just installed the valeo kit on my 2006 r53 and it did take some getting used to. the clutch is super light but won't slip and my muscle memory kept slamming the pedal to the floor but overall I absolutely love it.
Fantastic vid again mod mini! My clutch is just starting to go and I have the Chuwbacca roar when she’s cold, I was torn between sticking with oem set up and the solid conversion until I watched this. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome video! Regarding the surface area of the friction material - the Valeo has less area but higher friction moment (10% more available torque, based only on geometry). That extra 1cm on the outside does way more work than the 2.5cm missing on the inside. For the curious, the max torque is proportional to (R^3-r^3)/(R^2-r^2).
Not sure on wear - my guess is that given equal torque and spring force, the higher moment one will last longer since the material is carrying less area load. But there's a ton of variables, and for all I know they're different friction materials altogether.
I've fitted 2 of the solid flywheel Valeo kits, and the customers are very happy with the job. the springs going back into the friction plate is a good move, DMF's in my experience are just a way for the manufacturer to get more money out of the consumer, they mostly DO fail, and trying to get warranty on clutches with the main dealers is a bit of a grey area (due to possible driver error/bad driving). Handy video once again, thanks for posting. A UK clutch fitter.
TheOnlinekilla Agreed. I've done probably close to a dozen of these now, all happy customers. Most "competition clutches" probably wouldn't even last through a competition. It is marketing directed at unknown consumers. Stick with what's known to be good - OEM or this Valeo setup.
You know your business sir. My hat off to you. I'm replacing the dual mass with a Valeo single mass on my 97 Z3 just because the throwout bearing failed on it after 245,000 miles. The clutch felt good but the bearing was making noise. I decided to buy a Sachs high performance bearing and not use the Valeo one provided with the kit. I hope I'm doing the right thing. Time will tell. Thanks again for your video.
I took your recommendation when i had my r53 and did the valeo conversion. Way better petal feel. The reviews on competition clutches were scary. For every good review you found 3 bad ones.
Geovanny Rios I actually just recently worked on that car with the competition clutch the other day. Very very stiff clutch pedal. Not pleasant to drive.
You are the BEST wanted to THANK YOU so much for making these videos .The time and money that you have saved me. Most important the HEADACHE that you have SAVED me from. My wife just got 2004 mini had to change power steering pump and fan still have to fix ac.Because of your videos you made it unbelievably easy the way you film step by step showing every screw you make it foolproof .Your videos makes it easy to troubleshoot a problem as well.THANK You again
john russell Thank you for the kind words. Sometimes the camera battery dies but I try to show it all with my patented "mechanics eye view" two handed video capture system. I know it's frustrating to watch videos where the guy is fumbling with one hand while holding the camera, or does the most important stuff off camera because he needs two hands. :-)
not happy after 1000 miles had chatter again. car had 150k and valo was the second clutch that had chatter before it gave out so on my new r52s will look for something else. thanks for all your help in repairs great videos
The aftermarket with bigger diameter creates longer torque arm so its just not about area alone. Valeo made the OEM clutch I took out so you can say they know what they are doing. Either have springs in the disk or springs in the flywheel, Cooper just went flywheel to be different.
just added one to my cooper s JCW..awesome clutch. Way lighter pedal feel. Nice grab. Thanks to you I installed it myself. To whomever diys this...watch the slave cylinder bleed video before you install too.
I JUST today ripped the Spec aftermarket flywheel and clutch, the flywheel is insanely light and deep, and I never felt like the clutch felt good or the car responded well, you'd need to rev to 2500 RPM to get it to just not bog hard. Making is sound and look like you have no idea how to drive stick. And on top of it springs in the friction disk is completely shot.
Thanks again for your video's. Do you know how heavy the flywheel is relative to OEM? I'm hoping it is lighter. If not, do you know if there is any light weight flywheels that will work with this clutch?
Kinda worried about the packaging issues addressed on the Amazon reviews, but willing to give this a shot. I don't even know if my car needs replacement, but it's sitting at almost 100k in miles so I'm figuring why not replace the clutch, seal, etc. Last weekend I noticed the "Chewbacca" sound when I engage my clutch, and when I shift gears. As soon as I am in gear it goes away. Some people correlate it to cold weather, and we did just drop 20 degrees "overnight" in my area and this was on the first of said nights that I started experiencing it. On a side note I thought I smelled a "burning smell", but haven't since. Given the cold weather the smell could have been from someone starting up their fireplace for the first time this season, but honestly I've got no clue. I have absolutely no experience working on mini coopers, but I've already replaced the thermostat and have done basic maintenance on the car (spark, oil, etc). I'm a smart guy, but I'm thinking maybe I shell out the 2k to get all of it done with parts I provide. Do you have any advice?
the bearing that has broken up from the R50 is due to MINI using a MA type gearbox used in many older cars ie Peugeot & Citroen (im sure you have had many of those in for the same fault), completely unfit for modern cars hence the damaged bearing. Thankfully MINI moved over to the GETRAG 5 & 6 speed gearbox with larger throw out bearings. As for the solid flywheel conversions, Its a great option if you cant afford a duelmass however there are major benefits for running a DMF that are far to complicated to explain in a TH-cam comment.
Valeo was crap for my 2002 MINI Cooper R50. Stiff pedal, shaky start-up from standstill. After 20.000 km I replaced the Valeo with a Sachs clutch. Way much better!
Loved my new valeo in my Avensis until suddenly "lost my gears" my mechanic said - broken valeo clutch - no way(its sooo goood).... well it disintegrated (disk) after 9 months from installation. It was hard to diagnose as car "got the gears back" sometimes (not for long). Will be replaced under warranty...
On my 04 r53 I replaced my clutch and flywheel with a single mass flywheel. Normally on the clutch disc there would be markings to indicate which side goes against the gearbox. My new one doesn't have any markings. The instructions don't say either. Brand is clutchmax pro. Would you happen to know?
hey man love your videos there super helpful I've used a bunch of them to help me with repairs. one question since you do so much work on r53, what else should I change when I'm down doing my clutch? I know control arm bushings but anything else I'd rather do everything at once so it's easier, car has 140k on it and most everything is original . thanks in advance
Crank sensor o ring, rear main seal if it is starting to show seepage, control arm bushings and inner/outer ball joints. You may also want to do supercharger oil service, belt tensioner, idler pulley, belt, and water pump/water pump gaskets. Maybe thermostat/thermostat gasket as well.
