R50 Gearbox MINI one R50

I have a 2005 with the 5speed Getrag, it’s very robust......but it now has a new problem: getting axles! These axles are different from the Midlands and the CVT and the S’s 6 speed! And now there are no new oem MINI R50 Getrag axles, only rebuilt ones or new after market ones(these have had mixed reviews!) After 166,000 miles, I am considering swapping to a 6 speed......but as mentioned above, it requires a number of additional parts, clutch, axles, gear lever/changer, and more. This 6 speed option does allow the ability to install a limited slip differential too! Kinda helpful, but with our stock power, not nearly as helpful as with an S!

 

I put a 6-speed and Quaife LSD in my
2003 R50 about 7 years ago when my
Midlands gave up the ghost. Lost the
car 2 years ago to an accident but i
loved it while I had it. Both the Getrag
5-speed and the Getrag 6-speed require
the same plethora of other required
additional parts to do the swap, so the
cost difference is just the difference
between the two transmissions, and
although th 5-speed is perfectly adequate
for the R50 (unlike the Midlands), the
6-speed is much more robustly built.
I used the Valeo clutch and flywheel kit
which is a good bit less expensive than
the oem dual mass flywheel and clutch,
and a pound or twolighter as well.
The 6-speed flywheel is about 50% heavier
than the 5-speed, but that does make it super
easy to launch. I would get the later 6-speed
(2004-5) as it has quicker gears ratios
compared to the older ones and that works
better with the lower powered R50.

 

Sorry about you loosing your R50. Most R50 owners regret not still having their’s. How did the Quaife work out for you? I have determined that with the 126 hp, it wouldn’t be that beneficial...for example on the Dragon, I only think it would help on 4 corners of the 318. (On those corners I need to modulate the throttle to keep inside wheel from spinning). But would be very interested to hear your take?

When I performance drive my R50 on the autox, track or Dragon, I treat the throttle as a light switch: either full throttle or completely off, no modulation! Lol. I have almost finished restoring dad’s old race car(1974 Datsun 240Z full road race car with 300 hp and less than 2000 pounds!) this should be an interesting adjustment for me. We will see if I can really drive or not! Lol

 

The Quaife helped mainly in snow, wet, gravel, etc.

 

Here is your solution to better than OEM axles. Built right with the highest quality, perfect fit and cheaper than a pair OEM axles.

Here is a link to the post on M/A 6 years ago, so the parts last.

https://www.motoringalliance.com/threads/rmw-custom-driveshafts-group-buy.21845/#ixzz337nTYTXd

The Driveshaft shop axles are not worth the money and all the rebuilt ones use ver cheap parts that fail.

Lots of people with R50’s and other MINIs like “S” , JCW’s, GP’s and high HP modded cars run them including me.

Factory replacement axles that handle more power than the stock. Great for your track day Mini or daily driver.

http://store-revolutionmini-com.3dcartstores.com/RMW-500whp-axles_p_75.html

 

Dave, I get what you are saying, but not sure this shop makes R50 axles. At least I don’t see anything for R50, let alone R50 Getrag, I wish they did, I would buy them in a second!

 

Thanks for your input!

 

Contact JAN on his page. He has parts that are not listed on the website. I am sure he could have them made for you.

 

Thanks for the tip. I’ve chatted with Jan a few times. Sadly, R50’s are not that popular performance cars.

 

What did you end up doing to get the clutch wires? I got a engine wire harness from a manual and computer but what about the under dash wiring?

 

Welcome to Motoring Alliance !!

 

I have a 2004 mini base car with a cvt that went out that we got a donor cars midland 5 with engine harness and computer out of same year. Just unsure of getting it to start will it function with just new used engine harness and computer and how would I wire in the wires that go to clutch pedal so car only starts when pedal on pressed?