I have a 2004 Mini Cooper 5-Speed. I bought it five years ago with 74k miles on it. Holy car trouble drama in five years....about $1k a year in non-regular maintenance repairs.


Now I'm faced with a transmission problem. The car was giving me a lot of trouble getting into 1st gear, sometimes I started in 2nd just because it was too hard to get it into 1st. Then getting into Reverse was causing loud grinding. Finally got it in to see what was wrong. First mechanic says you need a new clutch. I was shocked to hear this since there was absolutely no slipping at all. Outside of 1st & Reverse issues, not problems at all.


I googled my issues and learned it could possibly be the slave master and/or hydraulic system. Second mechanic confirmed & $600 later, Mini won't go into reverse at all
Mechanic wants another $800 to take the transmission out to find the problem. I'm feeling so defeated as I really have no choice in the matter. The dang car won't even go into Reverse now.


After getting kind of frustrated with the mechanic, they knocked $400 off....meeting me half way I guess. They suspect it's a bearing or the clutch fork that is bad.


Has anyone else experienced this with the 2004 Mini Cooper Five-Speed? If so, what was the end result?

 

Lots of issues with this transmission over the past few years. I suggest looking at the Midlands forum here in the non-s modifications. Look up Way Motor Works as well. He is very knowledgeable on the car's issues and can help you get it straightened out

 

^This^

I'm assuming the build date is before 7/2004 (Midlands) rather than after 7/2004 (Getrag).

I recently converted from the Midlands 5-speed to the Getrag 6-speed when my 3/2003
transmission bit the dust.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-midlands.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ll-how-to.html

 

"Transmission grinding"... "Would not go into first"..." Had to use second gear starts"...and a shop let you spend $600 checking a master/slave?!
$$shoukd have gone for a transmission swap...do a clutch while in there...CLASSIC failing gearbox.
IMO get a new shop...sounds like your $1000 per year and drama over the last 5 years might be due to a shop learning on your $$.

 

P.S
Anyone ever drain the tranny and look for metal bits?
Clutch fork...maybe.(but anybody look at it?)....but think might be more grasping at straws....master/slave was same.
Let the shop do the diagnosing ..say "it doesn't work" it "does this" then its up to them...
If you say...I think x is causing this, look at it...they are not using THEIR knowledge... They are performing a customer requested action...even if it is 100% wrong, they are going to do it...cause it makes you happy....
Sometimes rolling the dice with "might get lucky fixes" are worse than letting it all ride on "black" at the roulette wheel.....google is useful...but not so much for car repair, IMO it has cost more $$ for folks, just like many forums....if you have the basic skills to fix it us is a help...but if you are paying $$ to get it fixed...mostly a waste.