Hi I had bad experience with valeo . After few months clutch slipping. I bought a valeo clutch and only installed it after about over a year . Clutch was slipping from New. Pressure plate problem .Can tell me why ? Please I recommended to use valeo clutch.Thanx
Are you using this conversion kit only in petrol engined Minis or it's the 1.6 diesel version (PSA engine)? I have a Volvo V50 with the same diesel engine and hesitating whether to go for such a conversion kit or to stick to DMF. I suppose with diesels vibrations will be too obvious or?
Hey Mod MiNi, love your videos. Use them everytime I upgrade of repair my R53. I do have a question about clutches. I have a Valeo clutch with single mass aluminum flywheel. Valero clutch went out. Can I replace it with a stage 3 Competition Clutch kit and still use the Valeo single mass aluminum fly wheel with the new Stage 3 Competition Clutch kit?
I doubt it. Every aftermarket supplier has their own flywheel specification. Valeo does sell a kit where you don't have to buy the flywheel again. This kit supplies replacement clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing for use with the flywheel from the full kit. amzn.to/2wcrmr5
Curious - did the R50 ever come with a 6-speed? I thought it was only a 5-speed and the 6 was only on the R53. Reason I ask is because I have a 2003 R50 that I'm the third owner of and it has a 6-speed, so I'm wondering if one of the previous owners might have changed the transmission. If so, would I need the R53 style clutch when/if I ever need to change the clutch?
+dannykarnage R50 never got the Getrag 6 speed. You would probably need the R53 clutch. The previous owner will have replaced the flywheel as well, but you'd have to open it up or tell by feel to know whether it's the R53 stock or something else (typically the Valeo solid flywheel conversion kit)
I purchased this kit off ebay, but the bolts that attaches the pressure plate to flywheel are missing. I ordered factory bolts from MINI, they are too big. Can you tell me the size of the bolts? Also is the throw out bearing proprietary to the kit or will any throw out bearing work? Thanks
Hello. Love ur videos. My transmission exploded on my 2003 mini cooper r50 (5 speed midlands). My mechanic has a 6 speed conversion kit for 2700$. Would u recomend it? My concern is 1- reliability down the road. 2- will the performance get better or worse? Thank u.
6 speed is reliable. The 6 speed kit will have a heavier flywheel which may affect drivability. Performance is unchanged because you still have an R50, but you will have a 6th gear which will be good for cruising at highway speeds. Ask your mechanic any other questions. He sells them, he should be able to answer any questions you have.
Have you ever heard of anyone experiencing any 'chatter' due to the single piece flywheel? my mini is currently in the shop right now getting the valeo replacement, and my mechanic called me asking if i was sure i wanted to change to the single piece flywheel as i may experience chatter when releasing the clutch, and that i may be unhappy. just curious if anyone has experienced this sort of thing. thank you for your videos!
+Randy Nugent No. It is a very streetable clutch. I've not heard any complaints about the Valeo whatsoever other than it might not be best choice for a high HP MINI.
im still deciding which clutch to use because i think the luk is perfect and i don't want anything softer in terms of pedal feel. im just confused on how soft the valeo clutch is compared to luk.
can you also recomend the valeo clutch for the R50 2002 and do I have to change the flywheel also every time? On ebay they sell sets with flywheel and without. Cheers Nik
Sir! I'm still having my doubt should I keep using DMF OEM or change to single one, i use to redline some times and from my experience from other cars with single FW, I feel that I'm missing part of the torque or slip on sudden acceleration on my MCS...
Hi. I recently put that kit in my r53 and i have a problem. When the car is in gear, I can feel the clutch pedal vibrating. Vibrations increase as the car warms up and when the revs are higher. When the car is in neutral, everything is fine. Maybe you know what might be the problem? The sequence and torque for tightening the bolts was like in instruction. I even replace guide tube. Sorry for my English.
I will change for a 6-speed gearbox on my R50 2003. Is it possible to fit a R53 pressure plate and clutch plate to a R50 flywheel or only change the clutch plate to a R53?
Hi, in the r50 (2006) can a worn clutch make a dull rotational grinding/catching sound? Only makes it when clutch engaged (pedal up) and in gear, seems worse when cold and loudest on deceleration, also feels like there is some slack/delay between engine and the wheels. My clutch bite point is right at the top of the pedal and I think slight slipping at high revs. Not sure if the noise is caused by clutch or gearbox. Thanks
The clutch went on my of 05 R52. I called a local shop about installing a Valeo kit. He said his distributors don't recommend them and if I buy it he'll install it but he won't warranty it. Have you ever had one go bad prematurely? And would you consider coming to Pennsylvania to work on mine ? Lol
I've never had or heard of any issues and I've installed dozens of these. If he won't warranty it than just go with the stock setup or do the work yourself.
Mod MINI I actually wanted to do it myself but it's a little much to do in my driveway. Plus my time is limited and I don't want to have a car in pieces in my driveway for weeks.
I have a seemingly common issue where my clutch pedal feels "crunchy" when depressed once warmed up. In the research I've done, it sounds like this is due to the throwout bearing / shaft sleeve interface. Have you looked into this issue at all before? I just recently flushed my slave cylinder with new fluid & lubricated all moving points I could find for the clutch pedal under the dash & it remains the same. Thoughts?
Kris Yates They get crunchy when they are old. You can wait for the clutch to start slipping or replace it sooner and start enjoying a non-crunchy, lightweight clutch pedal.
Hello, I bought a 2005 Cooper s convertible a month ago. After driving it the clutch feel is pretty hard vs my other car (Integra) but I don't get clutch skipping or anything. Is that normal? Would it already have an aftermarket clutch? How soft/hard is OEM clutch. I have 99k miles
Any experience with the r60 all4 s clutch? Mines not disengaging. Was hoping it’s just a master or slave but neither seem to be leaking. Wondering if the r60 are prone to release bearing problems too. I can’t seem to find a clear answer.
