Question on Manual Transmission Oil Change

I'm trying to diagnose a shaking I've been experiencing for about 2 weeks now. I replaced the tires, had them balanced, alignment done, rebalanced. Still shaking so I checked my bearings, replaced the front passenger side bearing today and on my test drive, it was still shaky with acceleration 40-50 mph, but considerably less. I was told, it could be that I need to change my transmission fluid or tranny filter. There is definitely something wrong with the clutch? Every time I depress the clutch and then release it, it makes a little click sound like depressing a soda can. Could this be bad fluid? I know the clutch was replaced a couple of years ago. Does the fluid get changed every time the clutch is done?

__________________
This post was auto-generated based upon a question asked on our tech article page here: MINI Cooper Manual Transmission and Differential Fluid Replacement (R50/R52/R53 2001-2006) | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

[Nick at Pelican Parts]

Before blaming the drivetrain, I would check for a bent wheel. Very common.

- Nick

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

I'd also highly recommend checking your axles. I've seen more than a few individuals report a slight vibration that was not easy to track down, which resulted in a faulty axle. How old are yours and have you ever had them replaced? A good replacement would be GKN OEM supplier or Genuine. Don't go cheap with aftermarket axles as they can cause this issue easily.

Axles - Mini Cooper & Cooper S (R50/R52/R53) - Axles, Bearings & Differential - Page 1

As for the click when you press the clutch down, I have seen this issue discussed mostly with 2nd gen MINI's. I doubt it has anything to do with your fluid. Maybe check the clutch arm as the 2nd gen R56 has plastic arm has a couple of gusset ribs coming out of the outer side of the arm and it can rub on some items when depressed. I have also seen individuals report that their dealer replaced a pin and adjusted the clutch pedal. Let me know what you find.