Please tell me it's not the dreaded clutch problem

[kmanrobs]

Hi All,

I know about a million posts have been put up about R50 midland gearboxes. But indulge me please because I purchased a 2003 R50 cooper a few months back and it is my first car and really really hope it's not the horrendously expensive clutch replacement needed. Car has about 49000miles on the clock.

Here's what happened...

1. I was driving along fine, no strange noises. I came off a roundabout and down changed from 5th to 3rd. When I lifted my foot off the clutch pedal I realised the pedal had not followed my foot back up.

2. I pulled the pedal back with my foot and was able to change gear again back up to 5th.

3. After about 2 miles of driving (at about 30mph) I had to shift down to 2nd and had the same problem but this time the pedal came back, I then had to go into 1st but couldn't change into it. It wasn't like I could grind into each gear, I simply couldn't get into any gear. Like a metal plate had been put into each gear slot. Also my clutch pedal feels loose and like I'm pushing it through gravel.

4.Car had to be towed and now with garage.

I live in the Cayman Islands so whilst we do have a MINI dealer he has one hell of a monopoly so charges ludicrous amounts of money for everything...cause he can. And everything has to get shipped over here at great cost.

Is this a simple problem that needs fixing (i read maybe a damaged slave cylinder) or am I looking at a big problem and having to replace the "much loved" midlands gearbox.

Thanks for any advice you all have! I'd like to make sure the mechanic isn't going to see my lack of knowledge and rip me off.