A lot of weight to be hauling around with that clutch. Expect it to fail before 100k miles. Verify the hydraulics are moving. If not that, yeah probably time to replace the clutch.
My question is I have a 09' JCW R56 and my clutch just started slipping in high gear. Will the Valeo you described work in my car? I've done some mods ,flow thru cat 3" turbo back Alta exhaust, helix ic , hot side down pipe and I'm running stage 3 on my access port . Do you think the Valeo would be good for my car? Thanks Phil
My throw out bearing in my 2006 r53 blew up. I was wondering if I can get away with just replacing the clutch and keep my stock flywheel. I saw valeo has a clutch kit 52152301. Is this a direct fit onto the stock flywheel? Or should I do the conversion kit from valeo
Hi Kurt, just received my Valeo conversion kit today for installation, There is a drilled hole of a few mm deep on the engine side, do you know if this is a mark to coincide with the crank, the same as an OEM flywheel or do you just match the flywheel bolt holes up when you install them. Thks Jeff
I hate that I can't blip my throttle on downshifts as the revs stay up for a second or two. If I replace the DMF would that help? My clutch still works fine atm but a job for the future, thanks to your videos :)
I haven't had this problem driving other peoples' MINIs. You are probably not being sufficiently precise / hitting the throttle too long. A Detroit Tuned Bypass valve might help a little...
Can anyone help me please? I have to replace my clutchkid and flywheel but i live in Turkey and LUK is quite expensive and i couldnt find the valeo clutch kit in Turkey. Is there any other clutch kits which fits to Mini R53 manuel 6 speed? Or is there a any chance that the guy i paid couldnt do it and maybe someone who understand from Mini's can do it properly?
After replacing the OEM clutch (at 170K Km) with Valeo kit, the pedal was so~ light, I didn't know about breaking in procedure at the time so I drove spiritedly, after around 1 year (~15K km) the pedal has become stiff similar to as previous OEM cluch or little bit lighter. Is this normal? do you think I need to replace it again? wondering what happened and why.
Hey Mod MINI I'm about to change out my valve cover gasket + change my injectors up to the 380cc injectors. I remember I saw a video of you starting a repair by taking off the intercooler, i am having trouble with find it do you know which video it may be? Thanks, Jesse
thanks I got it, I have found that my valve cover bolts are corroded, i got them loose but will wait for new ones to continue, i just ordered some oem ones from tenessee that will take a few weeks to come in. I remember in my searching awhile ago that there are heat resistant valve cover bolts, would you happen to know the name of them?
jesse boyd Heat resistant valve cover bolts? I can't imagine why one would need such a thing. If you are getting heat failure from valve cover bolts, you have bigger problems (your head is melted). Do you maybe mean heat resistant exhaust bolts or something like that?
Does the valeo clutch engage nice and low to the floor like the stock MINI? And I'm used to the stock stiff clutch in my MINI, I don't know if I'd like anything lighter than the valeo.
+Thomas Trotta Engagement point is close to floor. The Valeo clutch is about as soft as the OEM clutch was when new. Even the OEM setup will be softer when first installed.
I really would like to install a lighter flywheel to my Mini, is this kit enough ligther than stock? You mentioned it is around 1kg (2lb) lighter, do you feel the difference while driving or isn't it simply enough lighter?
Hey MODMINI, what might be causing a heavy clutch pedal feel on my R53? 100k, no leaks. Should I replace my master & slave cylinders while i'm at it? Should I replace the clutch fork?
@@ModMINI Thanks. That's good to know. It's got 97k on it right now. Need to replace the rear main seal that's leaking, so I might as well change out the clutch too.
Question. Since this is close enough to a diff video lol. When you installed your LSD, did you replace the bearing races for the diff bearings? If so, any tricks to removing the old ones? Thanks.
Ethan Commins LSD does not come with bearings. You need to press some on. If you have a bearing puller you could remove the ones from the old differential. I think they are about $40 each for new ones though and eliminate any chance of damage.
Mod MINI I already bought new bearings and pressed them on. I just wanted to know if you replaced the bearing races in the Transmission case. If you did than how did you do it?
Mod MINI is Valeo clutch kit available to buy in Germany or equivalent suggestion? How do I know if my clutch is slipping? I'm confused if its acceleration yo-yo effect or slipping clutch. I recently bought a MCS R53 2003 on 170K km, and why is the car so loud?
I don't know, try searching for the part number, It might be universal globally. Easy way to test for slipping clutch, find a hill, accelerate in second, then skip one or two gears (4th/5th) and press accelerator all the way. If RPM increase faster than rate of speed, clutch is slipping. Why is car loud? I don't know. Maybe you have broken exhaust manifold flex joint or car has been modified?
Dear Mod MINI, I'm now trying to start on modifying my mini, does this Valeo clutch 826909 fit Mini cooper s r53 2003? www.ebay.de/itm/201340722029?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
That looks like the replacement kit for if the car has ben previously converted to Valeo solid flywheel conversion kit. If you want to do that, you need to look for this part number which includes the flywheel as well. Slipping clutch, RPM will continue to climb even as car does not accelerate at same rate. Yoyo will cause RPM and car speed to move together. I don't know what you mean by so loud. I would have to hear the car to be able to comment. 52151203
Hey mod mini we're is a credible source I can buy the Valeo solid mass fly wheel and clutch kit from I've looked on eBay and prices are all over the board for same kit
Dual disk in a MINI? You can replace it with anything you want as long as you replace all of the flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disk and throwout bearing, and the stock hydraulics have not been modified.
Hello sir I have a problem with my DMF and I want to change it for the Valeo conversion kit could you send me the reference for a Mini cooper r50 2005 please it would be great thank you
lukeybabes1 I've installed many and most have slight nicking but so far nothing that warrants a return. Be careful buying from eBay or other 'cost conscious' vendors. Sometimes they send without double boxing and bolts get lost along the way. Amazon usually double boxes. After a few bad experiences with missing bolts, I only buy from Amazon now.
