Hi everybody!

Just noticed an issue with my clutch last night and wanted to know if anyone might be able to shed some light.
I have an '03 cooper, 99k on the odometer. Occasional problems, nothing serious, this car has been for the most part has been a reliable daily driver.
what's been happening is when I depress my clutch I'll hear a squealing, after I let it out it stops (although I do notice a faint trace of it in with the engine sound). This morning on my way into work, I was stopped at a light, and as my clutch was squealing away, I noticed an odd odor. Again, it went away after I let the clutch out. Any ideas?
FWIW - It seemed to me over that last few days that my clutch seemed "off" when I was letting it out. I initially chalked it up to me trying to compensate for the crummy road conditions we've had here for the last week (packed snow, icy patches)
I definately want to get her into the shop, I would just like some idea of what I could be potentially looking at.

Thanks!

 

My guess is that your clutch is pretty well worn out and it's time for a replacement.

 

probaly time for a new clutch, m y02 went out right before i hit 100k. the squealing could be the throw out bearing. any power loss? do the rpms shoot up if you step on it with out the car really taking off?

 

Make noise only when pedal is depressed, that's the throwout bearing. And if you can smell it, stop driving it before you do more potential damage. And since you have to pull the engine to do the clutch (or pull the transaxle....I don't know which is easier), you should replace the clutch while you're in there. No point in going through all that work and not changing the clutch.

 

Thanks for all the input guys! At least I have a fairly good idea what I'll be looking at. I did notice that the RPM's were revving a little higher without the benefit of power this morning when I was going up hill from a complete stop. I attributed it to icy road conditions, but I'm begining to think it might be the throwout. damn. I have an appointment to drop my car off after work, just hope it makes it that far.
Anyone want to hazard a guess for total repair cost?

 

No need to wonder what may be going on anymore...on my way to the garage to drop my Mini off after work, less than a mile away...at a stoplight...clutch decided to pack it in . Lemme tell you what kind of fun it was pushing it around a corner at an intersection with two lanes of on-coming traffic in pouring freezing rain...at this point I am expecting the absolute worst!

 

If the RPM's were going up without the car speed going up, then the clutch itself is also shot.

As for cost, that will vary. When/if I need a clutch, I'm going to check around for the best aftermarket equipment and have an independent shop that specializes in Minis do the work.