Newbie - clutch / alternator advice needed!

[MattOneD]

Hi, all

I've just bought a Mini One Diesel - 53plate. Loving it so far except it developed a squeak from cold that's coming from the alternator area. So far from looking at the forum here it seems as if it's a common problem to do with tensioners / aligning the alternator? It's just had a new belt before leaving the dealership (up north, 250 miles away, so i'd prefer not to go all the way back)

I've had a number of opinions as follows:

AA says that the tensioner is 'possibly' at fault and that I shouldn't drive it further than a garage
Greenflag says that it's actually fine, that it's a new belt and that it'll bed in and stop squeaking over a couple of weeks.
My local independant BMW specialist actually said that:
- The alternators bearing has gone so new alternator
- The power steering belt needs replacing
- The clutch needs replacing (?!)

All this can be done under warranty, but I don't really think the clutch has gone? It feels heavy, but it engages and the car can move without slippage in 4th gear!

Opinions would be most welcome, as I don't really know what to believe and whether my cars actually just fine but needs a new alternator or tensioner or what....

Thanks in advance

Matt

[John_D]

Quote:

an move without slippage in 4th gear!

Hmmmmm... the normal test for a clutch is to put it into 3 or 4th gear when standing still and then let the clutch slowly out. If the engine stalls, then the clutch is OK.

[MattOneD]

I thought that it was that if it stalls or if it moved that it was ok, and that if it stood still and engine kept going that it wasn't ok? Am I right in thinking this?