1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Gearbox failure

Page 1 of 2
  1. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #10 Dave.0, Jan 11, 2015
    Yup when I went to the dealer for my failed slave cyclinder I had them replace my master also. I told them what I wanted done and nothing else.

    They were like "sir that may not be the problem and we may have to take out the trans"
    I told them I know what I am talking about and if you pull the Trans after I said not to you will be replacing it with a new one for free.

    My problem was just a bad slave and I had them do the master at the same time as basic maintenance and the whole job only cost just about $250 including parts.

    Oh and they called me about my rear control areas being loose and needed to be replaced, I told them look again they are adjustable control arms with heim joints you geniuses. Don't touch the suspension just replace what I told you too. GFD :mad5:
     
  2. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #16 Crashton, Jan 14, 2015
    Important question. Was the hole caused by something on the road? If so I'd be talking with my insurance company about this.
     
  3. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,731
    7,688
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,960 / 1 / -0
    #20 Metalman, Jan 18, 2015
    Chuck..... You da man....:Thumbsup:
     
  4. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,253
    443
    83
    San Francisco
    Ratings:
    +449 / 0 / -0
    #26 rkw, Jan 30, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2015
    Update

    My insurance approved the transmission replacement (did not total the car). Repairs are done and I picked it up this morning. Nice to have it back and be out of the rental. Also, my front end had been making some odd noises for awhile and they said the right front axle needed replacement (I had them do it, not covered by insurance).

    Thanks for the support, and again special thanks to Crashton!
     
  5. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #7 Crashton, Jan 11, 2015
    Then the highly paid Tech should do that. Being the dealer they will just add a new tran$mi$$ion without checking it. At least that is how my local dealer deals with things.
     
  6. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,253
    443
    83
    San Francisco
    Ratings:
    +449 / 0 / -0
    #19 rkw, Jan 17, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2015
    Update:
    Thank you Crashton!
    The dealer says that it does look like it was caused by an impact with an object on the road. My insurance says that it will be handled as a collision claim.

    A claims adjuster will look at it on Tuesday. I think the main question now is whether the car will be totaled. I'm glad that my policy includes rental coverage. The MINI was a daily driver and the only car in the household.
     
  7. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #24 Crashton, Jan 21, 2015
    Especially with the video. :eek6:
     
  8. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #22 Crashton, Jan 19, 2015
    rkw-If your insurance company decides to fix your MINI & I hope they do, make sure you get a new clutch while the transmission is out.

    +1 on the skid plate. My MINI wears one & after reading what happened to your MINI I'm glad to have one.
     
  9. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #2 Dave.0, Jan 10, 2015
    Clutch slave cyclinder less than a $100 bucks.

    I had the same issue before. I had my master cyclinder and slave replaced the same time at the dealership because they are a SOB to bleed correctly for the DIY shady tree mechanic. Leave that job to the pros.
     
  10. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

    Jan 4, 2015
    5,651
    912
    113
    Male
    physician
    York, Pa
    Ratings:
    +1,146 / 0 / -1
    #3 cristo, Jan 10, 2015
    If it's really the transmission, then a little bit more than the labor for a clutch job
    (probably $800-$1200 most places, up to twice that at the dealer). Then there's
    the cost of the transmission, and probably might as well do the clutch and engine
    seal while it's apart.
    Could be other things though, shifter cables, clutch hydraulics, etc.
     
  11. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #5 Crashton, Jan 10, 2015
    Jack up your MINI & drain the gearbox oil. See how much oil comes out & run a magnet through it to see how much metal is there. My guess is you won't get much oil out & it will have metal in it. I hope I'm wrong & it's an easy fix.
     
  12. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

    Mar 12, 2012
    1,970
    1,586
    113
    Engineer
    Central America
    Ratings:
    +1,587 / 0 / -0
    #11 RallyMini370, Jan 12, 2015
    Reminds me when I had Nissan Xterra that stop/started so I looked online and found the problem was a faulty fuel pump connector, so I checked the pump connector and saw some smoke. I called around and found a pump for $120 but the dealer said I had to bring the car in for them to check. I said i just want the pump, they insisted they should fit it. anyway I had to call 3 dealers before one of them would just sell me the pump. I told them this was the problem, I said I found out online. They said you can't learn something online you need a factory expert! So I bought the pump and after 20mins the Xterra was running. Dealer 0 Chris 1 LOL

    Good luck with the gearbox.
     
  13. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,253
    443
    83
    San Francisco
    Ratings:
    +449 / 0 / -0
    #12 rkw, Jan 12, 2015
    I told the dealer to hold off on the teardown and do the slave/master cylinders first. They won't get to it for a couple of days (they are always busy -- appointments filled up 2 weeks out). FWIW, service advisor said transmission swap is very rare for them and it's more likely a clutch issue.
     
  14. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #29 Crashton, Jan 31, 2015
    Chris- Just don't show them your video of automotive break dancing.
     
  15. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #6 Dave.0, Jan 11, 2015

    His car is already at the dealership......
     
  16. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
    1,404
    688
    113
    Pilot
    Southern NH
    Ratings:
    +688 / 0 / -0
    #8 ZippyNH, Jan 11, 2015
    Yup...
    Dealers are parts changers...not repair places....
    Mostly due to two things IMO...high overhead (so they must get cars in and out asap), and the fact most dealer mechanics are realitive newbies, having just been trained in one make after having graduated from a tech school....
     
  17. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
    1,404
    688
    113
    Pilot
    Southern NH
    Ratings:
    +688 / 0 / -0
    #9 ZippyNH, Jan 11, 2015
    Get ready for a $5500+ bill....
    Any shop that can do a MINI clutch could swap a used trany for ya...maybe $1000 labour, and another $1000 for a used one....
     
  18. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,253
    443
    83
    San Francisco
    Ratings:
    +449 / 0 / -0
    #17 rkw, Jan 14, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2015
    I'll check with them. I'd also have to check my insurance policy.
     
  19. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,253
    443
    83
    San Francisco
    Ratings:
    +449 / 0 / -0
    #4 rkw, Jan 10, 2015
    I've had some whiney gear noise for years that was steadily getting worse over time, and I wouldn't be surprised it's more than a clutch cylinder issue. Anybody have thoughts on what I said about the oil?

    When I got home today, there was a message from the dealer (too late to call them back). They're asking if I would authorize them to do a teardown diagnostic, including dropping the transmission. Hopefully (although I wouldn't put it past them) they already checked whether the clutch cylinder was the problem.
     
  20. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #13 Crashton, Jan 12, 2015
    I wish you good luck. :fingerscrossed:
     
Page 1 of 2