Mini Cooper Clutch Failure

Summary: Mini Cooper clutch failure seems to happen more frequently to the standard Cooper rather than the Cooper "S". This clutch failure is not necessarily the result of performance or spirited driving, However, it may still be driver error. You may be damaging your Mini's clutch and not even know it!

What appears to be happening in many cases is the release bearing is over heating, and eventually disintegrating. To prevent this failure it's important that you understand how the clutch works. To help prevent this avoid holding down the clutch when sitting at street lights. When holding the clutch the release bearing is constantly spinning at the same R.P.M. as the engine, at the same time it is also withstanding the spring pressure load of the clutch pressure plate. Although the release bearing is designed to handle this load, it is not design to do this for an extended period of time.

The correct procedure is to put the car in neutral and release the clutch when the engine is running and the vehicle is not moving. Holding a vehicle on a hill, by slipping the clutch just enough to keep the vehicle in place is very hard on the friction surfaced of the clutch as well as the release bearing.