Firstly sorry that I'm one of those guys who has joined for your help, although it isn't my car.
The girlfriend's 2003 Cooper 1.6 with 5 speed box suddenly started making noises as if the fan belt was slipping and at the same time engaging gears became difficult. Especially 1st and reverse.
One day later it became impossible to engage gears and I think she tried too hard to force it in.
The car was taken to a local garage by the RAC who suspected a hydrualic issue and possibly clutch. The RAC guy had a word with the garage and left it there.
Nearly 2 weeks later the car isn't fixed and the bill is getting bigger and bigger.
He has ruled out hydraulics and replaced the clutch. However now with the clutch replaced the car won't stay in reverse gear. It pops out when you try and drive.
The mechanic now says a new gearbox is required.
I don't have much faith in the garage and it sounds as if the guy doesn't have a clue or any confidence in what he is doing. He seems completely flustered himself.
What is the likelyhood the gearbox is damaged, or the linkage has been bent trying to force it into gear or he hasn't done something right when replacing the clutch.
He was waiting to get back to the girlfriend about cost with the replacement gearbox and said the total will be over £1000 which is getting a bit much.
Sorry to hear about your issues I had a similar problem mine was the clutch fork it had an air line crack sadly the gearbox as to come out again hope it helps
The guy phoned the girlfriend to say that he could get a reconditioned gearbox but it would cost £700 which would then bring the total up to £1500.
A quick google search suggests to me that the car would be a midland box and they should only cost about £350 reconditioned and in exchange of your old box. It is the later Minis that have the Getrag box and £700 is nearer the cost of one of those.
Would there be any chance an 03 plate would have a Getrag box?
Not sure if the guy is pulling a fast one or looking at the wrong gearbox himself.
I'm still not convinced the box is faulty but with the car in bits in his workshop we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The only 03 Mini that had a Getrag gearbox (6-speed) is the Cooper S. The One and Cooper did not get a Getrag gearbox (5-speed) until the July 2004 facelift.
The girlfriend asked the garage to cancel the gearbox order but he says he can't return it.
The box was ordered late on Friday and is unlikely to have even been sent. I'm sure distance selling regulations would apply to the sale too.
The latest estimate of the cost is now £1550 which given the condition and value of the car far too much.
Reading through the forum I see Midland boxes cost about £330 reconditioned with companies doing a complete drive in and out service for £700 with a clutch.
Granted he isn't a Mini specialist and won't manage to do the job in the 4 hours they manage it in, the price at more than double becomes unjustifiable.
It has been the girlfriend who has been dealing with the guy and I think I will need to step in before the situation gets worse.
I told him the cost was too excessive and asked him to explain why it amounted to so much when specialist can do the job for less that half the amount.
He produced the bill so far. Slave cylinder was £60, the clutch £130 and £180 labour all plus VAT giving a total of nearly £450.
I was quoted £115 from Eurocarparts for a clutch and get a 25% discount. £86.25 against £156 for his.
I pointed out that his gearbox was far too expensive at £700 when they were available at less than half that down south.
He then introduced for the first time that there was a £150 deposit to be refunded so the box was only really £550.
His labour charge again was going to be another £180 to put the box in. Which is reasonable.
I then pointed out that the standing total of £450, plus £550 is £1000. His labour charge of £180+VAT added up to £1216 and not £1550.
I was then told oil was expensive. Turned out to be £30 which is pennies in the scheme of things.
He then added the fact that the gearbox was £700+ VAT and the £150 would be refunded only once our gearbox had been returned and inspected.
The story seemed to be changing and figures quoted never include VAT and never once mentioned the parts didn't include VAT until this point.
He did have a bit of paper with a quote from a company in England for £375 but said he didn't trust any of the companies down south and wanted to deal with a local trusted company.
He also said if the box was faulty they would cover the labour to have it removed and another box fitted if it failed in warranty but only if supplied by his supplier.
I asked who was the supplier of the box and he told me Dingbro.
I phoned Dingbro to see what the real price was only to be told they don't sell gearboxes!
We decided to pay the guy £450 to get the car away. I simply have no belief of trust in the guy.
Need to decide what to do next. The car drives but reverse gear is gone.
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