2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: In for clutch/flywheel. Wish me luck.

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  1. countryboyshane

    countryboyshane New Member

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    #23 countryboyshane, Oct 23, 2011
    The blue'ing and microfractures indicate excessive heat was applied to the flywheel. Excessive clutch slipping will do that.
     
  2. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    #2 Eric@Helix, Mar 22, 2011
    I'll be interested to see how they determine that the clutch failure was customer abuse.
     
  3. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #3 Redbeard, Mar 22, 2011
    "Bright Spots on the flywheel." I asked that very question.

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  4. WolfGTI

    WolfGTI Active Member

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    #4 WolfGTI, Mar 22, 2011
    Wow - so conclusive -- dealers kill me.
     
  5. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #5 minimark, Mar 22, 2011
    Exactly how do bright spots on the fly wheel reveal that you have been driving your Mini like they advertise?

    Tell them now that you will want the old parts if you have to pay for a new one. You payed for them so they are yours.. ;)
     
  6. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #6 Redbeard, Mar 22, 2011
    Well I wouldn't have even brought it in, but the two service guys I and my Dad normally deal with seemed pretty convinced that the dealer will "goodwill" the replacement of the parts (inclusive of labor) regardless of the "customer abuse" issue.

    These guys have always taken care of me and never given me BS answers when I had uncomfortable questions. My car has 1.5 seasons of autocross plus 5 track days. Im gonna guess there are some bright spots. ;)

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  7. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #7 Minidave, Mar 22, 2011
    Unless you slip the clutch, there's no reason for auto cross or track days to cause burn spots on your clutch - it's no harder on it than spirited street driving. IMHO.

    Good luck on the replacement.

    There have been a few flywheels with a manufacturing defect, the center hub fixing tabs are not peened over tight and they work loose, when they do the disc doesn't seat smoothly and that causes burn spots. Even if they warrant the clutch job, try and get a good look at the flywheel and disc for us - and for your own peace of mind.
     
  8. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #8 minimark, Mar 22, 2011
    Guess I just have an extreme mistrust of stealership service departments from past experiences with them, not just Mini... Hope it works out for you and do at least get pics of the old parts...
     
  9. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #9 Redbeard, Mar 22, 2011
    I'll see what I can do as far as pics. Rudy the tech working on the car has been good about that kinda stuff before.

    I slip the clutch everytime I go into 1st from a stop. I wasn't aware there was another way to do it... :eek:

    Trackdays wouldn't be harder except the breaking/downshift spots where the guy in front of you breaks too much to early and you get hard on the brake and end up over revving to the lower gear because your foot was already on the gas as well for a rev match. That's happened more than once. :p

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  10. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #10 Redbeard, Mar 23, 2011
    Just got a call from the dealer. Flywheel is bright-spot free. The SA and Tech were stunned. The SA said it's the first he's ever seen that had NO "hot spots". I'm getting a new Clutch/Pressure Plate/Throwout bearing along with a new flywheel for $0.00.

    The SA said he'd keep the parts out for me to take pics of so I should have some to post up tonight.
     
  11. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #11 Metalman, Mar 23, 2011
    All hail Redbeard.....
    Getrag shifting God.....

    So did you arrive at the dealer wearing your helmet and were the numbers still on both doors?:D
     
  12. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #12 Justa Jim, Mar 23, 2011
    Way to go Redbeard. :Thumbsup:

    At least they didn't tell you something had to be your fault since it was spot free. :lol:

    Jim
     
  13. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #13 Redbeard, Mar 23, 2011
    I'm tempted to roll up with my helmet on... LOL. :cornut:

    I'm not so sure about the shifting God part but it made me laugh out loud in the office. :blush2: :D

    I gotta say these guys were realyl willing to help me. I know that folks fight with thier dealership service guys a bunch. I'm lucky not to have that issue. :Thumbsup:
     
  14. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #14 Minidave, Mar 23, 2011
    So, why do they think the clutch is the answer to your problem then?

    I mean, I wouldn't put a used clutch back in either, but if it looks normal.....did they fix your problem?

    And congtrats for burnishing it just enough to remove the ahem..........evidence! :D
     
  15. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #15 Redbeard, Mar 23, 2011
    My SA said something about un-even outer wear of the pucks on the clutch. I'll have more detail when I speak with the tech and get some pics. :Thumbsup:
     
  16. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #16 Redbeard, Mar 24, 2011
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2011
    Problem gone. No more chatter or rough engagement. The clutch pedal got softer if that's even possible. Shifts nice. :)

    Pics!

    Tech holding the throwout bearing:
    IMG_20110323_181224.jpg

    Pressure Plate:
    IMG_20110323_181217.jpg

    Flywheel had excessive play in it (not really able to show in picture):
    IMG_20110323_181144.jpg

    Clutch. Hard to tell but there is an odd uneven wear on one side of the clutch. BTW, that thing IS TINY!!!! :eek: :
    IMG_20110323_181159.jpg
     
  17. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #17 Minidave, Mar 24, 2011
    Loose flywheel.....that's the answer.

    In another post (I thnk it was on this site) some one showed pics of the problems they were having with flywheels, the center section isn't
    attached properly and gets loose, when it does it causes the clutch plate to bind, release, bind etc.....

    It also looks like the release bearing might have been binding on the sleeve too...
     
  18. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #18 Redbeard, Mar 24, 2011
    Sounds like a possibility. Drive to work was nice. It's funny, I just adjusted to it. So I didn't notice the clutch pedal harshness or the engagement issues as much as I should have.

    The bright spots on the throwout bearing sleeve are from clutch dust landing on it getting caught in there and basically sanding the thing to a polish. That was the reason for the "stiff" clutch pedal acording to the tech. It's still NOTHING compared to the pedal in my 2005 Mustang GT. That was a stiff stock pedal.:lol:
     
  19. KittyMini

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    #19 KittyMini, Oct 19, 2011
    I'm glad to hear this worked out for you.....

    I friend of mine after having her clutch replaced for the 2nd time (an not under warranty) started feeling the clutch slipping again and said enough. She traded her MINI in :frown2:

    I don't blame her at all.

    I just hope I don't have any issues- amazingly enough- the MINI is my first manual car I've ever owned :cornut:
     
  20. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #20 Redbeard, Oct 20, 2011
    Holy Revived thread! :lol:

    It's been 7 months about 20k miles (Over 50k miles on the ODO now) and I think 5 track days and two autocrosses. No problems since. :Thumbsup:
     
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