MINI2

sam_a156 · Jul 28th, 2007, 02:44 PM

I already posted this on another tread, but did not really get any comments.

Those of you who already have changed the clutch (or two), how could you tell it was the time to change it? What were the main symptoms?

My clutch has been "whining" for some time when starting from standstill on first gear. In normal driving it still seems mostly ok, apart from some occasional whine when changing to smaller gear. But when I did some performance testing with GTech I could almost swear that it was already slipping between 4000-7000rpms at WOT. Regardless of the new mods (and how much faster my car feels in normal driving), also the 0-60 times were in fact some 0.3secs worse than before the mods

. The acceleration at WOT was not as explosive as before, even if on normal driving it does feel fast enough (in gear acceleration is fine and better than before on butt dyno).

My car is a 05' MCS JCW with a few extras with 42,000km. TBH. it seems a bit early for the clutch to be at the end of its life, but then again, I gladly admit that I have exposed the car to some "spirited driving" and limited drag racing too.

Tried to get BMW to look into this, but they did not have the time this week. Perhaps next week. If this is the problem as I suspect, my options are:
1) hope that BMW replaces it under warranty (a long shot...),
2) replace it with another OEM clutch (cheaper, but how long it is going to last if I keep on modding the car...)
3) spend another small fortune e.g. on Exedy Hyper Single Clutch with Lightened Flywheel

Ouch.

Sam

James · Jul 28th, 2007, 02:50 PM

If they wont replace it under warantee it'd probably be cheaper to get an aftermarket one installed somewhere else, the main cost when they replaced my clutch was the labour cost because it takes some time to take the car apart to get to the clutch

ScottyBoy · Jul 28th, 2007, 03:18 PM

I was in this situation not long ago when was on a MINI Run, i was travelling up a steep pass and had to stop then couldnt get going again, nearly burnt my clutch out.

In the long run if it didnt sort its self out i would be going for an Exedy Flywheel/Clutch Combo as ill need it with the Modding im going to be doing!

I would say this is your best bet a bit more money but will be alot better in the long run!

Try accelrating in 4th and watch the Revs if it seems fine the its got some life left!

As crammy said the quoted hours for a replacement of a clutch is something like 16 - 17 hours!

sam_a156 · Jul 28th, 2007, 03:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ScottyBoy230 (original)

:
As crammy said the quoted hours for a replacement of a clutch is something like 16 - 17 hours!

Ouch. Luckily the labor costs in Poland and probably lower than in the UK...But even here, BMW is BMW...

ScottyBoy · Jul 28th, 2007, 03:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sam_a156 (original)

Ouch. Luckily the labor costs in Poland and probably lower than in the UK...But even here, BMW is BMW...

Exactly thats why i think a Excedy clutch would be the best bet when mine goes, i actuall hope it does soon then i have an excuse for one lol.

sam_a156 · Aug 9th, 2007, 05:43 PM

Quick update on this:

BMW changed my clutch on warranty...!

Seriously good customer service(considering how much my car has already been modded). Though this means that I need to put the Exedy on hold...

Going to pick up the car tomorrow.

The only slightly weird thing was that they claimed that the original clutch was still in a good shape...?!

They just said that perhaps my car just already has too much power for the OEM clutch. This does not really sound feasible: from what I have read I have understood that the OEM clutch should quite easily handle my 225-230 hp...and then some.

Will do some testing tomorrow to see if this sorted out the weird WOT@1st gear problem. Then on Monday booked in for some dyno testing...

Paul Webster · Aug 9th, 2007, 06:06 PM

Glad to see that you still have the dyno addiction

sam_a156 · Aug 10th, 2007, 11:11 AM

Right...

Still haven't managed to check where I am at now after my visit to Roland. Now that the clutch is fixed, should have a better chance of getting realistic results.

I better start brushing up my Polish skills to cope with the local guys here as more frequent visits to the UK to tune my car starts to be costly.

