Tricksy Gear Changes [Archive] - MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums

: Tricksy Gear Changes


Clarkster
Feb 18th, 2012, 04:40 PM
Finding that the gear changes are getting very hard and require some serious muscle. 1 and 2 are very notchy indeed. 3, 4 and 5 are not that bad. Getting into Reverse is hit and miss and is accompanied by a good graunch.

Thinking about trying to re-lube the linkages first but wondering what people have found as I am 100% confident that others will have expereinced the same with an 02 Cooper R50. Can this be done by just removing the air box ?

So far:

Passenger Electric window fails.
Pulls left and occasionally even red.
Water leaks in the boot.
Trim falling off.
Boot hard to close.
One speaker gone.
Speaker covers fall off.
Steering column creeks. (Have lubed..)
Front springs boing and creek.
Airbag light on.
Other assorted rattles and squeaks.
Seats jam, lock and fail to engage.
rear windscreen washer soaks everything but screen.

Otherwise still fun to drive. I do like BMWs efforts to reduce the cost of repairs to a car that should never have been sold in the state it was sent to market. Ho hum research is key.

mab01uk
Feb 19th, 2012, 10:17 AM
Lube the linkages and change the gearbox oil.......very important to do this on the Midland gearbox and usually gives a better gearchange as a result:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/170777-midland-r65-gearbox-oil-mtf-94-a.html

The R50 Mini was originally going to be sold as a Rover............however there was a sudden quality upgrade when it was decided to keep the Mini but sell it next to BMW showrooms, unfortunately it was too late to fix some of the early problems before the launch in 2001!

Clarkster
Feb 19th, 2012, 05:05 PM
Shot some White Lithium down the linkages today but no real change at all alas. Did find the feed air hose to the airbox half off so thr engine might appreciate a bit more air.

I guess a gearbox oil change can't hurt.

Smooth Criminal
Feb 28th, 2012, 08:21 PM
Hi I'm having exactly the same problems as you on my 03 Cooper, I've tried a gearbox oil change with redline mtl, it made no difference unfortunatly. How did you get to the gearbox linkages I took my airbox out this evening but couldn't find them?

03digitool
Mar 7th, 2012, 12:40 AM
I'm have the the EXACT same problem on my 03 mini cooper 5spd. It does this while its off also . Is it the midlands box its self?