Gearbox on 04 mini cooper?

[Mull3t]

I have had my mini now for a good year this july,

Everything with it has been good (touch wood) except my power steering pump failing after 2 hours of picking the car up .

My mini is now on 28k miles (collected on 16k).

For the past 6 months say, when my car has gone in for warranty work (slight fault, window squeel etc) I have always raised the issue that the gears when selecting seem a little clunky, and rough when select the desired gear, also have told them that when pulling off from standstill, sometimes it would feel like the car is going to stall, or sometimes it will kangeroo .

It just feels like the clutch is not all the way down, and you try and select a gear (even tho it is to the floor) and majority of the time I keep my foot on the clutch for like 3 seconds before selecting a gear and this seems to help a little.

I know I am hitting my biting point , and givin it the right revs.

I have been out on 2 road tests with the techie at BMW and they have said they cannot find a fault.

But it is something that I feel is a problem? or is this normal?

Its not a major problem, I can drive fine, it just feels like something is not quite right. And with my warranty ending in the next month, I wanna get it sorted?

If BMW deny they is a fault, and within 2 months after warranty expires, and say it totally goes, am I within my right to tell them I told them within my warranty? and get them to fix it?

Just kinda worried, as they might just be saying it not to cough up, as a while back they did charge me to put air in my tyres

Any views?

[jraphael]

I cant understand why there are so many gearbox problems with the mini. Ive had my mini cooper for a year now and it is on a 52 plate its done 41,000 miles and Ive been told the gearbox is going!! After speaking to a few people and also reading some of the comments it seems that mini have a big problem with this. Why the hell are they still selling the cars with this problem? Can anyone answer if they have taken this further, as I am not happy.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

There were a number of problems with the gearbox fitted to the MINI from start of production to July 2004. This was produced by Midland Gears, who closed when the contract was transferred to Getrag in '04.

Having said that, I had no problems with my Midland Gears box in 32,750 miles.

The Getrag unit has had separate problems (though they do seem more robust). From reading a lot of posts on here a lot of people derive a lot of comfort from the assumption that they must be built by those infallable Germans, ignorant of the fact that they are not only made in France, but that the R65 Midland Gears 'box actually started off life in France as well (as a Peugeot/Citroen product)

The most serious long term problem with the Midlands unit is that there are no new replacements available; all replacement units are now refurbs and have been for some time

[jrock7]

Hello!

I've recently had to fix my gerbox on MINI ONE 2002 - there was some serious mechanical damage to it - some gear teeth from gear rack were broken - it happened after 80 000 km of milage.

I bought a second-hand one because the new one in Poland costs as much as half price of a used mini. I bought 2002 gearbox from a MINI with about 20 000km milage.

I just wonder, if the factory in Midland was closed in 2004 and there aro no new replacements available what kind of gearbox - presumed "NEW" - my dealer of MINI is offering?

Does it mean that the gearboxes produced after 2004 still fit older models od MINI?
Like gearbox from 2006 fits MINI One 2002?
Or the dealer is keepeng some old gearboxes "just in case"?

Greetings from Poland.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Hello Poland!

In the UK the "new" gearboxes for 2001-2004 MINIs are refurbished, used, gearboxes

[jrock7]

;-)

Are those refurbished gearboxes free of errors/problems?
Or this is the same story and I must prepare myself for next gearbox exchange in the future?

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Though it is possible to re-build them to a higher standard, from what I have heard the standard refurbishment attempts to bring the gearbox back to new specification. However, they are still used gearboxes that have previously failed and, from what I've managed to find out so far, they are more likely to fail again than any original unit

You are probably better off with a good, low mileage, used unit.

[theminiv]

You are the first person I have heard speak of the same problem I have!!

I have issues with my 06 mini one. Kangarooing all the time in the mornings, and sometimes stalling. You have to be so careful when driving it. Anyhoo,

Took mine to the dealer, with a noise, basically. When I lift the clutch, i get a clunk, they say this is the gearbox and she is going in 2 weeks time to have it changed.

Have you got a clunk ??

If you have, this should be sfficient evidence that the gear chain is going. Thats what my dealer told me anyhoo.

Good Luck.