2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Transmission making light overlapping clunking noise while in idle and...

First off my tranny and clutch feel great (51k mileage) when I'm driving, engages smoothly, grabs strongly while accelerating! It's fast! Although I have noticed for some time that when my foot is not pushing in the clutch at idle (stop light, traffic.) there's this overlapping clunking noise.

It sounds like something spinning around perhaps on a shaft. Now I'm starting to hear a shaft that sounds like it's wearing out (maybe bad bearings), sounds like a cricket or whistle at a fast pace.

The sound definitely is coming from under the car and NOT the engine compartment which strange because that's where the tranny is located. The clutch pedal feels soft and smooth like a new clutch feels like. Does anybody have a clue what this noise could be?

Much appreciated!

Systemlord.

 

I wasn't worried about the throw out bearing spinning until I started hearing this spinning shaft screeching sound like ball bearings that are just about finished. Usually when you hear something screeching that sounds like it's no longer lubed, somethings gotta give. It's getting to a point where it's making noise everywhere, at idle while driving but it hasn't gotten louder yet.

 

I have confirmed that the sound is indeed coming from the clutch, at idle while in neutral if I push the clutch pedal in by only an inch the noise goes away, then comes right back after I take my foot off the clutch pedal, weird!

What clutch component could be the cause? It's definitely something that spins or rotates!

 

How long can a throw out bearing last in my situation since my clutch is excellent condition?

 

Given the proper tools and a garage and a Bentley manual how difficult or how long would it take to drop the tranny?