***** c4.staticflickr.com/8/7782/17682364402_a39aa1e5df_c.jpg c1.staticflickr.com/9/8869/17498543809_2f3dee8d2d_c.jpg Doesn't look as bad in the pictures, but if I get a better one I will. I will keep this one until the new one comes too incase anything goes missing. Can only find it on eBay in the UK anyway. Thanks for the advice though. Great help as always!
+Jesse Hooton Always replace the clutch and pressure plate as a set. What happened to your transmission? Is it a Cooper 5 speed I'm guessing? The 6 speed Cooper S are very sturdy.
***** I had our trusted mechanic fix it because the last time I took it to the dealership they screwed something else up and still charged us and from my perspective it seemed like they did it intentionally. Anyways I later found out that our trusted mechanic had never worked on a mini before and it actually took him a whole month to fix for a few reasons. The clutch was on back order for about a week so he had to wait for that to come in and then he had followed the wrong video and disassembled it the wrong way so he had to reassemble it and take it apart the right way but he didn't charge us for the additional hours. And you are correct it's a 5 speed. It's partially my fault the transmission was ruined. I didn't realize it was a huge issue until it started slipping out of second gear into neutral. I'm debating on having my local dealership fix it this time or a local transmission shop.
is this clutch kit good for daily driving? I'm replacing my 05 mini's transmission because of a bad pressure plate soon and I'm having a transmission shop replace it and I'd like to get something a little more durable than the factory kit. I already had the clutch replaced after 65k miles and that was the factory clutch kit.
***** thanks! this is my very first car that I got used a couple years ago. I learned how to drive it and to keep myself from stalling I would rev up to 3,000 rpms before I began to engage the clutch. I would also back it into my garage every day since it's my daily driver. But once its fixed, I think my dad will park his truck in the garage and I'll just take his spot in the driveway. But I've adjusted my driving habits and now I'm able to engage the clutch at much lower rpms. Also, although I've already broken in a new clutch before, is there anything you recommend I should do and anything I should avoid to break it in? I know if you don't break it in properly it won't last long. The last time I did it, I avoided the highway as much as possible for about 300 miles which is about how long it took to break in. And how should I engage the clutch when I'm breaking it in? I tried to engage it as slow as possible at the lowest rpms possible but I'd end up stalling a few times before I got going.
+Jesse Hooton 3000rpm is too high. 1800-2000rpm is more reasonable. Should be able to get longer life out of a replacement clutch. To break in, just drive like a normal person for the first week or so. (Avoid allowing too much heat to get built up). There is no reason you have to avoid the highway, just realize that it will take longer to break in fully. Honestly if you drive like a normal person there is no special procedure needed. Just drive it.
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just installed the valeo kit on my 2006 r53 and it did take some getting used to. the clutch is super light but won't slip and my muscle memory kept slamming the pedal to the floor but overall I absolutely love it.
Same 06 decided to look at some of these videos to see if that lighter clutch feeling was mutual.
Fantastic vid again mod mini! My clutch is just starting to go and I have the Chuwbacca roar when she’s cold, I was torn between sticking with oem set up and the solid conversion until I watched this. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for these videos it helps so much. Great work
Brilliant channel. Thanks for the vids, more please!!
Awesome video! Regarding the surface area of the friction material - the Valeo has less area but higher friction moment (10% more available torque, based only on geometry). That extra 1cm on the outside does way more work than the 2.5cm missing on the inside. For the curious, the max torque is proportional to (R^3-r^3)/(R^2-r^2).
+Josh Triska Great explanation - thanks! Oh, one question - will it wear faster than stock?
Not sure on wear - my guess is that given equal torque and spring force, the higher moment one will last longer since the material is carrying less area load. But there's a ton of variables, and for all I know they're different friction materials altogether.
I've fitted 2 of the solid flywheel Valeo kits, and the customers are very happy with the job.
the springs going back into the friction plate is a good move, DMF's in my experience are just a way for the manufacturer to get more money out of the consumer, they mostly DO fail, and trying to get warranty on clutches with the main dealers is a bit of a grey area (due to possible driver error/bad driving).
Handy video once again, thanks for posting.
A UK clutch fitter.
TheOnlinekilla Agreed.
I've done probably close to a dozen of these now, all happy customers. Most "competition clutches" probably wouldn't even last through a competition. It is marketing directed at unknown consumers. Stick with what's known to be good - OEM or this Valeo setup.
You know your business sir. My hat off to you.
I'm replacing the dual mass with a Valeo single mass on my 97 Z3 just because the throwout bearing failed on it after 245,000 miles. The clutch felt good but the bearing was making noise. I decided to buy a Sachs high performance bearing and not use the Valeo one provided with the kit. I hope I'm doing the right thing. Time will tell. Thanks again for your video.
Nice. I have one and in January I’ll start on mini with many upgrades including sensors, hoses gaskets etc ….
Fantastic explanation, really appreciate your videos!!!
I took your recommendation when i had my r53 and did the valeo conversion. Way better petal feel. The reviews on competition clutches were scary. For every good review you found 3 bad ones.
Geovanny Rios I actually just recently worked on that car with the competition clutch the other day. Very very stiff clutch pedal. Not pleasant to drive.
You are the BEST wanted to THANK YOU so much for making these videos .The time and money that you have saved me. Most important the HEADACHE that you have SAVED me from.
My wife just got 2004 mini had to change power steering pump and fan still have to fix ac.Because of your videos you made it unbelievably easy the way you film step by step showing every screw you make it foolproof .Your videos makes it easy to troubleshoot a problem as well.THANK You again
john russell Thank you for the kind words. Sometimes the camera battery dies but I try to show it all with my patented "mechanics eye view" two handed video capture system. I know it's frustrating to watch videos where the guy is fumbling with one hand while holding the camera, or does the most important stuff off camera because he needs two hands. :-)
not happy after 1000 miles had chatter again. car had 150k and valo was the second clutch that had chatter before it gave out so on my new r52s will look for something else. thanks for all your help in repairs great videos
The aftermarket with bigger diameter creates longer torque arm so its just not about area alone. Valeo made the OEM clutch I took out so you can say they know what they are doing. Either have springs in the disk or springs in the flywheel, Cooper just went flywheel to be different.
just added one to my cooper s JCW..awesome clutch. Way lighter pedal feel. Nice grab. Thanks to you I installed it myself. To whomever diys this...watch the slave cylinder bleed video before you install too.
