Noise when pulling off in first gear in r56 MCS

[ladylaura.23]

Quote: Originally Posted by raoulpop (original)

I'm starting to get the same Chewbacca whine on my 03 MCS. Same situation, only occurs when pulling off in 1st gear, but it only started happening recently, and the frequency of the sounds is increasing. In other words, it's likely that I can replicate the noise even when the engine is warm. I'm worried, as my MINI is still only around 50K miles, and the clutch should last about 100K. I'd rather not be stuck paying over >$1K if I can help it...

I don't think it means the clutch is going, it's just one of those annoying things that happen.. like a dash rattle for example - it doesn't damage the car, it's just plain annoying! When mine did it and i took it to the garage, they wouldn't replace it due to the noise as it's not a problem mechanically, they put it down as the clutch being too heavey for me to be able to get it replaced under warrenty. You could pay to get it replaced but even then i've heard people say it hasn't completly gone after, or if you can put up with it do so for as long as you can!!

[n5290066]

Hi All,
Seems this problem has been around for a while. I picked up my R56 MCS in May 2007. It was A Dec 06 build model and in the first week i noticed the noise. Me being me, i tried to replicate it by treating it rough, but it would only repeat the noise intermittently. So, i just ignored it.

After a while, can't really say how long, it stopped occurring. I think that the rough use of my clutch at the track for a couple of years must have resolved the issue. I have had my MCS R56 for over two years and I have put 53,000 kms on it and its only now that i look like i need a new clutch. So if you are easy on the clutch you might get double that out of it.

The noise never affected the functionality of the clutch at any stage. It'd be interesting to hear from the early posters on this thread to see if the noise has stopped.

[Minipnut]

^^^^^^^ and believe he does give that poor clutch a thrashing ! ^^^^^^^^

[Babykh]

Hi guys,

hope you can help with my problem.

I bought my mini cooper s 56 reg in June 2009. Have one year warranty on it.

It has now done 36k miles.

It has recently started to make the "Chewbacca noise" when cold pulling off in 1st gear, Also makes a rattling noise when in neutral but once i push the clutch down the noise stops.

I took the car to mini dealership to get this checked out. They have come back saying that they think it might be the release bearing on the clutch or a worn clutch!! If it is the release bearing it will be covered by warranty, but if it is just a worn clutch i will have to pay for it! They cant tell which one it is without take the whole gearbox out apparently! This sounds very weird because you would think a professional mechanic would know if it was one or the other. Plus many of the threads i have read on here have shown that you can tell what it is before taking the whole car apart.

By reading threads on here it sounds like it could be the flywheel and release beairng. Does anyone know if this should be covered by warranty even if they find it is the clutch that needs replacing?

If they take the gearbox out and find it is a worn clutch i will have to pay for a new clutch and have no choice because they have done all the labour.

I was just wondering if anybody has been in this situation before?

and whether a mechanic would be able to see if it was a release bearing fault or just a worn clutch before taking the gearbox off??

Also does anyone know how much it would cost to get the release bearing sorted out and the flywheel, not with mini (including labour costs)

Hope you can help

Thanks

[Arbil]

I have just dropped my 07 cabrio (R52) back to the dealer to have the noise fixed for the 3rd time! It's still under warranty thankfully... Will post the results when I get it back!