Mini Cooper.....gearbox problems.....best route to fix?
Discussion
My wife has an 02 reg Mini cooper, which has FBMSH and is pretty mint despite having done 90k miles....
The gearbox is making a grinding noise which I assume is the 'box telling me it is knackered....
I understand that this is a common problem on the early Minis and am wiondering how best to fix it
The car is only worth say £2.5k so I am looking at a cost effective solution as other than the 'box problem it is a really nice little car
Can anyone guide me how to fix this as cheaply as poss...am I better fitting a new gearbox or recon the old one, or do I try and repair the existing one etc?
The gearbox is making a grinding noise which I assume is the 'box telling me it is knackered....
I understand that this is a common problem on the early Minis and am wiondering how best to fix it
The car is only worth say £2.5k so I am looking at a cost effective solution as other than the 'box problem it is a really nice little car
Can anyone guide me how to fix this as cheaply as poss...am I better fitting a new gearbox or recon the old one, or do I try and repair the existing one etc?
you can get them repaired quite cheaply if you do it yourself but parts are difficult to get, there are a few people out there re-con the box. The best bet is often to change the box but they will all be getting to the same age as yours, many people change the box, shafts, clutch, slave to either the facelift getrag or they change a few extra parts and fit the S box and shifter. It is a big job though to change the box and quite tight. Be worth contacting a mini specialist for a quick turn around or for parts / advice on a conversion
The getrag box has not been known to fail where as the midland box just fails
The getrag box has not been known to fail where as the midland box just fails
My 03 Cooper has just had a recon gearbox fitted. Mine was due to the gearchange, especially into reverse being knackered. I didn't have to pay for it as it was a warranty job but the price of the 'box was something like £1250 and with fitting around £1900! You might be better off buying a scrap car and stripping it yourself if your car really is only worth about £2500. That is unless someone else can tell you an easy way to fix yours...
New min mag did a story on this. The bearings are not to good and if the box is used and abused thay can cause problems. There are a number of people doing drive in drive out for about £500. This include a worranty. If your handy you could get a box from a mini scrap yard. They normly will give a short worranty 3months?
Do check that it is not just the clutch etc.
Do check that it is not just the clutch etc.
hyperblue said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
On a related note... Can the 04+ box be fitted to earlier cars? Would there be any problem with fitting the 6-speed?
Nope no problem. I've driven a Cooper fitted with a 6 speed and its great fun too 
blueST said:
Can someone shed a bit more light on this problem? I' m going to look at a '05 and an '06 Mini One for my Wife tomorrow. What exactly is problem, how can I spot it, any way to stop it happening?
You'll be fine with a late car, 2005 or 2006. It will have the 5 speed Getrag. Pretty much bullet proof. The one's that fail are the 5 speed Midland boxes fitted to earlier cars. 'Midland' as in Rover, their factory their. Cooper Ss (R53s) have always had the Getrag but the 6 speed version. Very rare for them to fail. If any of you need exchange boxes (specically as you have a failed Midland 5 speed), this guy specialises in them. Name is a giveaway - MINI Gearboxes. He is in Lees, Oldham. Called Shaun. So if you are in the part of the country he fits a well.
Midland 5 speed is £350 exchange. Fitting additional, by him or yourself or whoever you use.
http://minigearbox.co.uk/
Midland 5 speed is £350 exchange. Fitting additional, by him or yourself or whoever you use.
http://minigearbox.co.uk/
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