Clutch Squeak

[Lav3r]

Hi Guys,

Picked up my 03 MCS from Mini Newport on Friday.
Totally delighted with the car and am so glad I purchased it as it really is a well cared for, nicely spec'd model.

I have one problem though, there's a loud squeak from the clutch when going from 'disengaged' to 'engaged' in 1st Gear.

Now, I don't know if anyone has experienced this before, so I'm after a few opinions.
Obviously this isn't normal?

Does anyone think i'm well within my right to phone up the Dealer and ask them to fix it free of charge as it wasn't like it when I test drove the car the week earlier?

Any advice appreciated!

[dukesantos]

As you say, it's not normal but without knowing the mileage or history of the car it's cause is hard to determine. I would certainly take it in to your dealer and see what they say, the sooner the better.

[MiniPetrolHead]

When i first got my MCS, when ever i went to pull away it would always "whine", it only does this when you slightly slip the clutch.

But for some reason it doesnt do it anymore, i have driven the car hard to get eveything loosened up abit more and the noise seems to have gone...... maybe give the car a pasting for a few days and it will go away!

Alex

[Lav3r]

Sorry chaps, I forgot to include that its got 27k on the clock and is an Aug03 build.

I'm not happy with the noise to be honest. It's not normal which means something in the car is fault/not working properly.

I'm going to ring the dealer tomorrow I think and ask what my options are I think.

[matc]

I also have this squeak and have been advised it is the Clutch/flywheel (do a search on here). My clutch also seems relatively heavy to push down. Unfortunately I bought mine private so don't have the beneft of returning it to the dealer and I also didn't hear it whe I test-drove it

HTH

Mat

[mikbmini]

I had exactly the same issue on my cooper s which i bought just over a month ago, again with just under 30k on the clock. took it straight back to the main dealer where i brought it from, moaned a bit (well a lot actually), and they replaced the clutch free of charge. My advice would be to take it straight back, as by law they have to put anything like this right within 30 days of purchase (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). If your not happy definitely take it back as I'm guessing you parted with a fair sum of money if you bought from a main dealer like myself, and be afraid about standing up to them, as at the end of the day you are the customer and they have a duty to serve you. Don't make the mistake that I did which is to ***** foot around, as they ended up just mugging me off, never calling me back and generally just treating me like they didn't care anymore (after they had my money).

Apparently it is normal for the cooper s clutch to do this slightly, but not to the extent I was experiencing. Now my car is much better, but does occasionally still make this noise, but only when its very cold, or when I'm pulling away on a steep hill, and its much much less severe now. I don't think I made any friends down at my local dealership, but thats life, and they didn't exactly go out of their way to help.

[jammythart]

I have had sooo many issues with the clutch in my MCS, its been in the dealers more times than.....

Anyway, I was getting to the point of speaking to the manager and staging a protest.

I wont go into the problems other than after driving for about an hour or so the clutch would squeak when depressed, and would get progressively stiff, so much that I felt it was catching on the brake pedal!! I took it to the dealer straight after doing a long journey and 2 days later I got a new clutch on the warranty.

I nopw only have a few days left on the warranty so need to get everything sorted!!!

I now have sqeaky brakes and vibrations which I think are coming from the rear tyres, but it make me thing it is the bearings!!!

[sam_a156]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikbmini (original)

I had exactly the same issue on my cooper s which i bought just over a month ago, again with just under 30k on the clock. took it straight back to the main dealer where i brought it from, moaned a bit (well a lot actually), and they replaced the clutch free of charge.
<clip>

Same thing here. My dealer agreed to change it under warranty even if my car has been modified quite a bit. IMO the clutch started to slide already under very hard acceleration on 1st and 2nd gear.

[Lav3r]

Just a quick update.

I spoke to the dealer, and my contact says they are more than happy to get it in, diagnose the fault and repair it under warrenty.

Something i'd expect to be honest considering Mini's reputation and the price i've paid for the car.

Bit worried though as I've noticed the squeak isn't so bad after the cars been warmed up a bit, so knowing my luck, when the mechanics at the dealer 'test' the fault, they won't be able to replicate it.
I still think there's something wrong though, as even a 'cold' car shouldn't be making a noise like that.

[jammythart]

Make sure you get an engineer to look at it as soon as you take it in, I did that and the engineer put his name to the sheet as he knew exactly what the prob....good luck.

I am now taking mine in for a knocking when the brake is applied while reversing!!!! and I only have about 12 days left of my warranty....wish me luck!

[Lav3r]

Good luck mate!

[Lav3r]

Bit of an update!

The car went into Sytner yesterday, and I was given a 07' Mini Cooper as a courtesy car for the day.

Anyway, the car needs a brand new clutch, and Mini are footing the bill as the car shouldn't of been sold to me with a fault such as that. Brilliant news

Unfortunately it's an 8 hour job, so they've got it for the weekend, and I shall pick it up on Monday, plus I've been given the Cooper for the rest of the weekend for my inconvienience.

Just to show really that BMW/MINI really do look after their customers, which is why they've got such a good reputation for customer service.

I'll give it a go on Monday and report back with the results

[a.stretch]

My clutch squeaks do you think I could get any money off if I got it changed as 03 plate and 40k miles