Stiff Reverse Gear Gate

[mmartin]

Hi all - I am posting this with a mounting sense of desperation, the problem is as follows: My wife finally got her dream car a Mini Cooper S but then dissaster! She cannot get it into reverse gear. The problem is with the safety gate the amount of force required to force the lever through the gate is just to much for her to manage. It is so bad she acually hurt her back trying to force it across. OK she is petite but by no means a whimp! We took it to the dealers and of course they say it is within normal specs. The Mini UK helpline say they have never heard of an incident where anyone has a similar problem. The question is is there anybody else out there who has the same problem? Even I find it incredible the ammount of force that is required, 21 lbs that is 20% of my missus body weight, to get the lever past the gate. If there is anyone who is having similar difficulties please let me know. Thanx Murray

[Paul]

It is very tough to get in reverse (better that than too easy I guess).

I don't have a problem (often), but Abi (my wife) does still find it near impossible sometimes.

[MINIAC]

Welcome to MINI2

Order a Whalen Shift Knob. The 0.51kg weight of the knob will make it easier to get past the gate and also make shifting smoother.

Check out the following thread:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=34150

[stellablade]

Reverse isn't too stiff on mine, but it's been made considerably easier by investing in a heavier shift knob. I have the Whalen shift knob, the extra weight has made the shifts smoother.

Paul, you have a Whalen don't you? Has your wife used it?

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Mullett
It is very tough to get in reverse (better that than too easy I guess).

I don't have a problem (often), but Abi (my wife) does still find it near impossible sometimes.

[Tinkerbell]

Yep...I struggle with reverse too...although one month in and I am acquiring a certain 'knack'...will probably end up looking like the hulk on my left side though!

Tinkerbell

[goobot]

Mine is stiff too, wife couldn't get it into reverse either at first.

My solution is to shove the stick all the way to the 5/6 gear plane, then swing the stick into the reverse gate. The extra momentum overcomes the gate with no problem. Once I showed my wife that trick she hasn't had any problems or complaints.

-gb

[mmartin]

Thanks for replies so far, comforting to know we are not alone, we have tried the whack it over using the 5/6th gear spring to assist but she still struggles. I will investigate the heavier gearknob but blimey it is a state of affairs when you have to resort to that sort of thing. I am waiting to speak to a BMW Regional Technical Manager on the subject and following that probably a lawyer!!!!!!

[Harpo]

In my (very humble) opinion, and I am no product designer, the gate is too stiff by some margin.

Without question, the build specifiers at no time assessed the quality of the shift into reverse. I challenge anybody to describe it as anything near satisfactory, let alone slick. You and I are actively engaged in their development work.

What rankles me is that at some stage in the not too distant future, BMW will introduce unannounced a change of spec to the gate resistance.

Why?

Because they got it wrong.

[mini huni]

I sorta like stiff reverse gate springs. It's
a lot more betta than downshifting into reverse at speed.
We don't have any probs with the shifter gate.
My technique is to slap the shifter ball to the left
and push forward all in the motion.

[Big_Dave21]

I have noticed that after thrashing the car a few times it does ease the gearbox slightly.

Just keep putting it in reverse loads and it *may* get a bit easier. One option would be to have Mini put less stiff springs (they may not do this).

When we first got our Mini, the gearbox was a pain in the ass but its good now.

Dave

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by Harpo
In my (very humble) opinion, and I am no product designer, the gate is too stiff by some margin.

Without question, the build specifiers at no time assessed the quality of the shift into reverse. I challenge anybody to describe it as anything near satisfactory, let alone slick. You and I are actively engaged in their development work.

What rankles me is that at some stage in the not too distant future, BMW will introduce unannounced a change of spec to the gate resistance.

Why?

Because they got it wrong.

I disagree, it was tested, a lot, and I think they got it right.

I've 'crunched' into reverse a couple of times in Abis MINI One when reaching for sixth (whoops!) after driving my S all the time, but I've NEVER accidently slipped into reverse in the S when driving along!

[mmartin]

Thanks again all for the feedback both plus and neg. I guess there are those who like the really stiff reverse gate but spare a thought for those who are not so muscled! I still think that they could design a better system with a lift up safety catch a la Vauxhall or similar. That would be foolproof, witness those who have done a cruncher with the current design; guess that should tell BMW that their current system is pants??? Mind you they know best for example how to programme engine management units. DOH! Any way were getting shut. Cheers all.

[HonoluluDoug]

Quote:

Originally posted by mini huni
I sorta like stiff reverse gate springs. It's
a lot more betta than downshifting into reverse at speed.
We don't have any probs with the shifter gate.
My technique is to slap the shifter ball to the left
and push forward all in the motion.

This is precisely the correct technique. Slap it. It doesn't require much of a slap.

If your reverse gate is much stiffer than ours, there's something wrong with the shifter mechanism. In that case you should make the dealer fix it. This is something you shouldn't be shy about.

Shifting is a major part of the MINI experience.

[Pritch]

I was going to post concerning this very same issue with my new car, now 300 miles old - my hope was that it was that it would get a bit easier as the gearbox gets worn in. From what I read here, this sounds unlikely - I think I shall also ask my dealer about it.

[flipper]

We had a Cooper S on test drive for a weekend with a view to trading in our MCS. My wife could not engage reverse gear without great difficulty.
We have decided not to go ahead with the swap for this very reason.
I'm gutted!