Ok, so i went to my local Mini dealer and asked for a quote for
a replacement gearbox & clutch for my 2004 Cooper (with midland box).
The price they came back with.....£2,529!
Now, i've seen a lot of Mini recon gearboxes & clutches advertised fitted for
around £600-£800.
Why are the genuine BMW Mini one's so expensive????
Are they BRAND NEW and not recon?
Are they total top quality and superb?
They do come with a 2 year warranty, but still.
The price staggered me!
Main dealer gearboxes are reconditioned ones they just come sand blasted and cleaned to make them look new.
You are better off getting it removed and having it reconditioned yourself, it normally costs around £220 to have it reconditioned and then you have just got the labour for removing and installing it.
Normally around £200-£250.
I had a friend who bought a new gearbox some years back from the dealer, yes it came in a crate, all brand new, and when fitted couldnt get second gear, upon removing the box again and opening the top it was found the second gear wheel was missing.
It turned out the exchange boxes are thrown together by the works apprentices as a learning exercise and very often one went out with a bit missing or not set up properly.
Best get the one you have rebuilt by a proper gearbox builder.
Rover Midland gearboxes as fitted to early R50 MINI's are no longer manufactured or available new even at Main Dealers.......unless there are some 'New Old Stock' hidden away somewhere they are all now reconditioned.
So, can anyone recommend a Gearbox & clutch fitter who does
a superb top notch job?
I am not looking to sell my car in the near future and i don't want a cheap and cheerful job that's not going to last.
Something that has a good warranty and is a quality item.
Oh, and has a decent quality clutch fitted too.
If you are considering keeping your MINI long term there are some good reports on the 6-speed MCS Getrag conversion that can be done at extra cost.
Modern MINI mag and others if you search here on MINI2 have used: mini gearbox, gear fix - Mini recon gearboxes | BMW MINI cheap gearboxes
for both Midland swaps and Getrag conversions successfully.
The massive price you were quoted is generally due to the very high labour costs incurred at franchised dealers (not just BMW/MINI). I won't get into the right and wrongs of this but the midlands box is quite an easy box to pull apart and repair. Someone who deals with gearboxes all the time can do this job properly AND cheaply. The most common problem is bearing failure and it is possible to buy uprated bearings for these boxes. There are several companies who specialise in MINI gearbox problems, one of these should be able to help you.
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