[jakski]

I have only had my mini cooper for 4 months now and i got the following warning message:

"Drivetrain malfunction ;drive moderately. Maximum drivetrain output not available."

looking on this forum people who had this issue just took it back to the dealer for a software update. However, when i took my car to the dealer they said it could be an issue with the clutch and if its not covered under warranty, i will have to spend £2500 to repair it.

So it might all be fine and covered under the warranty but if it isnt then surely i shouldnt have to pay to replace a clutch on a £17k car that has done just under 4k miles!?

Before anyone asks i dont drive recklessly, the car is mainly used to drive to and from work.

Any advice on my problem would be much appreciated, thanks.

 

[jeremybingham]

I'd say you need to sit down with them and explain your consumer rights.nicely of course explain how it has been driven etc and who has driven it. That a product should be fit for purpose etc . The only way they can't cover it is if somebody has had it and slipped the clutch so mercilessly it has worn out in 4000 miles! Very unlikely. Stick to your guns most mini dealers will bend over backwards to sort you out so hopefully their initial comments were just to cover themselves?!

 

[johnan]

It has to be a manufacturing/assembly or material deficiency that would cause a clutch to fail so quickly in normal road use, so of course it is covered by warranty. Even if a clutch change were to be needed I doubt if it would cost anything like £2500, says he hopefully!

Saying that I doubt it is a clutch fault. I think you should try another dealer if the current one is not more helpful if the warning message reappears.

 

[kenl]

A clutch replacement could cost £2k tO replace at a bmw dealer.

Plenty other people have reported this problem, so have a look around different forums and see what they say. Does your car feel jerky when pulling away or is the clutch slipping?

I have to say that your dealer sounds like they are scaremongering! You can take your car to any dealer for warranty work.

 

[caveman dave]

At 4K a clutch should not fail, so it is warranty work without doubt.

 

[RedBeast]

Is the warning light still on? Only I had mine beep and when I got back into the vehicle the warning light had disappeared.

 

[MiniManiac]

when i took my car to the dealer they said it could be an issue with the clutch and if its not covered under warranty, i will have to spend £2500 to repair it.

Going by my previous experience with 2nd Gen R56, Mini Service quite often said the same thing to me to start with, yet they always fixed everything for free under warranty and rang me to confirm as soon as they got the car into their workshop and had a good look at it.

I think it's just a stock phrase they use to cover themselves in case you forgot to top up the oil levels or something silly.

You don't have anything to worry about, I'm sure they will fix it under warranty for you.

 

[kenl]

This thread http://www.northamericanmotoring.co...4/272032-new-mini-drivetrain-malfunction.html might be worth a read.

 

[jakski]

Is the warning light still on? Only I had mine beep and when I got back into the vehicle the warning light had disappeared.

I got the warning light on the way to work monday morning then booked it in with the dealer straight away just to be safe but the warning light went out the next time i turned it on and stayed off until i checked it in friday morning.

Also, kenl, the car still felt fine to drive and i have had no issues at all apart from that warning light.

Cheers for all your replies and at least i get to have a go in the new 5 door cooper while mine is being looked at