I recently purchased a 2007 Mini Cooper (my first) with a 6 speed manual transmission. It is approaching 71,000 miles on the odometer. I'm having problems shifting into second gear -- first to second, and third to second gears. Some days it might just happen a couple times or not at all, other days I'm sure I'm grinding all the teeth off the gears. I'm sure that the following questions are probably not giving enough information, and, at 74 years old, I don't mind being told that, but I need to start somewhere:

Question No. 1: What are the probable causes?

Question No. 2: I'm assuming that the Mini transmissions have gotten better since 2007. Can any of these be easily adapted to the 2007?

Texas Tinyhead

 

I have a Mini Cooper 2007 6 speed manual thats done 36,000k. Ive just had the transmission fluid changed, even though it says dont change oil.
It now changes alot easier and is very smooth. This is the first thing I would try..