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Does anyone have statistics on the percentage of Midland Gearboxes that have blown? It would be nice to know how many have blown compared to how many MINI's are out there with Midlands.
The thing that concerns me about the 6 speed swap is the extra 40 lb on one corner of the car. If I could a)afford and b) find the parts reasonalbly priced I would be in favor of going with the 5 speed Getrag.
I have the write-up done, but it's under embargo for a future article in a future publication...
If you want a PDF version in the meantime, just PM me!
Here's the basic parts list, not including the tranny, obviously... You may be able to re-use some parts on your car (e.g. the shifter lug) and some parts may be attached to the tranny you source. Also, if you get used output shafts, you will not need the dustcovers - I'd definitely get the lock ring, though.
Transmission Swap OEM Parts List
31-60-7-514-480 Output Shaft – Right (Passenger side)
31-60-7-514-479 Output Shaft – Left (Driver side)
31-60-7-518-257 Dustcover (qty. 2)
31-60-7-518-262 Dustcover
31-60-7-518-264 Lock Ring
31-10-6-773-005 Hex Nut (for output shafts, qty. 2)
12-41-1-517-328 Starter
21-51-7-547-077 Clutch Release Bearing
21-51-6-777-428 Output Cylinder Clutch (slave cylinder)
21-52-6-759-854 Pipe (connects Cooper clutch line to slave)
21-52-6-759-855 Pipe Bracket
22-31-6-754-422 Support Bracket, Transmission
22-11-6-756-599 M12 x 45 bolts for support bracket (qty. 4)
23-11-7-509-737 Bracket, Bowden cable
23-11-7-527-716 Backup Light Switch
In addition, you should source the shifter cables that match your shift lug if you want to replace them...
Does anyone have statistics on the percentage of Midland Gearboxes that have blown? It would be nice to know how many have blown compared to how many MINI's are out there with Midlands.
I'm on my second Midlands, first one was replaced because of cold weather,-45f, issues. The axle seals let go, and I lost tranny fluid very fast, but I was 10 minutes from the dealer, so headed straight there. The Tech knew what was going on just from seeing the fluid dripping out from under the car.
He drained and flushed the tranny, replaced the seals with newer gen. ones, refilled the tranny. A new tranny was ordered, but it was 3 weeks before it came/I could get the car back there. That old tranny worked good as new for those 3 weeks.
The new tranny was NEW, not a rebuild. That happened over 60k miles ago, and my tranny is solid as a rock, and feels better that the Gertag in my wifes 05 Cabrio.
The new tranny was NEW, not a rebuild. That happened over 60k miles ago, and my tranny is solid as a rock, and feels better that the Gertag in my wifes 05 Cabrio.
Mark
I agree with that, I much prefer the shift feel from my Midland compared to the Getrag........now if it will just hang together.
I agree with that, I much prefer the shift feel from my Midland compared to the Getrag........now if it will just hang together.
Amen to that! My Midlands is 4+ years, 28k and feels like it is doing fine. I really do like the feel of this gearbox. Long live (hopefully) our Midlands!
Had a chemical/ spoiled odor--is about the best I can say. It didn't smell good, nor did it smell like any oil or fluid I've smelled anywhere on the MINI.
FWIW, gear oil has a rather foul smell when new.
I helped Paul with the fluid change and don't recall it smelling out of ordinary... it drained into my 8 gal under-lift tank (to be combined with the tranny oil from many MCS's and my TDI's oil...) so no way to check it now...
__________________ "Market research is bunk... the public don't know what they want, it is my job to tell them" - Sir Alec Issigonis
If the tranny is going out and making noise, what kind of noise? And also when driving where would the noise be coming from in respect to the driver's seat (below, in front, etc....)?
