HELP ...clutch or gearbox ...any one know

[wiggs]

Mini cooper 2002 manual (out of warranty) 37000 miles

Set of in wife's car the other day ..came to junction , pulled out and horrible noise like a drive shaft spline just not catching properly ..
Decided something seriously wrong so found a side street to turn round ..stopped put it in 1st nothing , tryed all the gears ..nothing .
Clutch pedal felt no different , gears go in with ease ..never had any unusual noises .

The only thing i did notice that going from 1st to reverse (or visa versa) it seams to engage for a split second ..

Got friend to sit in car and i watched the arm for the clutch ..all seamed to be moving OK ..also gear selection ..arm moving .

Towed car home and is now sitting on the driveway ..i need to decide, do i take it to BMW or a clutch/gearbox specialist..

Can any body can shead any light on this matter ..

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

[Black Works]

Sounds quite possibly like the crownwheel has come away from diff housing. This is a common problem with the early cooper gearbox so i am told...............lots of dosh any which way you look at it, BMW will charge approx £1500 fitted

[wiggs]

Quote: Originally Posted by richardolsen

I've had a similar problem in my 06 Cooper S Cab. I had to get it towed to the nearest dealer because it just wouldn't engage a gear. I've only had my car for 2 weeks now as well.

Have you got it back yet ..do you know what it was ...and was it expensive

Thanks

[mooneymini]

my 2001 cab did same thing in november.

the drive shaft had sheared off. All fixed under extended warranty luckily. Had car back 2 days later.

i was worried that it was gearbox, but luckily it wasnt. although i just had a new gearbox fitted under warranty a couple of weeks ago from difficulty engaging gears

[wiggs]

They just like to try it on ..my works car has 70000 miles on the clock and not a sniff of a new clutch ...

I contacted my local BMW garage about my car and he was the most unhelpful person i have ever had the unfortunate pleasure of speaking to.

So i decided to take it to an independent BMW garage (quite local ) which i found good reviews of on the internet .They picked it up within 1/2 hr of the phone call.

Just gotta wait for the dreaded call now of whats needed and how much .

[wiggs]

Update

Got the car back after 10 days .
Aparently the crownwheel carrier had come away from the gearbox.I opted to have it repaired as it was half the price .

Total bill £1050.61

including recovery , and a new clutch

( OH ..i took it to an independent BMW specialist as BMW were very un-helpfull )