Doesn't hurt to power bleed with slave cylinder raised above reservoir, since it is easy to do while front of the car is off.
@@ModMINI Thanks for all the help.
hey thanks for explaining everything, i completely understand!!!! keep up the good work
Thank you for the very helpful and insightful explanation!
I JUST today ripped the Spec aftermarket flywheel and clutch, the flywheel is insanely light and deep, and I never felt like the clutch felt good or the car responded well, you'd need to rev to 2500 RPM to get it to just not bog hard. Making is sound and look like you have no idea how to drive stick. And on top of it springs in the friction disk is completely shot.
I personally love a stiff clutch and that was the only reason I didn’t want this one. But I’ll get used to it, it’s going in my 2004 gli tmrw
Convinced me. I bought the Valeo solid flywheel kit because of this video.
And how is it? Is it good for everyday driving?
Another super video. Thanks
Thanks again for your video's.
Do you know how heavy the flywheel is relative to OEM?
I'm hoping it is lighter. If not, do you know if there is any light weight flywheels that will work with this clutch?
Kinda worried about the packaging issues addressed on the Amazon reviews, but willing to give this a shot. I don't even know if my car needs replacement, but it's sitting at almost 100k in miles so I'm figuring why not replace the clutch, seal, etc.
Last weekend I noticed the "Chewbacca" sound when I engage my clutch, and when I shift gears. As soon as I am in gear it goes away. Some people correlate it to cold weather, and we did just drop 20 degrees "overnight" in my area and this was on the first of said nights that I started experiencing it. On a side note I thought I smelled a "burning smell", but haven't since. Given the cold weather the smell could have been from someone starting up their fireplace for the first time this season, but honestly I've got no clue.
I have absolutely no experience working on mini coopers, but I've already replaced the thermostat and have done basic maintenance on the car (spark, oil, etc). I'm a smart guy, but I'm thinking maybe I shell out the 2k to get all of it done with parts I provide.
Do you have any advice?
To follow it up I have a 2003 Mini S. Pretty much the basic of the basic for this year/model.
the bearing that has broken up from the R50 is due to MINI using a MA type gearbox used in many older cars ie Peugeot & Citroen (im sure you have had many of those in for the same fault), completely unfit for modern cars hence the damaged bearing. Thankfully MINI moved over to the GETRAG 5 & 6 speed gearbox with larger throw out bearings. As for the solid flywheel conversions, Its a great option if you cant afford a duelmass however there are major benefits for running a DMF that are far to complicated to explain in a TH-cam comment.
Hi sir, sorry for asking, do getrag version of r50 (2005-2008) clutch same with the r53 getrag?
There are a multiple clutch sizes depending on engine size and fuel.@@mistercrab4494
Valeo was crap for my 2002 MINI Cooper R50. Stiff pedal, shaky start-up from standstill. After 20.000 km I replaced the Valeo with a Sachs clutch. Way much better!
hi, i also own a R50 from 2002 and was thinking about this mod. how is it performing?
thnx
Great Videos !! Your the best !!
Great video. Thanks
Much appreciated bro
Stock clutch with light weight fly FTW!
Loved my new valeo in my Avensis until suddenly "lost my gears" my mechanic said - broken valeo clutch - no way(its sooo goood).... well it disintegrated (disk) after 9 months from installation. It was hard to diagnose as car "got the gears back" sometimes (not for long). Will be replaced under warranty...
Great product by Valeo
On my 04 r53 I replaced my clutch and flywheel with a single mass flywheel. Normally on the clutch disc there would be markings to indicate which side goes against the gearbox. My new one doesn't have any markings. The instructions don't say either. Brand is clutchmax pro. Would you happen to know?
hey man love your videos there super helpful I've used a bunch of them to help me with repairs. one question since you do so much work on r53, what else should I change when I'm down doing my clutch? I know control arm bushings but anything else I'd rather do everything at once so it's easier, car has 140k on it and most everything is original . thanks in advance
Crank sensor o ring, rear main seal if it is starting to show seepage, control arm bushings and inner/outer ball joints. You may also want to do supercharger oil service, belt tensioner, idler pulley, belt, and water pump/water pump gaskets. Maybe thermostat/thermostat gasket as well.
LIGHTER than OEM clutch? wowza
Hi I had bad experience with valeo . After few months clutch slipping. I bought a valeo clutch and only installed it after about over a year . Clutch was slipping from New. Pressure plate problem .Can tell me why ?
Please I recommended to use valeo clutch.Thanx
Are you using this conversion kit only in petrol engined Minis or it's the 1.6 diesel version (PSA engine)? I have a Volvo V50 with the same diesel engine and hesitating whether to go for such a conversion kit or to stick to DMF. I suppose with diesels vibrations will be too obvious or?
Hey Mod MiNi, love your videos. Use them everytime I upgrade of repair my R53. I do have a question about clutches. I have a Valeo clutch with single mass aluminum flywheel. Valero clutch went out. Can I replace it with a stage 3 Competition Clutch kit and still use the Valeo single mass aluminum fly wheel with the new Stage 3 Competition Clutch kit?
I doubt it. Every aftermarket supplier has their own flywheel specification. Valeo does sell a kit where you don't have to buy the flywheel again. This kit supplies replacement clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing for use with the flywheel from the full kit. amzn.to/2wcrmr5
Curious - did the R50 ever come with a 6-speed? I thought it was only a 5-speed and the 6 was only on the R53. Reason I ask is because I have a 2003 R50 that I'm the third owner of and it has a 6-speed, so I'm wondering if one of the previous owners might have changed the transmission. If so, would I need the R53 style clutch when/if I ever need to change the clutch?
