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Manual Transmission BLOWN - - - THE FIX!!!

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Mini Cooper Forums >> Mini Cooper Vehicles >> 2002-2006 Mini Cooper (R50) >> Manual Transmission BLOWN - - - THE FIX!!!

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Manual Transmission BLOWN - - - THE FIX!!! - 5/21/2008 2:32:43 PM

xwiredtva

Posts: 3
Joined: 5/21/2008
Status: offline

Ok, my mini has had a SHORT life so far. It's been well cared for by two owners (I'm one) and garaged it's entire life (I called and spoke to the original owner - ALWAYS take your stuff out of the CAR!). She was not a happy camper with it either BTW.

After 2 weeks I got it back and had a LONG LONG Talk with the mechanics at the BMW Dealership (Mini USA offered "Good Faith" discount of $500 after a $900 towing charge- IE: More expensive). The one mechanic worked for a Mini dealer in MD. He said his JOB was replacing transmissions, that's all he did (sound like there's a problem?). He said BMW knows the problem, knew of it when they put the Midlands boxes in the car but figured they would last past the warranty long enough to sell the cars and it worked we all got suckered into them. This is also why the 2006+ have 6spd Getrags (same ones used by GM on the SS Cobalt BTW).

He said the ONLY way to keep these from breaking is to change the oil at 7500 miles. Use synthetic and hope for the best. The problem is in the bearings on the shafts. He showed me on mine where it failed. The bearing shreds then the bits get jammed into the gears which causes them to break apart. There not double heat treated gears so they are brittle but strong. Double heat treating would give them some flex which may actually cause them to bend and break up faster.

As for the CVT's when I asked he just laughed. He said every 5k miles change the fluid. Not sure if you can add a oil cooler to the auto's but it's all about the heat deteriorating the oil which causes the system to fail.

So there you go from the horses mouth, change the engine oil change the tranny fluid. Also on new boxes he reco'd changing at 500 then again at 3000 miles.

2006+ don't have transmission problems. He said he never worked on a 2006 or newer unit and he worked for them until Dec 2007.

Also when you replace the tranny replace the mounts too. The BMW dealer actually replaced them at no charge for me as well as the flywheel IF the gears punch a hole on the clutch side of the box itself. The core charge for the tranny is now $1000.

Post #: 1

RE: Manual Transmission BLOWN - - - THE FIX!!! - 6/14/2008 9:25:19 PM

winnie

Posts: 3
Joined: 6/14/2008
Status: offline

The reason why the mechanic hasn''t seen too many 2006 with CVT problem might be because the 2006 models are still fairly new, and have not reached the 50K- 60K miles when most CVT fail. I have been collecting names for a year now for a Class Action suit against MINI USA,a nd have collected quite a few names. We are in process of recruiting a good lawyer now. Next step might be going on a News Channel.

(in reply to xwiredtva)

Post #: 2

RE: Manual Transmission BLOWN - - - THE FIX!!! - 6/17/2008 1:35:11 PM

Adam

Posts: 452
Joined: 3/21/2006
Status: offline

The class action suit has been tried before and BMW stomped it out pretty quickly. Good luck, though.

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(in reply to winnie)

Post #: 3

RE: Manual Transmission BLOWN - - - THE FIX!!! - 6/17/2008 2:25:22 PM

winnie

Posts: 3
Joined: 6/14/2008
Status: offline

I just looked on Google and did not find any pre-existing Class Action on MINI USA. If you could direct me to somewhere on the web in regards to this case (at least which state this was held, and what year it happened), I would very much appreciate it. At least then I can compare that case with the problems the people I am working with are experiencing, to see how BMW won the last case, etc. On the other hand, the complaints against MINI has ben building up on Consumer affairs on line:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/mini.html

THis, if anything, should help us with our case when we fidn a good lawyer.

(in reply to Adam)

Post #: 4

RE: Manual Transmission BLOWN - - - THE FIX!!! - 9/23/2008 6:16:38 PM

jewely66

Posts: 3
Joined: 9/22/2008
Status: offline

Hey Guys,
I was driving my mini home from an hour away and when I pulled into my parking lot I heard a loud pop and no change in the sound of the engine. I still drove it about 10 feet to a parking space, it was still idleing fine for 30 sec. and I turned it off. When I got out I saw a huge puddle of oil I guess and some metal casing peices and a plug on the ground. It is a manuel trans and has about 90,000 miles on it. I was hearing a fluttering noise that I was told was the bearings comming from the front drivers area. Does anyone have a clue what happened? Thank you so much for any wisdom.
Update...damned if it didnt end up being the transmisson case that burst. Count me in on the law suit.

(in reply to winnie)

Post #: 5