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So I just purchased my first Mini Cooper and I love my car it is the first one I bought in a long while. I've only been driving it two days (about 76 miles). and i kind of just putter to stop. I'm afraid to see the clutch break so soon. and i don't want to see it go away so soon. Here is the details on my car: 09 Cooper S 100,500 miles according to Carfax the clutch was last replace at around 32K miles but It all the recommended maintenance was taken care at 97,000 miles. So my assumptions is immediately at the clutch, but others are thinking it has more to do with the linkage between the stick and gear shitfter. Please Help!

:motor:Starbuck has had a bunch of changes recently, some inadvertently. Clutchmasters FX100 clutch and flywheel (FW): the most noticeable are the changes from the 13lb FW (vs. approx 26lbs for the OEM). Quicker pickup, changes in shift points vs road speed. Starbuck hates to be below 2500rpm or so. MPG - slight increase. Suspension mods: 19mm Alta Anti-Sway Bar top and bottom Alta Rear Control Arms (adjustable) Alta End-links (for the Anti-Sway Bar) The 19mm bar adds the most: change in cornering - super responsive. The control arms are lighter than OEM - maybe 8lbs lighter for all 4. It's a good reduction in unsprung weight. What is really nice is that the car handles so much better with the JCW suspension than it used to. All of the parts contribute, and the advantage of the control arms (besides rear camber adj). My installer told me that he had to lengthen the lower arms a small amount (vs the OEM arms) to make everything assemble correctly and preserve alignment. One thing for anyone considering suspension changes: you will have to re-learn your car. Given the JCW suspension, the Alta parts and 16lb rims with Goodyear Eagles (non-Runflat) - the car handles very differently. It is hard to remember what it used to be like, but it felt heavier in turns, less responsive. At this remove, those are the best generalizations I can recall. In case anyone wants to know - the shop was Autotecnica in Manasssas, VA. Price for the 4wheel alignment and the suspension work is approx. $500 or so.

After the Spring Run a few weeks ago - my clutch and FW went south.... So - after getting the slave cylinder replaced and an aftermarket clutch and FW (Clutchmasters FX100), my shop cannot align the transmission.... Last year both clutch and FW were replaced by MoS under warranty....hmmnnn... this is never good...2 clutches in just over 1 year (by 1 week)... So - anyone have any ideas on where to get the right clutch alignment tool? the one shipped with the clutch is wrong, and a universal one doesn't work right either....