Gearbox / Fly Wheel / Clutch Problems - Help

[le19h]

Any comments / help would be appreciated..

Car: Mini Cooper 51 - 43k miles (no engine mods) - Bought 08/05 Extended Warranty until 08/06

On Friday afternoon, mini started making a shuddering noise as pulling under 3k revs in every gear... Sat morning, progressively getting worse, until it justed rev'd in any gear with no motion... Called Mini Emergency sevices (who'm were fantasic) - recovered to Sytner Mini in Coventry (previously godfrey hall). Road side assistance said either clutch or gear selection problem.

This morning - call from Sytner Mini - just to advise the that if its wear and tear, then chargable (i.e. the clutch) - quoted £610.00 fitted if not then the extended warranty would cover it. Low and behold - they said it was the clutch.

Called them back to find the phone numbers to make a formal complaint, as only had the car for 6 months & its been back to main dealerships 4 times, driven 6k miles and so far; 2 new tyres, new front suspension, tracking, & steering problems - Basically had a complete nightmare from day 1; bought the car from North Oxford Mini - it wasnt taxed on the Sat we picked it up, so couldnt collect it! (Would not recommend the dealership).

Anyhow - after suggesting that it should all be covered on warranty and attempting to speak to a manager, they said that the engineer had fitted the new clutch, however, they found the gearbox needed replacing. As this is covered on warranty, they would also cover all of the labour costs - which brought the cost of the clutch to £160. They also noticed hot spots on the fly wheel, after trying to polish it - they suggested this was replaced - wear and tear - cost £200 - agreed, as did not want to incur any further labour charges in the future.

Having dicussed this with a couple of mechanics - they are suggesting the gearbox has caused the problems with the fly wheel and caused the clutch to burn out. (Bearing in mind the car drove fine upto Friday - with no noticable differences with the clutch / bite point)

Please could anybody help - any suggestions / opinions would be great ?

I would like North Oxford Mini to buy the car back off me, after the amount of problems occured....

Thank you in advance - apologies about the small essay.

Leigh

[pocketrocketowner]

I would take all necessary legal steps to have the car bought back by MINI.

[DaFlake]

This doesn't sound too right to me either. Did you buy the car new or used? If new, then they should step up and fix it under warranty. If used, there is a possibility that the previous owner ran the car into the ground and you may be on the hook for repairs.

It is hard for me to determine as I don't fully understand the whole 51 plate thing. Sorry...

[mooneymini]

north oxford is absolutly appauling as a dealer!

i wrote complaint letters direct to bmw uk about this dealer, which were forwarded on to the people there in question, and i got letters back calling me a lier!

[mooneymini]

also, it sounds very familiar to problems i had with my 51 plate 24000 miles.

drove fine up until one day it would not engage gears, and would just rev - called out min emergency services, and got it towed to sytner high wycome, and it was the drive shaft that had sheered off.
Anyway, while it was in i thought id mention that i had had problems with the gearbox before, and they covered it and replaced my midlands for a new getrag - no questions asked. At that time, i asked whether the clutch would be replaced, and they said there was no need, it might have worn a bit, but there was lots of life left in it, and i could have it fitted with no labour costs if i really wanted - anyway, what im getting at is if you had same problem as me, sounds like ur clutch might have been fine???
ive heard of bmw blaiming the clutch for problems as its something thats never covered under any warranty -

[GoBlue]

I took my cooper to the dealer on saturday for some minor fix ups with the front speakers, and driver side corner lights. However, at the dealership, they found out that I have a small leak with the trans and the steering rack. I knew that the feel on the trans hasn't been the same, but had no idea that it was this bad.

I have 38000+ miles on my baby, right now. They (Patrick Mini in Illinois) proactively assured me that they have already placed the trans and steering rack on order and that they will replace everything under warranty as soon as the parts arrive.

Patrick has done wonders with my Mini. They have replace everything little faulty item, even before, I found out about it and they have been the greatest with loaners and assistance while the car is being repaired.

If these guys can be that great, I don't understand how the others will not extend at least the same kind of Warranty service?????

[Capsaisin]

With all the faults you have had it sounds like your car has been thrashed into the ground!!!!!
I personally do not think that the gearbox caused this, I think the previous driver did. It is obvious from the work you have had done on the car that the whole drivetrain has been subjected to abnormal abuse. Was the car ever track raced?
Usually normal clutch wear and failure is progressive with slippage under load at certain revs until it eventually has no bite at all. This could take a few days or months.
A sudden failure might indicate that the clutch lining simply disintegrated - again indicative of a hard and very hot life. This would explain the juddering before it eventually dropped off the backing plate.
The fact that the gearbox was replaced actually was in your favour as it covered the labour costs of replacing the clutch. The fact that the flywheel needed replacing points to a hard life in the hands of a (boy?) racer.
I think you have actually been lucky here as it could have cost a hell of a lot more than it ended up doing.
There is no doubt that you have bought a rogue car. As I assume it is impossible to "clock" a Mini, at 43k miles this car must have been absolutely thrashed. I would not normally expect things like this on a car until it was over the 80k mark.
I really do not know what to advise you do now. You might be better off selling it or trading it in - I would not expect North Oxford Mini to want to buy it back from you at a fair price but maybe if you shouted loud enough they would trade it in for what you paid for it.
Or you could take the view that you have replaced most of the drive train so there is not much else could go wrong.

[le19h]

Thank you for all the feedback, its interesting to hear your thoughts. I am going to contact north oxford mini garage tomorrow. The dealership do know of me already, due to the car not being taxed when i went to pick it up, so couldnt drive it away, traction and wheel alignment problems on delivery and a scraping noise (which still exists) from the rear drivers side wheel when going over ditches.

Will let you know the outcome.