+dannykarnage R50 never got the Getrag 6 speed. You would probably need the R53 clutch. The previous owner will have replaced the flywheel as well, but you'd have to open it up or tell by feel to know whether it's the R53 stock or something else (typically the Valeo solid flywheel conversion kit)
Wow that's rare! Your comment is from 6 years ago too
Why do I trust this mechanic so much I haven’t even met him?
I purchased this kit off ebay, but the bolts that attaches the pressure plate to flywheel are missing. I ordered factory bolts from MINI, they are too big. Can you tell me the size of the bolts?
Also is the throw out bearing proprietary to the kit or will any throw out bearing work? Thanks
Hello. Love ur videos. My transmission exploded on my 2003 mini cooper r50 (5 speed midlands). My mechanic has a 6 speed conversion kit for 2700$. Would u recomend it? My concern is 1- reliability down the road. 2- will the performance get better or worse? Thank u.
6 speed is reliable. The 6 speed kit will have a heavier flywheel which may affect drivability. Performance is unchanged because you still have an R50, but you will have a 6th gear which will be good for cruising at highway speeds. Ask your mechanic any other questions. He sells them, he should be able to answer any questions you have.
@@ModMINI hi, im am looking to do a 6 speed conversion on my mini, what do h mean its its drivable with dmf? Thanks
Is the MCS and the JCW clutch the same?
Hey great video! Is the Mini cooper r50 also equipped with a dual mass flywheel?
no
Have you ever heard of anyone experiencing any 'chatter' due to the single piece flywheel? my mini is currently in the shop right now getting the valeo replacement, and my mechanic called me asking if i was sure i wanted to change to the single piece flywheel as i may experience chatter when releasing the clutch, and that i may be unhappy. just curious if anyone has experienced this sort of thing. thank you for your videos!
+Randy Nugent No. It is a very streetable clutch. I've not heard any complaints about the Valeo whatsoever other than it might not be best choice for a high HP MINI.
Does this fix the notorious r53 'idle knocking' that you hear with the OEM clutch bearing?
im still deciding which clutch to use because i think the luk is perfect and i don't want anything softer in terms of pedal feel. im just confused on how soft the valeo clutch is compared to luk.
can you also recomend the valeo clutch for the R50 2002 and do I have to change the flywheel also every time? On ebay they sell sets with flywheel and without. Cheers Nik
No. The valeo kit is only for supercharged first generation MINI.
Sir! I'm still having my doubt should I keep using DMF OEM or change to single one, i use to redline some times and from my experience from other cars with single FW, I feel that I'm missing part of the torque or slip on sudden acceleration on my MCS...
Hi thanks for the video do you think the clutch fit 2002 mini cooper base model
s clutch will not fit non-S MINI.
has the throwout bearing on the R50 been revised in the replacement kits or is it doomed to always fail?
Doug A I'm not sure. I don't have any intact throwout bearings so it is difficult to compare. The design does look different though.
Hi.
I recently put that kit in my r53 and i have a problem.
When the car is in gear, I can feel the clutch pedal vibrating. Vibrations increase as the car warms up and when the revs are higher.
When the car is in neutral, everything is fine.
Maybe you know what might be the problem?
The sequence and torque for tightening the bolts was like in instruction. I even replace guide tube.
Sorry for my English.
possibly flywheel or pressure plate is not fully flat against mating surface, or friction disk was damaged during installation.
I will change for a 6-speed gearbox on my R50 2003. Is it possible to fit a R53 pressure plate and clutch plate to a R50 flywheel or only change the clutch plate to a R53?
I have a 2012 coupe S, thinking about a Clutch master FX100 vs the Valeo. Going with single mass vs the stock dual mass. Any suggestions? thanks
This video is for MINI up to 2006 only. Your 2012 uses a totally different part.
Hi, in the r50 (2006) can a worn clutch make a dull rotational grinding/catching sound? Only makes it when clutch engaged (pedal up) and in gear, seems worse when cold and loudest on deceleration, also feels like there is some slack/delay between engine and the wheels. My clutch bite point is right at the top of the pedal and I think slight slipping at high revs. Not sure if the noise is caused by clutch or gearbox. Thanks
That sounds like transmission but can't say for sure without seeing the car
The clutch went on my of 05 R52. I called a local shop about installing a Valeo kit. He said his distributors don't recommend them and if I buy it he'll install it but he won't warranty it. Have you ever had one go bad prematurely? And would you consider coming to Pennsylvania to work on mine ? Lol
I've never had or heard of any issues and I've installed dozens of these. If he won't warranty it than just go with the stock setup or do the work yourself.
Mod MINI I actually wanted to do it myself but it's a little much to do in my driveway. Plus my time is limited and I don't want to have a car in pieces in my driveway for weeks.
I have a seemingly common issue where my clutch pedal feels "crunchy" when depressed once warmed up. In the research I've done, it sounds like this is due to the throwout bearing / shaft sleeve interface. Have you looked into this issue at all before? I just recently flushed my slave cylinder with new fluid & lubricated all moving points I could find for the clutch pedal under the dash & it remains the same. Thoughts?
Kris Yates They get crunchy when they are old. You can wait for the clutch to start slipping or replace it sooner and start enjoying a non-crunchy, lightweight clutch pedal.
Hello, I bought a 2005 Cooper s convertible a month ago. After driving it the clutch feel is pretty hard vs my other car (Integra) but I don't get clutch skipping or anything. Is that normal? Would it already have an aftermarket clutch? How soft/hard is OEM clutch. I have 99k miles
Yes, the clutch gets stiffer with age and is quite stiff at 100k miles. Brand new OEM is softer. The Valeo kit when new is very soft at first.
ah ok ty! i was freaking out thinking why does this feel like a big rig clutch, haha
Any experience with the r60 all4 s clutch? Mines not disengaging. Was hoping it’s just a master or slave but neither seem to be leaking. Wondering if the r60 are prone to release bearing problems too. I can’t seem to find a clear answer.
A lot of weight to be hauling around with that clutch. Expect it to fail before 100k miles. Verify the hydraulics are moving. If not that, yeah probably time to replace the clutch.