Jul 28th, 2007, 02:44 PM	#1
sam_a156 Flying Finn My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warsaw Local Time: 11:03 PM Posts: 371 Offline	Best way to tell that your clutch is about to expire...? I already posted this on another tread, but did not really get any comments. Those of you who already have changed the clutch (or two), how could you tell it was the time to change it? What were the main symptoms? My clutch has been "whining" for some time when starting from standstill on first gear. In normal driving it still seems mostly ok, apart from some occasional whine when changing to smaller gear. But when I did some performance testing with GTech I could almost swear that it was already slipping between 4000-7000rpms at WOT. Regardless of the new mods (and how much faster my car feels in normal driving), also the 0-60 times were in fact some 0.3secs worse than before the mods. The acceleration at WOT was not as explosive as before, even if on normal driving it does feel fast enough (in gear acceleration is fine and better than before on butt dyno). My car is a 05' MCS JCW with a few extras with 42,000km. TBH. it seems a bit early for the clutch to be at the end of its life, but then again, I gladly admit that I have exposed the car to some "spirited driving" and limited drag racing too. Tried to get BMW to look into this, but they did not have the time this week. Perhaps next week. If this is the problem as I suspect, my options are: 1) hope that BMW replaces it under warranty (a long shot...), 2) replace it with another OEM clutch (cheaper, but how long it is going to last if I keep on modding the car...) 3) spend another small fortune e.g. on Exedy Hyper Single Clutch with Lightened Flywheel Ouch. Sam

Aug 9th, 2007, 06:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Webster MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Beds Cambs Northants Local Time: 10:03 PM Posts: 1,956 Offline	Glad to see that you still have the dyno addiction Slicks 11.77@115.92mph Street tyres 12.162 @ 119.02 It's not how much you spend but how well you spend it

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Jul 28th, 2007, 02:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
James MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Essex Local Time: 10:03 PM Posts: 1,002 Offline	If they wont replace it under warantee it'd probably be cheaper to get an aftermarket one installed somewhere else, the main cost when they replaced my clutch was the labour cost because it takes some time to take the car apart to get to the clutch

Jul 28th, 2007, 03:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
ScottyBoy Obsessive Car Cleaner OCC My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Thornaby NE Local Time: 10:03 PM Posts: 2,951 Online	I was in this situation not long ago when was on a MINI Run, i was travelling up a steep pass and had to stop then couldnt get going again, nearly burnt my clutch out. In the long run if it didnt sort its self out i would be going for an Exedy Flywheel/Clutch Combo as ill need it with the Modding im going to be doing! I would say this is your best bet a bit more money but will be alot better in the long run! Try accelrating in 4th and watch the Revs if it seems fine the its got some life left! As crammy said the quoted hours for a replacement of a clutch is something like 16 - 17 hours!

Jul 28th, 2007, 03:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
sam_a156 Flying Finn My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warsaw Local Time: 11:03 PM Posts: 371 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by ScottyBoy230 (original) : As crammy said the quoted hours for a replacement of a clutch is something like 16 - 17 hours! Ouch. Luckily the labor costs in Poland and probably lower than in the UK...But even here, BMW is BMW...

Jul 28th, 2007, 03:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
ScottyBoy Obsessive Car Cleaner OCC My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Thornaby NE Local Time: 10:03 PM Posts: 2,951 Online	Quote: Originally Posted by sam_a156 (original) Ouch. Luckily the labor costs in Poland and probably lower than in the UK...But even here, BMW is BMW... Exactly thats why i think a Excedy clutch would be the best bet when mine goes, i actuall hope it does soon then i have an excuse for one lol.

Aug 9th, 2007, 05:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
sam_a156 Flying Finn My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warsaw Local Time: 11:03 PM Posts: 371 Offline	Quick update on this: BMW changed my clutch on warranty...! Seriously good customer service(considering how much my car has already been modded). Though this means that I need to put the Exedy on hold... Going to pick up the car tomorrow. The only slightly weird thing was that they claimed that the original clutch was still in a good shape...?! They just said that perhaps my car just already has too much power for the OEM clutch. This does not really sound feasible: from what I have read I have understood that the OEM clutch should quite easily handle my 225-230 hp...and then some. Will do some testing tomorrow to see if this sorted out the weird WOT@1st gear problem. Then on Monday booked in for some dyno testing...

Aug 10th, 2007, 11:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
sam_a156 Flying Finn My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warsaw Local Time: 11:03 PM Posts: 371 Offline	Right... Still haven't managed to check where I am at now after my visit to Roland. Now that the clutch is fixed, should have a better chance of getting realistic results. I better start brushing up my Polish skills to cope with the local guys here as more frequent visits to the UK to tune my car starts to be costly.

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