New JCW owner!!
Discussion
Hi all,
New to the forum and posting, however have been reading P'head articles for years now.
I have just picked up a '02 Cooper S Works and am really happy with it. I test drove one back in 2004 but decided to purchase a Lotus 111S instead as it was just right for me.
I am thinking to use it as a track day tool so have some plans but before I do anything I am renewing all fluids and making sure it runs well. What I have noticed on driving it is that the when depressing the clutch it is notchy and makes a creaking noise. There is no slip and works as it should (I think), I know they are heavy clutches, and am going to get it up on the ramp this week to check the slave cylinder and linkages in the footwell. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this- I have noted that some believe it could be the thrust bearing, but other than the noise the gear change is precise. Could it be air in the system?
Anyway, really looking forward to getting into the scene.
Thanks.
New to the forum and posting, however have been reading P'head articles for years now.
I have just picked up a '02 Cooper S Works and am really happy with it. I test drove one back in 2004 but decided to purchase a Lotus 111S instead as it was just right for me.
I am thinking to use it as a track day tool so have some plans but before I do anything I am renewing all fluids and making sure it runs well. What I have noticed on driving it is that the when depressing the clutch it is notchy and makes a creaking noise. There is no slip and works as it should (I think), I know they are heavy clutches, and am going to get it up on the ramp this week to check the slave cylinder and linkages in the footwell. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this- I have noted that some believe it could be the thrust bearing, but other than the noise the gear change is precise. Could it be air in the system?
Anyway, really looking forward to getting into the scene.
Thanks.
Sounds good matey, you'll have to get some pics up 
,
Sorry, can't help with the potential clutch problem though.
Have a look at www.minitorque.com lots tuned MINI's owned on there, & also a lot of owners take them to the track too
. Loads of track/tuning info to be had...
,Sorry, can't help with the potential clutch problem though.
Have a look at www.minitorque.com lots tuned MINI's owned on there, & also a lot of owners take them to the track too
. Loads of track/tuning info to be had...Welcome! I just picked up my JCW yesterday! A 55 plate and I love it so far. I'll be interested to see how you get on making it (even) more focused for track use. The only thing I've picked up on in mine so far is a slight hesitation under heavy load - feels like a loose lead or something as it's not a mechanical misfire. That or a belt slipping maybe?
Hi JustinS,
Did the fluids last night and while under there checked the clutch slave cylinder operation. Definately coming from within the clutch so will try and make it last as long as possible.
Check this out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2PoVxNUDWg
Going to double check the pivot bush this weekend and sort out a few rattles within the cabin. Did you get rid of the lotus for the Mini? I had around a 4 year break from selling my Lotus to picking this up... happy so far (except for the clutch!)
Hello JamesM, congratulations on your new purchase, I am sure you will be very happy.
Happy Christmas to all.
Did the fluids last night and while under there checked the clutch slave cylinder operation. Definately coming from within the clutch so will try and make it last as long as possible.
Check this out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2PoVxNUDWg
Going to double check the pivot bush this weekend and sort out a few rattles within the cabin. Did you get rid of the lotus for the Mini? I had around a 4 year break from selling my Lotus to picking this up... happy so far (except for the clutch!)
Hello JamesM, congratulations on your new purchase, I am sure you will be very happy.
Happy Christmas to all.
carsmark1111 said:
Hi JustinS,
Did the fluids last night and while under there checked the clutch slave cylinder operation. Definately coming from within the clutch so will try and make it last as long as possible.
Check this out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2PoVxNUDWg
Going to double check the pivot bush this weekend and sort out a few rattles within the cabin. Did you get rid of the lotus for the Mini? I had around a 4 year break from selling my Lotus to picking this up... happy so far (except for the clutch!)
Hello JamesM, congratulations on your new purchase, I am sure you will be very happy.
Happy Christmas to all.
Hi Carsmark, Not 'exactly' swopped the S2 for the mini. Me and the current wife and son like watching motorsport and whenever we went we had 2 seats in a Lotus , a boring diseasel Honda and a 1.2 fiesta. So I considered selling the Lotus and a week later it went to France !!!, then we traded the Honda in for a Focus ST , which we have tweaked a bit, so about 290 bhp ish now. Then the missus was grumbling about the slow fiesta and we swopped it for a JCW on a local forecourt. Our mini is a bit leggy at 72 k miles but has been well looked after and after 6 months of working on it with detailing and updating and servicing is going very well now. Wife loves it. She says if she wants to go fast, she takes the mini, if she wants to go faster, she takes the ST. Both great cars in their own way......Did the fluids last night and while under there checked the clutch slave cylinder operation. Definately coming from within the clutch so will try and make it last as long as possible.
Check this out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2PoVxNUDWg
Going to double check the pivot bush this weekend and sort out a few rattles within the cabin. Did you get rid of the lotus for the Mini? I had around a 4 year break from selling my Lotus to picking this up... happy so far (except for the clutch!)
Hello JamesM, congratulations on your new purchase, I am sure you will be very happy.
Happy Christmas to all.
I would oil the bellhousing pivot that comes from the slave cylinder into the lever. This can dry out too with the heat of the engine etc. Daughters polo did it and used to judder a bit until I spray greased it.
I used to own a Mini GP and it was amazing fun, especially putting people to shame in their 'fast cars'.
As for tuning there is loads of potential. From Shrick cams, to uprated injectors, and stage 4 tuned heads. There are people chasing almost 300bhp with their tuned Mini's which tbh reliability becomes an issue then, but achieving around the 250bhp mark is what a lot of guys do that way it's a nice balance.
There are strut braces which improve handling as well as cosmetically appealing to many. A few of the guys on MiniTorque use smaller inch lightened alloy wheels to increase acceleration. As mentioned check the website out for a wealth of knowledge! I really miss my GP and would buy another one tomorrow. I have no affiliation with Coastal Racing, but have purchased my M7 strut brace from them, and can only big them up for their knowledge and service, check out their website for many performance parts. Enjoy the car, and congratulations on the purchase.
As for tuning there is loads of potential. From Shrick cams, to uprated injectors, and stage 4 tuned heads. There are people chasing almost 300bhp with their tuned Mini's which tbh reliability becomes an issue then, but achieving around the 250bhp mark is what a lot of guys do that way it's a nice balance.
There are strut braces which improve handling as well as cosmetically appealing to many. A few of the guys on MiniTorque use smaller inch lightened alloy wheels to increase acceleration. As mentioned check the website out for a wealth of knowledge! I really miss my GP and would buy another one tomorrow. I have no affiliation with Coastal Racing, but have purchased my M7 strut brace from them, and can only big them up for their knowledge and service, check out their website for many performance parts. Enjoy the car, and congratulations on the purchase.
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