My question is I have a 09' JCW R56 and my clutch just started slipping in high gear. Will the Valeo you described work in my car? I've done some mods ,flow thru cat 3" turbo back Alta exhaust, helix ic , hot side down pipe and I'm running stage 3 on my access port . Do you think the Valeo would be good for my car? Thanks Phil
No. This video is for first generation MINI only. I don't have knowledge about non-race aftermarket clutch options for 2nd generation MINI.
My throw out bearing in my 2006 r53 blew up. I was wondering if I can get away with just replacing the clutch and keep my stock flywheel. I saw valeo has a clutch kit 52152301. Is this a direct fit onto the stock flywheel? Or should I do the conversion kit from valeo
Valeo kit also replaces flywheel. I would not recommend reusing stock flywheel , considering the substantial labor investment
Hi Kurt, just received my Valeo conversion kit today for installation, There is a drilled hole of a few mm deep on the engine side, do you know if this is a mark to coincide with the crank, the same as an OEM flywheel or do you just match the flywheel bolt holes up when you install them. Thks Jeff
Those are balancing holes, drilled at factory to ensure crank is well balanced. The flywheel only goes on one way, due to asymmetrical hole alignment.
Great, thanks for the reply Kurt :)
I hate that I can't blip my throttle on downshifts as the revs stay up for a second or two. If I replace the DMF would that help? My clutch still works fine atm but a job for the future, thanks to your videos :)
I haven't had this problem driving other peoples' MINIs. You are probably not being sufficiently precise / hitting the throttle too long. A Detroit Tuned Bypass valve might help a little...
What is the valeo part number? Trying to find it at autozone
Can anyone help me please? I have to replace my clutchkid and flywheel but i live in Turkey and LUK is quite expensive and i couldnt find the valeo clutch kit in Turkey. Is there any other clutch kits which fits to Mini R53 manuel 6 speed? Or is there a any chance that the guy i paid couldnt do it and maybe someone who understand from Mini's can do it properly?
How are you getting 240HP from that mini? I've got everything u can think of done to mine and i'm at 210HP.
You probably don't have a big valve head.
After replacing the OEM clutch (at 170K Km) with Valeo kit, the pedal was so~ light, I didn't know about breaking in procedure at the time so I drove spiritedly, after around 1 year (~15K km) the pedal has become stiff similar to as previous OEM cluch or little bit lighter. Is this normal? do you think I need to replace it again? wondering what happened and why.
It becomes stiffer over time and should have nothing to do with break-in.
Hey Mod MINI I'm about to change out my valve cover gasket + change my injectors up to the 380cc injectors. I remember I saw a video of you starting a repair by taking off the intercooler, i am having trouble with find it do you know which video it may be?
Thanks, Jesse
jesse boyd valve cover gasket repair video. Search TH-cam for "mod mini valve cover"
thanks I got it, I have found that my valve cover bolts are corroded, i got them loose but will wait for new ones to continue, i just ordered some oem ones from tenessee that will take a few weeks to come in. I remember in my searching awhile ago that there are heat resistant valve cover bolts, would you happen to know the name of them?
jesse boyd Heat resistant valve cover bolts? I can't imagine why one would need such a thing. If you are getting heat failure from valve cover bolts, you have bigger problems (your head is melted). Do you maybe mean heat resistant exhaust bolts or something like that?
Does the valeo clutch engage nice and low to the floor like the stock MINI? And I'm used to the stock stiff clutch in my MINI, I don't know if I'd like anything lighter than the valeo.
+Thomas Trotta Engagement point is close to floor. The Valeo clutch is about as soft as the OEM clutch was when new. Even the OEM setup will be softer when first installed.
+Mod MINI Okay thank you!
I really would like to install a lighter flywheel to my Mini, is this kit enough ligther than stock? You mentioned it is around 1kg (2lb) lighter, do you feel the difference while driving or isn't it simply enough lighter?
+Huskyeleven It's about 2lb lighter flywheel. It does make the car feel slightly more peppy. Not a huge difference but it is noticeable.
How does one get ahold of you, mine needs a clutch replacement
Hey MODMINI, what might be causing a heavy clutch pedal feel on my R53? 100k, no leaks. Should I replace my master & slave cylinders while i'm at it? Should I replace the clutch fork?
Clutch gets stiff as it ages. I woudlnt' worry unless it's slipping which means it's end of life.
@@ModMINI Thanks. That's good to know. It's got 97k on it right now. Need to replace the rear main seal that's leaking, so I might as well change out the clutch too.
Question. Since this is close enough to a diff video lol. When you installed your LSD, did you replace the bearing races for the diff bearings? If so, any tricks to removing the old ones? Thanks.
Ethan Commins LSD does not come with bearings. You need to press some on. If you have a bearing puller you could remove the ones from the old differential. I think they are about $40 each for new ones though and eliminate any chance of damage.
Mod MINI I already bought new bearings and pressed them on. I just wanted to know if you replaced the bearing races in the Transmission case. If you did than how did you do it?
I didn't replace any other bearings. They almost never go bad in the getrag so no need.
Mod MINI I'll just leave the diff bearing races alone, Thanks. I'll replace the axle seals though lol.
Another quick question. Did you re-shim the diff when installing it or just plopped the new one in?
Mod MINI is Valeo clutch kit available to buy in Germany or equivalent suggestion?
How do I know if my clutch is slipping? I'm confused if its acceleration yo-yo effect or slipping clutch. I recently bought a MCS R53 2003 on 170K km, and why is the car so loud?
I don't know, try searching for the part number, It might be universal globally. Easy way to test for slipping clutch, find a hill, accelerate in second, then skip one or two gears (4th/5th) and press accelerator all the way. If RPM increase faster than rate of speed, clutch is slipping. Why is car loud? I don't know. Maybe you have broken exhaust manifold flex joint or car has been modified?
Dear Mod MINI,
I'm now trying to start on modifying my mini, does this Valeo clutch 826909 fit Mini cooper s r53 2003?
www.ebay.de/itm/201340722029?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
That looks like the replacement kit for if the car has ben previously converted to Valeo solid flywheel conversion kit. If you want to do that, you need to look for this part number which includes the flywheel as well. Slipping clutch, RPM will continue to climb even as car does not accelerate at same rate. Yoyo will cause RPM and car speed to move together.
