-pulling-off-first-gear.html

When I was originally trying to diagnose the noise it was quite hard to always reproduce it. Try putting on your handbrake and then slowly lifting the clutch, in 1st, while accelerating as if you are pulling off. If yours is the same problem as mine then that should reproduce the noise quite reliably.

The noise is cause by the throw out bearing for the clutch. It was a known problem on the older cars as well on some of the newer models. It won't cause any damage however so it is up to you whether it bugs you enough to get it replaced.