Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S Mini hacks gave me a transmission metal confetti party

Discussion in 'Tuning and Performance' started by sim1drives, Sep 19, 2011.

  1. sim1drives

    sim1drives New Member

    Sep 2, 2011
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    So I just bought my '03 r53.........clutch went out :( replaced it.... however other problems have cropped up. Normally I would have taken the time to look for a mini specialist, but I was in a bind, and took a gamble on a mechanic that was recommended and (they lied and said they were Bavarian specialists). A mini certified specialist inspected my car today and caught and fixed most of the issues in my car. My transmission was bone DRY!!! Is it possible when clutch work was being done, for a transmission to get damaged ( ie major leaks) My tranny WAS not leaking before being taken to the mechanic. Now I have a significant leak. Numerous things were found, my engine hose was disconnected and sucking pure unfiltered air, a missing heat shield, missing various bolts and nuts. and parts of my front end were re-assembled wrong and loose! help! This mechanic is a living, walking crime. I was anxious to do my own repairs (minimal ones, that is) and now I know I would have done a better job than him.

    So the problem was identified:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    look closely at the last one, it just isnt right, and there was a ton more but you get the idea...

    Stuff found wrong:
    • Air intake hose, poorly attached and misaligned with wrong type of metal adapter, allowing pure unfiltered air directly into the engine.
    • Missing heat shields, plastic clips for holding hoses in place are broken
    • 4 out of 8 bell housing bolts on transmission missing
    • Top starter bolt not installed
    • Reverse light switch found broken, and laying up under airbox
    • A/C line mounted by compressor instead of framesail
    • Bracket off throttle body missing
    • Wiring harness not mounted in place
    • Front right passenger’s side control arm not tightened enough
    and those were just the major highlights. after 10+ screws, bolts, & brackets stopped counting.

    There was knocking ( which was a loose control arm that needed to be tightened in my right side central-ish front end area) My new mechanic fixed it with a screwdriver ( who woulda thunk?) The hack tried to tell me it was a strut noise
     

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  2. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
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    Hi..welcome to MA :D You need to post where you are from so we can find a MINI mechanic for you. Or you can go into the "club" area and post in a area you are from. Yea a lot of people say they can work on a MINI and then you find out they haven't a clue :crazy:
     
  3. sim1drives

    sim1drives New Member

    Sep 2, 2011
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    thank you!

    I actually found Way Motor Works, luckily. Which is basically the mechanic that resuscitated my car from certain death. So far, that shop is awesome & very knowledgeable
     
  4. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
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    Your in good hands with Way :Thumbsup:
     
  5. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

    Apr 23, 2010
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    Whenever I come across something I can't do I take my car to way. He's the only person I trust with my MINI. even if its almost an hour drive to get to him it's worth it. Your definitely in good hands now :Thumbsup:

    So did you end up having to get a new transmission? or were you able to get a new bell housing?
     
  6. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    Apr 23, 2009
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    I had a similar experience once though my hack didn't get the chance to mess up nearly as much of my MINI. Unless you can get a strong recommendation in advance there's no way to know for sure what you're getting yourself into, and there isn't always a nearby shop with MINI-specific experience. Besides, every good MINI shop had to start somewhere with zero reputation re these particular cars. Sucks to be the guinea pig though, esp. given the odds your MINI will end up the victim of a hack job.

    You found a good shop now, better late than never eh?

    Welcome to the site!
     
  7. Johngo

    Johngo New Member
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  8. sim1drives

    sim1drives New Member

    Sep 2, 2011
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    new transmission. I get her back tomorrow, I'm so excited. I bought the car a month ago and its been in the shop for 3+ weeks! It always helps when your mechanic loves the cars they work on, like a musician would never break an instrument!
     
  9. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    May 6, 2009
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    Are you sure about that?

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTEza7Y4hUo]Jimi Hendrix burns and smashes his guitar- Wild thing live at Monterey - YouTube[/ame]

    Jim
     
  10. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

    Apr 23, 2010
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    I actually was at way's this evening picking up some parts and saw your transmission laying on the floor. I also saw them pulling your car out of the shop.

    I'm kind of baffled by how the other guys managed to mess it up that bad. I've personally have done the clutch on my MINI with no lift and didn't end up with results like that.

    Either way I bet you can't wait to drive her. I know whenever my MINI is down I die a little inside. I can't stand driving anything else.
     
  11. Way Motor Works

    Way Motor Works New Member

    May 4, 2009
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    Good news is we got it all done tonight and it drives fine now. And we even put in some new powerflex control arm bushings.

    This is a sad story, as people like this give us mechanics bad names. I wish I would have video taped these rednecks when they came into the shop. They didn't really have much to say when we told them all the things they put together wrong, or should I say didn't put together.
     
  12. docv

    docv Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2009
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    Kudos to the OP and not getting megga PO'ed and totally giving up on his new to him MINI, now that Way has you up and running it time to get the fun out of the car that you deserve.. enjoy
     
  13. sim1drives

    sim1drives New Member

    Sep 2, 2011
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    She drives......AWESOME!! no weird sounds, its nice not to have to drive tense, and irritated. I was able to finally able to do all of my resets as well. Next step, car wash!
     
  14. maacodale

    maacodale Club Coordinator

    May 7, 2009
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    Way is most definitely the go to guy in your neck of the woods! It's gonna be right when ya get it back. Way doesn't do anything less! Wish he would relocate to SE VA!
     

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