2003 r50 g/box or diff issues advice please

[peter2704]

ok , my daughter is learning to drive so i got her a 2003 cooper to learn it.Now the car has been great but have noticed a rumble noise from the front end.My gut feeling is the midland g/box or diff could be on its way out.Best /cheapest place to get this sorted ,and would it have all steel caged bearings fitted to solve the issue? hope you can help,its a shame to get rid of the car if the cost to fix is too much

[peter2704]

thanks for replying,i was lead to believe the box isnt bad its the bearings used that are the issue,and if replaced with all steel and new o/t shaft bearing they should last a lot longer

[peter2704]

bit more checking and a local mini guy pointed me in the direction of a possible wheel bearing issue,so hopefully its this and not the g/box