I have noticed a funny noise when I let out the clutch when it is cold and now that it is cold outside. It's kind of like a hoot. Once driven a bit and it warms up it's gone. Any ideas? Or this a "they all do that"
Nick, does it sound like a throwout bearing? My R53 throwout bearing was a little noisy when cold from the day I bought it until the day I sold it 106K miles later.
^^^^^ +1, what Mark said. My '04 did the same thing, however not sure if they changed anything in the '05+ newer transmission.
If the noise comes when the car is out of gear, you're fine. If it makes the noise when in gear, not so much. At a stop light, if you let out the clutch and it's out of gear and you hear a clattering, that's a jammed dual-mass flywheel, and you just have to live with it, unless you have $2k you want to throw at the problem. If the sound happens while driving in gear, start saving, because your TO bearing is about to scatter inside your bell housing and leave you dead in the water.
Haven't tried it out of gear. In gear it just makes a little hoot or whoop sound not clattering, crunching or grinding. Sort of a metal moaning sound. It doesn't do it between gears only starting off in 1st. After a couple of regular starts it's gone. The car only has 24k mi so I wouldn't think the TO bearing is shot yet.
my '06 S has had a little hoot or moan when it is cold and i start letting out the clutch, going on 5 years now.
What you're describing is the classic "Chewbacca" noise, search for that term on any MINI forum and you'll find scads of threads on it. The only fix is to replace the clutch and flywheel, but it's not hurting anything, it's just annoying. What's making the noise is your dual mass flywheel. There is a Valeo clutch kit available now that uses a regular flywheel, disc and diaphragm clutch cover that will replace the OEM for about half cost and it will cure the problem forever. I just installed one last week and the owner is absolutely thrilled with it, just FYI. He got his from Way Motor Works
I have the same problem on my 02. Its been doing it for a few years. I also plan on changing to the Valeo clutch when time comes to replace the stock one.
The Valeo seems to be a good choice, again the owner of the one I replaced loves it, he refers to it as his "Honda" clutch, and he means that in the best way! Smooth, engages mid stroke, and always the same, light and very positive. He also says he noticed no additional vibration from not having the dual mass flywheel. He also says the flywheel's lighter and the engine seems to rev more willingly, but it does not impact starting from a stop or anything. Add in half the cost of a factory clutch and it seems win/win to me. Of course, the labor cost is the same...so it's still an expensive clutch to replace.
My 05 first did that one morning last year in Robbinsville, it was a damp morning and I just attributed it to the morning moisture, well it continues even now. It only does it when car is cold and only first gear, after two or three starts it is gone. Guess I better start saving.