One / Cooper 5spd Midland to 6speed S Getrag Conversion

[Richard22b]

Video of final result.

YouTube - MINI ONE Rolling Road at 1320Autos

[camini]

Thanks Richard - that looks interesting.

Out of curiosity, would a conversion like this be possible here in Belgium?

[Richard22b]

Paul at 1320autos could provide the parts. you would need to find a local garage who could carry out the work

[dsakko]

Sorry to open this one up, folks, but my hand is forced.

My Midlands box just spat the output shaft out the side of the gearbox. I've been told by the dealership that I need a core changeover to get a new Midlands box, but I don't to get a Getrag box (5sp, for only about $100 more than the Midlands box).

So I am now motivated to try a Midlands 5sp conversion to a Getrag 5sp (since I can't buy a Midlands box unless I can get a working one from a wrecker).

But before I go and spend $3700 (about $US3130 or GBP1530) on a gearbox, plus fitting, I want to know for sure it will fit.

Current spec:
Mini Cooper
Manuf. Feb 02, delivered Apr 02 (Aus spec with the biggest centre mounted tacho you've ever seen!)
5sd manual (Midland Gears)

Wanted Spec:
5sp Getrag from Late 04 - early 07 Mini Cooper (not the S)

Additional required parts???
- clutch / flywheel (although I have the Stage 2 kevlar clutch which they say can be fitted to an 04 - 07 Mini Cooper)
- gear shift cables
- driveshafts
- gearbox mount

If anyone has some advice I'd really appreciate it. And I guarantee that if I proceed I'll document it and let you all know how I go and what needed doing.

[Paul@1320]

I sent u the pm back, I forgot to say that it is the same parts and effort to do the 5spd as it is the 6spd, the only difference is the fllywheel cost.

Good luck with it

[dazo]

can i get a price for the kit and a price including fitting asap, gearbox broken and need new one, pref 6 speed thnx

[johnfromaus]

Currently in a similar position to dsakko, I have pulled the car down to get the gearbox off. Noise from the front which BMW quoted AUD$3800 to replace box. Wondering what the process would be to upgrade as per this thread. If I could source a used getrag 6sp, could we get other parts shipped as neccessary or are all parts available as OEM? why is a new flywheel necessary for the 6sp not the 5?

[dsakko]

Lots of parts needed to change to the 6spd. I'm still going through some teething problems with clutches that keep letting go. Get it back tonight and hopefully that's the end of it.

Basically in Aus, you'll be looking at around $10-$12k for the 6sp conversion, or maybe $8k for a 5sp Getrag conversion (cause you can reuse some parts like the starter motor). But guaranteed the Getrag boxes are bigger, beefier, stronger, smoother, lighter throw, etc etc.

All parts are OEM and bolt on. No mods necessary.

[johnfromaus]

dsakko, $10-12k just for parts? or fully fitted? bearing in mind i aim to do all work myself and am looking for 2nd hand not new parts. meh, as if you will find used parts floating around here. i guess this is a bit of a dead end. looks like im pulling the midlands down and throwing that piece of crap back in. can i just say how ridiculous this is. i have owned an '86 e30 325 which has lasted 20 years on a box that still feels brand new. bmw ought to be ashamed at the apparent misuse of the reputation they continue to appear to uphold.
case closed

[dsakko]

That's fully fitted, but I think labour was around $1.5k. Second hand parts will save you a fortune! Get yourself a Mini Cooper (facelift model with the Getrag 5sp) or Cooper S front cut and you'll have all of the parts you'll need.

And the reason why the 325 lasted so long? It had a Getrag in it from the factory.

Don't worry - I know where you're coming from. Has taken me a year of saving to afford this, and I've thrown away $2k on clutches self destructing in the last month. I cringe when I see a 2002 Mini Coper for sale.

[jbkone]

WOW! people in same spot as me!

Tranny making AWFUL noise. Time for replacement. Want 6-speed Getrag.

When you say you're replacing clutches all the time, is that with the new 5-speed? If I install a 6-spd, should I expect to need new clutches every 6-months?

[dsakko]

Nope. I just had a bad run!

I had a Cooper stage 2 clutch from Spec and it was awesome! Porbably a bit too agressive for road use but lasted very well (has about 12,00km on it and is only just bedded in. Will put on eBay Aus when I get around to it).

When I put the 6spd in I went for a Cooper S clutch from Spec, but they changed the design of the driven plate. They now rivet the ring with the friction surface to the hub part of the plate (same as per the factory clutch) so you can select if you want a sprung hub or a solid hub. Problem is this adds a massive weak point in the clutch. The metal tabs that are riveted were too thin and cracked (much weaker and thinner than the factory clutch) and the rivets fail very quickly.

I'm sure that they will eventually sort out the teething problems of the design, but in the mean time I had to go for an XTreme clutch (proudly made in South Australia!) and they combined a pressure plate and clutch plate for what I wanted to do.

Expect longer life given the Cooper doesn't load it up as much as the S.