Flywheel Warranty Claim - MINI2

Patchoulian · #1 (**permalink**) Jul 4th, 2009, 08:56 AM

Hi - I've got a 54 plate Cooper S/34,000. While it was in to have the crankshaft pulley replaced, a faulty flywheel was diagnosed, at £1400 supply/fit.

I've also got a Warranty Direct 'Luxury Care' warranty that doesn't appear to exclude the flywheel. BMW called Warranty Direct to get authorisation for the repair, and were advised that a Warranty Direct engineer would need to inspect the broken component. The BMW tec said it'd definitely look broken - something to do with movement around a rubber component on the flywheel. He also confirmed the flywheel is not a service component, like say a drive belt. He couldn't however be even reasonably sure WD would honour the claim.

I spoke with WD about this, and they wouldn't be drawn (fair enough), but they did say I could take the car to one of their approved centres. The advantage would be a likely cheaper repair if the flywheel was found to be in good condition.

I'm a bit confused. I'd struggle to find £1400 if the claim was refused, but I can't see how it could be. If the flywheel is broken, surely there can't be any dispute? So, I either risk the £1400, carry on with the defective flywheel (it doesn't seem to affect anything!), sell the car, or take it to an approved centre.

Has anyone any experience of this, or offer any advice?

Thanks, Rob

BlackJCW · #2 (**permalink**) Jul 15th, 2009, 05:47 PM

What were the symptoms of the Flywheel fault?

ScottyBoy · #3 (**permalink**) Jul 15th, 2009, 06:34 PM

A few questions.

Did you notice anything wrong with the car in this area before taking it in?

Did it squeak?

£1400 is alot of money and i would not let the dealer do it for this price.

Unless the dealer drove the car before hand, they usually do this with the customer in the car i cant see a reason how they can diagnose a faulty flywheel without seeing it damaged with the gearbox off.

Mine got replaced under warrenty a year and half ago because it was squeaking, it got replaced with an apparent uprated flywheel from BMW and then a year down the line it was squeaking again i lived with it for 6 month and replaced it with a solid alumuminuim flywheel myself.