Hi,

I have an R56 Cooper which I bought in late 2007, when the car was 11-months old. As soon as I bought it
(early 2008) developed a problem that was as follows: when cold the car was not keen (read very difficult) to engage gears 2,4 and 6. Once hot and switched off, (say you left it standing for some time after a good drive) the car could not be "convinced" to engage any gear whatsoever; and I mean impossible. While it was still under the manufacturer's warranty I book it in at my local dealer which diagnosed a bad clutch as the cause of the problem and once the complete clutch was changed under warranty the problem disappeared completely (except a slight, awkward, difficulty to engage 1 gear, felt like you had to put more strength that you really should have).


Come summer 2010, a new problem has reached the surface. When completely cold (stood over night) the gearlever only moves horizontally. Ask it to move vertically and is just stuck there. Nevertheless, once putting some pressure on it it moves into gear. This also happens in the freeway. To be more precise: try to disengage 5th or 6th after a long drive (during which the gearbox spends a long time in these particular gears) and you will find the gearlever stuck there. It only gets unstuck when you pull it (out of 5th and into neutral) or push it (out of 6th) with some force. It is important to mention that the gearbox oil was changed and some oil additives were included (at which point the gearbox operation became really smooth and feather-light and a real joy to use), the clutch secondary/slave cylinder was very slightly leaking and changed for good measure which made the clutch pedal and the shifting more precise and lighter, and the gearbox linkage
(cables and connecting rods) was lubricated, which made the shifting very difficult in terms that it just feels wrong and that you have to put more energy than you really have to engage gear. Nothing changed the early morning gear lever sticking issue or the freeway stuck in high gear.

Any ideas/suggestions from anyone that has experienced anything like that?

P.S. Other than that the car has been a joy to own and drive; bar the runflats that is.

 

Hi! I own a 2003 Cooper S, bought it in May 2010. Today is the second day that I experienced the stuck gear in the early cold morning. I panicked because I've never had this happen before. I don't know if it was caused by the cold temps overnight. Now that you mentioned the clutch, and thinking maybe that is why I have to put more pressure on the pedal; it made sense. I hope this could be fixed because I really love my Mini.

Other than that its fun to drive and cheap on gas.

 

Hi fellow Mini Owner,

Let me just wish to you and to everyone using this site a Happy New Year. With regards to the problems that I had for at least five months now (it only started to creep up in May 2010) I am very happy to report that the stuck in the morning has cured itself during November 2010 and it is still ok. I still have the problem when driving in the motorway though only in a different form; not stuck but very stiff shifting action. Particularly, when driving in one of the top gears (5th or 6th) and try to simultaneously use the brakes and downshift on which occassion the shift lever becomes very stiff and vague to move down, from 5th, or up, from 6th. I will have a specialist have a look given the symptoms and I will update.

Regards,

Chrism