I have no experience with those particular innards but that ain't pretty. What are we looking at? That is, what was that before you beat it to death?
That was a clutch release bearing in it's former existence...... And chuckt, I'd say you're on to something!
Mini puts in a plastic throwout bearing knowing full well it will last long enough to get past the warranty period... It puts a few $$ in their pocket during manufacturing... And of course a few $$ afterwards as well... That's called "Engineering in action".... Edit: "Engineering Inaction"....
I'm replacing everything flywheel pressure plate disc throw out bearing guide tube Fork bushings shrimp sandwich that's about it. Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk