I'm not familiar with the Diesels but have you considered engine mounts, if its got the dog bone shaped mount at the back of the motor ? use a pry bar or large screwdriver to lever it back and forth and look for any splits opening in the rubber up due to movement. If you have a failed or failing motor mount, when your on or off the gas, the engine will torque and any failed or failing mounts will allow engine movement.

 

Hi there

I have had my Bmw Mini One D Clubman 11 plate 24,000 miles now for two weeks and have a very similar problem, A technician at Halliwell Jones of Wilmslow has inspected the car and came back with this response


The noise we advise that is coming from your clutch pedal is:

" They are saying when the car is coming to a stop the clutch and flywheel (when clutch pressed) you are disengaging the gearbox to the engine by separating the clutch plate from the flywheel. When you let the clutch out again the clutch plate is pushed against the flywheel, so you have a moving flywheel against a non-moving clutch plate (taking up drive).


All the bushes and engine mounts have been previously replaced."


Never experienced this with any other car, so why this one.

 

Petedeak, the explanation they gave you is obvious to those with any mechanical knowledge, its describing what a clutch does. Its not an explanation why your getting a clunking noise, if it was, all cars would clunk (that's why dual mass flywheels or single mass clutches have springs in them to dampen the shock from the engine torque when the clutch is taken up). I cant believe that they gave you that explanation and I personally would be insulted! If there is a clunking noise, it can be several things, worn engine/gearbox mounts, worn universal joints (conventional axles) or CV joints. Failing all that, I would start looking at the thrust bearing, Clutch Pressure plate, Clutch, Flywheel. Unfortunately, to do this requires removal of the gearbox as there is no other way to inspect the drive train components.

Not an easy job but not an impossible DIY job if you have the space and tools.

 

If your engine mounts are OK, this info sheets from Valeo may help you diagnose your problems.

http://www.valeoserviceusa.com/sites/default/files/techdoc/Clutch Troubleshooting Guide.pdf

 

Petedeak, hopefully you get an honest answer and its not to expensive, over the years I have been left with very little faith in Dealerships and most 3rd party mechanics to the point of doing 95% of any repairs or service on my vehicles myself.

Keep us updated with the results.

 

Milpol, took the car back to the Mini dealership and did a road test with a technician. He heard the clunking noise but could't say what the probable cause was. The car is under warranty so they are going to replace the clutch but not till the 21 sept. I'm not convinced that it is the clutch but hopefully when they start to dismantle things in that area something else might become apparent.

 

I'm going with engine mounts or drive shaft or something else related to the suspension of the car.

 

hi there,
thanks for reading and replying. the mini dealership say that they have replaced the engine/gearbox mounts two months ago trying to eradicate another noise that happened whilst driving over roughish road. this clunking noise that i'm now experiencing only happens when i'm in a traffic jam, stop start, 1 gear up to 2nd gear and so on. its more noticeable after 10 miles or so as apposed to the start of my journey. it doesn't happen all the time so i can imagine that this is a mechanic's nightmare trying to diagnose.

 

Im thinking thrust bearing and guide sleeve then pressure plate. You would be putting it under a lot of pressure/work whilst stuck in traffic as opposed to normal driving. Will be interesting what they find when they pull the gearbox out to have a look.

 

Just wondered what the outcome was with petedeak's Mini once they replaced the clutch? Did this solve your clunking noise? I'm interested as I haven't had my car looked at by the Mini dealer yet, but a hint as to what the problem might be could be useful.

 

Just got my clubman one d back after three days in the main dealership. They have changed the clutch and dual mass flywheel (showed signs of wear) I don't know who drove this car for the first 24,000 miles but I only got the clunking noises while in a traffic jam going through the first and second gears. I'm not going to be using the car now for a month while away on hols/business but will post again once driven in stop, start traffic. hope this helps,