[The_works]

Hi guys, ive started this in my own topic because i need some quick advice, firstly ill start by saying whats wrong with my MINI!
Ok i have the good old "rattle noise" coming from the clutch area of my car but it seems to rattle the whole car some what, and yes when i press the clutch down it stops - lol
I know this is a common fault, but am not sure what "Exactly" causes it!?
Secondly i have a Creeking / Scraping / Screeching noise coming from the steering somewhere, it only happens when i do a hard turn like in or out of a parking space and its not evertime, but sounds like the steering rack or maybe power steering pump to me!

Now i have had the car in twice about these problems and both times BMW have said "Sorry Mr Jones, we cant find any faults on your car"
I know for a fact that both these noises should not be happening and are both faults with parts on the MINI

The main thing now is i only have 3weeks left on my warranty, and the car is booked in for tomorrow (21-08-07) I'm going on a road test with the so called mechanic to show him what i mean, but i just want any suggestions or comments from people on what to do and say, Or else BMW will try and worm there way out of fixing the car, and then once the warranty has expired ill have to pay for the repairs!

So this is my last ditch attempt to get the problems fixed once and for all! i know there will be many people who have suffered the same problems i am, any ideas on how you managed to get them fixed would also be good!

Thanks guys!

[The_works]

Guys need a quick response plz!

[Loui]

Rattle could be dual mass flywheel

[TimCrighton]

I'd put money on the fact that the rattle is caused by one of two things.

The centre of the clutches on all of the MINI range is press fit, and sometimes these comes loose and the clutch friction plate itself moves around. Invariably when you remove the clutch from a car making this noise you'll find that if you grab the centre female splined section of the clutch and move it there is movement relative to the rest of the clutch - this often causes the knocking - but a dealer won't tell you that...

BELOW: This is not a MINI clutch but it might help in identifying the component I mean - basically its the very centre part - it sometimes comes loose - particularly if the gearbox on the car has ever been replaced, or its had a previous clutch
http://www.zcentre.co.uk/shop/images...%202%20012.jpg

The other common thing is the input shaft in to the box, or the release bearing...

The steering rack noise is a bit trickier - sometimes the racks crack on the aluminium casting at one end and the noise is caused by flex is the then solid end - but you tend to notice a loss in steering precision with this fault. Otherwise it can be the Powersteering Motor - but these will occasionally induce the EML to come on when they become problematic. I would think that its the top collumn bearing on the steering collumn. It provides much the same symptoms as mine - and I'm nigh on certain thats what it is but I've never got round to changing it

[The_works]

Thanks for the help and advice guys!

[The_works]

Ok MINI is back from BMW they found a few faults, they changed the Fly wheel, Clutch, Power steering pump and some ball joint on the steering rack! so im kinda happy with them for actualy changing some parts this time!

Clutch noise has stopped now and i havent heard the screeching from the steering....
But i now have a knocking sound when i go round islands or in to junctions!
Wonder if this could be something they have done while changing the parts!??