[philip_jones]

I know that this subject has been covered a frighteningly amount of times (and I've read them all), but my symptoms appear a little different from others.

Firstly, I've a Dec 2004 MC, 9500 miles (bought it second hand about a week ago - cherished).

I'm getting the following:-

1. Rattle in neutral with the clutch up. Dreadful at cold start, gets better when warm but always there. Just give it a little stab on the gas to raise the revs from 900-1200rpm and I get a nice little rattle.
2. when in first and second, if coasting to a stop, with the clutch down, slight knocking noise there at slow speed, till the car comes to a stop.
3. Sometimes a little difficult to put into first and makes a dreadful clunking sound when passing from 1st to 2nd to 3rd. Gets better once in 3rd.
4. Occasionally "kangaroo" in 2nd, if revs are low (but not too low for the gear)

It's booked in with the dealers next Thurs for the day, but I want to be forearmed with a possible diagnosis. I personally think it's the gearbox. A friend of mine (mechanic) immediately said it was gearbox rattle.... Also, the dealer said the usual Mini statement that ALL minis sound like this. Well, I had a 2003 MC and it didn't sound anything like this one!

Sorry for bringing this subject again, but any views/thoughts/opinions would be much appreciated.

[Ant FR]

well all i can say is i put up with squeaky noise when cold, a creaky feeling clutch pedal, and a notchy change on my mini for 18months, and i was always told that it was normal. Then when my engine got changed i had a new clutch and flywheel chucked in at the same time, WOW what a difference. I think if they agrea with the symptoms you say (which is the hardest bit) you'll end up with a new clutch and flywheel. This really transformed car and the clutch is so light now, its brilliant