I don't know what you mean by so loud. I would have to hear the car to be able to comment. 52151203
Is there any difference between the Valeo kit for the r53 and r52? specifically, are there any differences with the flywheel?
R52 means convertible, supercharged or base Cooper. A supercharged convertible is same as R53. Base is same as R50.
Hw do I get ahold u I live Washington pm see if u can help or do cluctch kits
Channel page/About
Can't I attach Valeo clutch, pressure plate on my oem r50 flywheel?
For R50 , the valeo clutch is an OE replacement and can be used with stock flywheel
@@ModMINI thank you, me and my buddy used your videos for the transmission replacement starting our own clutch centering tool trophies.
So does the Valeo kit come with a clutch or just the flywheel?
Full kit.
Hey mod mini we're is a credible source I can buy the Valeo solid mass fly wheel and clutch kit from I've looked on eBay and prices are all over the board for same kit
They are all selling the same kit. Just pick one with reasonable ratings and decent price.
If I replace a duel disc clutch would I have to replace it with another duel disc clutch or can I put in a Valeo like the one in the video?
Dual disk in a MINI? You can replace it with anything you want as long as you replace all of the flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disk and throwout bearing, and the stock hydraulics have not been modified.
Hello sir
I have a problem with my DMF and I want to change it for the Valeo conversion kit could you send me the reference for a Mini cooper r50 2005 please it would be great thank you
Hi, did u do a conversions to ur r50, how does it feal after? Is dmf too heavy?
I'll let you know how it handles a tvs 900 and Jans BVH. I have my doubts.
Me too.
I've just received my valeo kit. The pressure plate surface is all scored and dented from shipping. Is this common?
A few small nicks or debts is common and not an issue. You can grind or file them down if it's a concern.
***** Thanks! I've got a new one on the way now. Getting them to check it before they send it.
lukeybabes1 I've installed many and most have slight nicking but so far nothing that warrants a return. Be careful buying from eBay or other 'cost conscious' vendors. Sometimes they send without double boxing and bolts get lost along the way. Amazon usually double boxes. After a few bad experiences with missing bolts, I only buy from Amazon now.
***** c4.staticflickr.com/8/7782/17682364402_a39aa1e5df_c.jpg
c1.staticflickr.com/9/8869/17498543809_2f3dee8d2d_c.jpg
Doesn't look as bad in the pictures, but if I get a better one I will. I will keep this one until the new one comes too incase anything goes missing. Can only find it on eBay in the UK anyway. Thanks for the advice though. Great help as always!
Is the flywheel the same on the R50 and R53 Valeo?
No.
does this clutch creates problems to the gearbox?
No, it has dampening springs on the clutch plate.
Can I use a 5 speed clutch on a 6 speed non s minicooper 2008
No. Those are two totally different platforms.
Are these friends cars? Or do people come to you for help?
Some friends, some referrals
I put the same one I'm my car it too light if a clutch I can push it in with one finger
Dual mass normally last longer
Most people complain about a chatter noise and so I recommend to replace even if not failed as it is unlikely to last the life of two clutches.
I use clutch master cause I live near them there oem but better cause made by clutch master
How do I contact you?
You just did.
Can you do my clutch 03 s
Sure, if you are in Washington State. You can send me PM on my channel page - click name of channel, click "About," click "Send Message".
You would think BMW would put a better clutch in a mini.. Got 80km in my 2010 Clubman S need a clutch
+COPO JOHN i just replaced the clutch in my 05 convertible with 65k miles... now i need a new transmission and pressure plate
+Jesse Hooton Always replace the clutch and pressure plate as a set. What happened to your transmission? Is it a Cooper 5 speed I'm guessing? The 6 speed Cooper S are very sturdy.
***** I had our trusted mechanic fix it because the last time I took it to the dealership they screwed something else up and still charged us and from my perspective it seemed like they did it intentionally. Anyways I later found out that our trusted mechanic had never worked on a mini before and it actually took him a whole month to fix for a few reasons. The clutch was on back order for about a week so he had to wait for that to come in and then he had followed the wrong video and disassembled it the wrong way so he had to reassemble it and take it apart the right way but he didn't charge us for the additional hours. And you are correct it's a 5 speed. It's partially my fault the transmission was ruined. I didn't realize it was a huge issue until it started slipping out of second gear into neutral. I'm debating on having my local dealership fix it this time or a local transmission shop.
try trany shop
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is this clutch kit good for daily driving? I'm replacing my 05 mini's transmission because of a bad pressure plate soon and I'm having a transmission shop replace it and I'd like to get something a little more durable than the factory kit. I already had the clutch replaced after 65k miles and that was the factory clutch kit.
+Jesse Hooton Yes, but you may need to modify your driving style (or just budget for more clutches) if you are wearing them out after 65,000 miles.
***** thanks! this is my very first car that I got used a couple years ago. I learned how to drive it and to keep myself from stalling I would rev up to 3,000 rpms before I began to engage the clutch. I would also back it into my garage every day since it's my daily driver. But once its fixed, I think my dad will park his truck in the garage and I'll just take his spot in the driveway. But I've adjusted my driving habits and now I'm able to engage the clutch at much lower rpms. Also, although I've already broken in a new clutch before, is there anything you recommend I should do and anything I should avoid to break it in? I know if you don't break it in properly it won't last long. The last time I did it, I avoided the highway as much as possible for about 300 miles which is about how long it took to break in. And how should I engage the clutch when I'm breaking it in? I tried to engage it as slow as possible at the lowest rpms possible but I'd end up stalling a few times before I got going.
+Jesse Hooton 3000rpm is too high. 1800-2000rpm is more reasonable. Should be able to get longer life out of a replacement clutch. To break in, just drive like a normal person for the first week or so. (Avoid allowing too much heat to get built up). There is no reason you have to avoid the highway, just realize that it will take longer to break in fully. Honestly if you drive like a normal person there is no special procedure needed. Just drive it.
***** thanks!