__________________
B-B-Bird Bird Bird Bird is the Word!!!
ya 03 mc bought it used the day i drove it off the lot noticed it had groaning noise decelerating in 1st and second now 7000 miles later the noise is present in all 5 gears what would be a fair cost to replace the transmission i feel like the end is inevitable
ya 03 mc bought it used the day i drove it off the lot noticed it had groaning noise decelerating in 1st and second now 7000 miles later the noise is present in all 5 gears what would be a fair cost to replace the transmission i feel like the end is inevitable
I'm sure you can't "save" the tranny at this point, but because it's an inexpensive thing and might help a bit, I'd change the transmission fluid now. Gives you a chance to see what kind of metal filings might be in the tranny, and check the condition of the old fluid. I replaced my fluid at 10,000 miles with Amzoil, and my Midlands shifts smoother than ever.
I drive an 04 MINI Cooper (I believe it's a Midland tranny, built before July of 04 - sorry I can't be more specific, I don't have access to the car) with 60,600 miles. It's been pretty trouble-free until now - just minor issues.
The transmission failed in pretty spectacular fashion. First, I was doing about 40mph on a secondary road when I heard a loud, metallic "Whang!". A quick glance in the rear-view to see the offending road debris, but I didn't spot anything.
She seemed to be driving fine, and there were no gauges showing any problem, so I chalked it up to mystery debris.
About 10 minutes later on a local interstate I thought, "This car in front of me must be smoking pretty badly." I changed lanes to get out of the cloud, but it followed me. "Oh crap!"
I pulled over immediately, and the smoke dissipated. There was an oily streak from the highway leading to my landing spot on the shoulder. My first thought was that the "Whang!" must've punctured my oil pan, and indeed, there was oil leaking out from under the engine. I checked my engine oil dipstick, and it was on the low side of full, so I thanked my lucky stars that I shut her down before she lost enough to damage the engine.
After a tow to the dealer (Global Imports - Atlanta), I picked up a loaner (Kia Spectra) and was told I'd know something today.
Got a call this morning informing me that the transmission was leaking profusely where it mates to the engine, but that they couldn't tell exactly where. In any case, they said, it would require replacement of the transmission. It would cost $4700. Ouch!
I told my advisor (Brandon) that I was disappointed, disconcerted by the news, and finding it hard to swallow this kind of catastrophic failure just 10k past warranty, and could he help. He assured me he would try.
A couple of hours later he phoned back with the news that MINI and Global would cover the parts if I would pay the labor. That put my portion at $1000.
Well, as frustrating as this is, I have to give kudos to Brandon, Global, and MINI for helping out when they didn't have to do anything at all. Everything should be completed by mid-week. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
In what was possibly a warning sign (hindsight and all), in the week leading up to the failure, I had two instances of what I think was a synchro problem shifting from 1st to 2nd. They both happened when trying to shift toward the top end of RPMs. So, who knows?
Sure, it sounds like these transmissions have had their share of failures, but the nature of the internet being what it is, all of us disappointed folk will gather and commiserate. The reliability data from Edmunds on the transmissions for 04 gets a green check, so here's hoping I have better luck this time around.
Resmini, it was for the standard Cooper, but it didn't break down the year, so the results may indeed be skewed by later year transmissions.
Just got my Cooper back, and she's in top form. Shifts are silky smooth like the day I drove off the lot. I hadn't realized how much it had degraded, since it was so gradual.
They confirmed that the housing itself cracked where it connects to the motor. So the failure was pretty hard to believe, but I'm glad in a way, since the synchronization was starting to go.
I had them replace the clutch, too, and that was a good call; I was at about 30% remaining at 60k. That only cost me the parts and a little extra labor.
Μine has 52500km, around 35k miles, and i don't have a problem yet... It is a 2002. I hope it will remain like this....
Ι guess i shoudn't have said anything... My gearbox is having an issue. When i am shifting very fast from 1st gear 7000rpm to second i hear gears rubbing, if u get me... In slow gear changes it is never doing that, neither in low and mid rpm. Is this a sign that my gearbox is going?
But, just know its goin!
I'll hope for the best for ya. 
