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: 2002 cooper gearbox


K5-PVD
Apr 19th, 2012, 12:39 PM
Hi all,

Recently noticed that the mini is humming, the noise goes away if the clutch is depressed so assume that the dreaded midland gearbox curse is upon K5 grrrr.
I thought it could be the air filter rattling against the bonnet so adjusted that to no avail. The hum / click are in all gears and the faster you go the faster it hums / clicks....

An advisory on the mot was near side wheel bearing but this would mean the noise is there constantly...

removed the fill plug on the gearbox to find some metal filings on it, had some spare transmission oil in the shed so topped the oil up to see if it was down to the oil level but it started coming out the fill plug so there is defiantly oil in there.

So it’s topped up but the noise is still there, the cars done 106k so I’m going to change the gearbox oil to see if I can get a few more miles out of her yet.

A few sites are saying mtf94 gear oil but what’s the best oil for the box??

Some people have said it could be the release bearing....

drove to work this morning, a bit of road rage so nailed it off the lights, pulled strongly in every gear, no snatching or crunching but the noise is defiantly there.

this is what I can’t understand is that the gear box seems fine with the gears being free ect but the noise from the release bearing can’t be heard from being in neutral........

start up in neutral with clutch pedal up - no noise
start up in neutral with clutch pedal down - no noise
drive off in first - a slight clicking noise can be heard (faster you go the faster the click / hum)
driving in gear but backing off for engine braking - same clicking / humming noise can be heard
backing off when driving but just picking up the slack of the engine with the throttle so were rolling and the noise goes away slightly

called BMW and they said to pop down and they would get someone to come out with me and listen to the noise to try and diagnose the issue

will reply when I’ve been to BMW

It does sound a bit ratio'y.... and it’s a midlands box...... and it’s done 106k

HELP!!!!! 2002 Cooper

Macguyvic
Apr 19th, 2012, 02:37 PM
Did you check the bearings after you were told there was a problem? Bearings will make more noise under a load. Step on the clutch and you are taking the load off. Bearings will hum and bearings will click. Bearings are a lot less expensive than Transmission work. Process of elimination. Try the less costly items first. I hope this helps.

K5-PVD
Apr 19th, 2012, 04:56 PM
confirmed at the garage (sytner mini nottingham) its the gearbox, missing a tooth grrrrr......

Macguyvic
Apr 19th, 2012, 06:09 PM
Bummer! I hope they go easy on you. Good Luck!

mab01uk
Apr 19th, 2012, 07:21 PM
If you are not going to diy, suggest you avoid BMW Main Dealer and try Mini2 member John Tee of Minigearboxes, they will change the box while you wait so it is often worth a day trip for prices and the good service:
mini gearbox, gear fix - Mini recon gearboxes | BMW MINI cheap gearboxes (http://www.minigearboxes.co.uk/)

More info here:
Early MINI Rover Midland Gearbox - Forums (http://forum.minicooper.org/showthread.php?t=9643)