[Hapo]

...my MCS came equipped with a gear box that pulses and vibrates throught the shift lever in 1st and 3ed gears...it didn't much bother me, but I was concerened that somthing might not be quite right...

...after one quick ride, the tech at Country MINI in CT, and BMW Inc, decided to relace the gear box...


...I had learned of one other like that in this fourum, but never learned of how it was ultimaly resolved...


...in reading other threads in here I see that there is some concern as to how well the transplaned transmission will work out in the long run...one would think that the dealerships should be able to handle this well enough, but I suppose they have little or no control over the quality of the replacment unit...

...another bloke who recived his new MCS, at the same time, and in the same (DC) area as I, has the same problem...I hope he see's this thread...

...is this part of a terrorist plot to disgruntle DC area MINI owners...???...


...in any case, the operation is schedualed for Wensday and Thursday of next week, at Country MINI in CT...I shall follow through with a full report on the replacement gear box...

[minimini36]

You might do a search here for vibrations or rattles. There have been reports of the shifter vibrating in first, third and fifth gear. The MINI uses cables between the shifter and transmission. It was traced to the shift cables hitting the body or engine I believe. The fix was to route the shift cables so they didn't hit.

[Hapo]

...I wondered about that...???...I wonder why they wanna put in a new gear box...my search did not come up with that...I should refine it and try again I guess...

[minimini36]

Try this link on Roadfly.org it talks about the problem.

http://forums.roadfly.org/mini/forum...=718172&page=5

[Hapo]

...very interesting...thank you muchly for the hot link...

...I will disscuss this with the tech at Country MINI... anticipate that he will tell me he already checked those things rather than to stare blankly at me and say "HUH?", but it would behoove me to insure that he has seen the service bulliten and that he has checked the cables...


..I am mechanicly declined, but I too thought that it was a cable routing issue, and was basicly unconcerned about it...


...I don't really WANT a new gear box...I just wanna drive...I mean MOTOR...LoL...!!!...maybe I should seek a second opinion... .!..!.

[Paul]

here2help and MiNiGuY should also be able to help you with this.

It hasn't come up often. Most gearbox problems are with the 5 speed.

[Hapo]

...we had a nice ride last night...the gear box shifts cleanly and smoothly into each gear...it dosen't feel like there is anything wrong with it...I am going to closly question the service people at Country MINI before we proceed, dispite their current recomendations...I don't wanna open a can o' worms, here...

[MiNiGuY]

Testing of gearboxes - cvt manual5 or Getrag isn't thoroughly conducted at the MINI assembly plant.

The gearboxes arrive at the MINI factory pre-assembled and their reliability is left to trust really, in the same way that the overall car is by the customer.

Once they are mated with an engine and installed, any problems with a gearbox that are picked up on road test are incidental, as roadtesting is mainly geared towards rattles,squeeks and general driveability.

Testing methods by the factorys that construct the gearboxes are to blame here if anyone is to blame at all.

How they go about their testing I don't know exactly. I've never inquired.

The gearboxes implemented on MINI are very good.
Even so, problems inevitably occur with them at times due to the nature of mass production, but these problems do not indicate an inadequate design or inferior build quality overall.

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiNiGuY
The gearboxes arrive at the MINI factory pre-assembled and their reliability is left to trust really, in the same way that the overall car is by the customer.


Testing methods by the factorys that construct the gearboxes are to blame here if anyone is to blame at all.

How they go about their testing I don't know exactly. I've never inquired.

My MINI is in having a new gearbox fitted at the moment.
It's about time that MINI took control of this item, don't you think?

Quote:

Originally posted by MiNiGuY
The gearboxes implemented on MINI are very good.
Even so, problems inevitably occur with them at times due to the nature of mass production, but these problems do not indicate an inadequate design or inferior build quality overall.

I'm sorry, but I disagree.

Also, my alarm module was drilled on throught the wiring loom!!
My dealer found this while they were working on the car!!!???
Now this is an Oxford plant problem!!

I am now without my MINI for a week or so while I am waiting for a new loom to come from Germany!

[MiNiGuY]

Quote:

Originally posted by R1

I'm sorry, but I disagree.

Also, my alarm module was drilled on throught the wiring loom!!
My dealer found this while they were working on the car!!!???
Now this is an Oxford plant problem!!

It wasn't an opinion R1. It was a statement of fact, although I'll add that I do agree that it's BMW's responsibility to ensure these units are acceptable regardless of where they are actually made.
My main point was that the boxes are not tested at MINI.

As for your loom this seems an unfortunate mistake rather than a problem. If it happens time and again then it's a problem and action can be taken to prevent it.
Mistakes can happen, whether it's fridge freezers or cars, this is why someone invented warranties.

I hope your car is sorted soon.

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiNiGuY
Mistakes can happen, whether it's fridge freezers or cars, this is why someone invented warranties.

The trouble is that when you have already owned one MINI that after 4 months was still going back to the dealers to have faults fixed, then it gets taken back and a new MINI issued and the same starts happening again!!, that statement starts to wear a bit thin!!

[Hapo]

...I missed why they relpaced your gear box, R1...


...I used to have a coulpe of 'Busas...I have considered an R1, but have semi-retired and ride a kitted 'Warrior now...

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by Hapo
...I missed why they relpaced your gear box, R1...

Have a look at this thread :

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ghlight=bugger

Quote:

Originally posted by Hapo
...I used to have a coulpe of 'Busas...I have considered an R1, but have semi-retired and ride a kitted 'Warrior now...

You'll be back to the fold one day!

[MiNiGuY]

Quote:

Originally posted by R1
The trouble is that when you have already owned one MINI that after 4 months was still going back to the dealers to have faults fixed, then it gets taken back and a new MINI issued and the same starts happening again!!, that statement starts to wear a bit thin!!

Agreed.

[dcmini]

Hapo-

I'm the DC guy w/ the MCS that has similar symptoms--though my shifter vibrates in 3rd gear only (not 1st).

BTW, though I live in DC, I picked up my MCS in Buffalo, NY to get it quicker, so there goes the DC conspiracy theory...

In any case, I am not overly concerned about the shifter vibration because my S drives like a dream. And I'm a bit concerned about inexperienced techs tearing apart my MCS. But I do think that the vibration thing is odd, and I'm going to ask the local dealer about it when I have a chance to take my MCS in in December. So I'm interested in how your repair goes, adn I'll let you know what the mechanics down here have to say when I take it in next month.

[MINIMENC]

Just for the record, I have the same problem. 03 MCS, Born on September 13th. Not so bad in 1st, noisy in 3rd above 4500rpm and the same in 5th.

I am somewhat concerned but not enough at this point to warrant a dealer visit - yet. I think I will save up my squeaks, rattles and knocks for one visit!

[carton]

Quote:

Originally posted by dcmini
In any case, I am not overly concerned about the shifter vibration because my S drives like a dream. And I'm a bit concerned about inexperienced techs tearing apart my MCS. But I do think that the vibration thing is odd, and I'm going to ask the local dealer about it when I have a chance to take my MCS in in December. So I'm interested in how your repair goes, adn I'll let you know what the mechanics down here have to say when I take it in next month.

DC, any update? I have the same problem in third but only at about 3,000 to 3,500 RPMs.