2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Clutch wear and driving habits

Discussion in '2nd Generation: 2007+ R55 through R61' started by Rixter, Jan 21, 2011.

  1. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

    Jun 14, 2009
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    Ok, so with all the talk about pre-maturely warn clutches I'm getting a little worried.

    I've been driving for more years than I care the comment on :ihih:, suffice to save I've been around the block a few times and driven a few hundred thousand miles, all on standards, never with a clutch problem.

    Anyways 2 things I'm wondering about:
    1. At a rolling stop is driving in 2nd gear hard on the clutch? I do this late at night coming back from hockey
    2. While descending long hills is holding the car back a bit with a lower gear hard on the clutch? Should I leave it in a higher gear and brake more?

    If there's any other (bad) habits I should be aware of I'm all ears
     
  2. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    The only time a clutch wears is when it's slipping, especially as in starting from stop or if you rest your foot on the clutch....

    Letting the engine compression braking slow the car down doesn't wear the clutch if it's fully engaged.

    Starting off in 2nd doesn't hurt anything if you're not slipping the clutch excessively, I used to do it in my '03 all the time.

    I think a number of the clutches that have failed early are due to faulty flywheels - I think there's even a thread here on M/A about it....
     
  3. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

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    Thanks MD. Clutch is always fully engaged. I never rest my foot on the pedal ;)
     
  4. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    If you are that old, how can you still be playing hockey? :D

    Jim
     
  5. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

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    I didn't specify how well I play ;)

    Actually I hope to play well past my retirement, which is still many many years away
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    +1
    Also our MINI's also have a not very robust throw out bearing.
     
  7. Rae

    Rae Club Coordinator

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    So what about leaving the clutch in while sitting at a light? I was always told not to do this, but my partner always leaves it in. Drives me nuts!!:crazy: Any thoughts?
     
  8. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Nope, don't do it. Puts more stress on the throwout bearing which is already a weak point in the MINI.
     
  9. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    Cause they needed a puck?





    Sorry.....couldn't resist!
    Now back to our regularly scheduled thread..........:D
     
  10. Michigan Mini

    Michigan Mini New Member

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    I needed new brakes soon after I bought The Beast. During his inspection, Chad noticed a low grumble when the clutch pedal was pressed. Bad throw out bearing at 48k.

    So now I am out of gear any time I am at a stop. The thing is, the throw out won't eat itself at a red light, it will be shifting from 4th to 5th out on 696.

    Cheers!
    Chris

    safe
     
  11. Wikedmini

    Wikedmini MINI of the Month - December 2009

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    i have a 147k on the og clutch.. and its still strong. I'm in stop and go traffic on the 91 & 405 every day.
     
  12. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    Something's wrong with your driving.
     
  13. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

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    I haven't heard any problems with the 1st Gen (OEM) clutches I wonder if they're of a different build quality or manufacturer than the 2nd Gen (OEM)?
     
  14. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #14 Crashton, Jan 22, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2011
    There were plenty of clutch issues with R50-R53 clutches too. I had a T.O.B. replaced along with my clutch at 30,000. Felt a bit crunchy when depressing the clutch. I'm at 86,000 & all is well.
     
  15. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    Well if you are "NOT" at 86,000, then how many miles do you have on the car?
    :prrr:


    Jim
     
  16. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I'm at 86,666..... :prrr:
     
  17. SimsClubman

    SimsClubman New Member
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    I never learned how to properly drive a manual. I learned how to make a manual car get me where I want to go, mostly through trial and error, but never learned whats right and whats unnecessarily hard on the vehicle. I had never owned one and only drove them on occasion. But I always have liked driving them, so decided to finally get one this time. That said....

    A week after I got my MINI (used, manual, 22k miles), it died on my girlfriend in the middle of a road trip from Kansas to California. The shop that worked on it said he believed the flywheel caused the problems. The mechanic said he would have to replace it and the clutch, and if it was his car he would go ahead and replace the throw out bearings as well. At this point I figured, its better to be cautious than have it break down again on her and pay labor again for the something that could have been taken care of this time. Since the new parts, my girlfriend drove it on to Cali, drove around out there for a few weeks, Arizona for a few weeks, then finally back to Kansas with no issues. At which point I had her park it and drive my other car. I am debating selling the Mini when I go home, dont want her putting more miles on it. From what I could find online, the clutch going out on these cars prematurely is common, though there isnt a recall for it. Just the same, reading this thread I learned of quite a few mistakes I make. Im sure my clutch/flywheel/throw out bearing issue was going to happen prematurely anyway, and I would bet I contributed to it happening so quickly. But after a week? Oh well, part of the risk of buying used I guess. After reading through some of the threads on here, thinking it may be worth giving the ole gal another shot. :D
     
  18. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    Perhaps you made some mistakes, but I'm guessing so did the first owner. I't is all new now, so go have fun with your MINI. :Thumbsup:

    Jim
     
  19. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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  20. Belhaven

    Belhaven Active Member

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    Over 100K on my '06 R53 and I'm on all original equipment with no signs of needing work. But then, I usually get 150k or more out of a clutch in any manual transmission I've owned.

    I'd be leery of buying a used manual transmission without an inspection for this failure, though. There's NO telling how well (or poorly) the previous owner(s) treated the clutch.
     

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