Has anyone ever had trouble with 1st gear? I occasionally have trouble getting it into 1st. Most of the time it is fine, but sometimes it won't engage all the way and just stops at that first "bump", and other times it grinds like the clutch isn't all the way in, when the clutch is all the way to the floor.

Maybe my Mini just likes to go fast...1st gear is just too slow for her

 

minigirl78 , it could be the first signs of a problem with the clutch hydraulics .
Check the fluid level . If it is full it is pushing past the seals internally in one of the cylinders .

 

Thanks Chilli...I'll have my car guy take a look.

 

You are welcome . Hope Gidget feels better soon .

 

It sounds like the Sincro's to me. Is the grinding coming from the trans or car you feel a vibration in the shifter?

 

I can feel it in the shifter the same way you would if you tried to shift and the clutch wasn't all the way in.

 

If it were a clutch problem It wouldn't be limited to first gear. It could be a pilot bearing but probably the syncro's. Have you tried starting in 2nd and seeing if it has the same problem?

 

Yes, I can start in 2nd, and I don't have the same problem, it's only when going into 1st.

 

Definitely sounds like a syncro issue. My old MX-3 had this problem and rather than fix it I just let off of the clutch ever so slightly to get it to engage easily. Worked for me but if your car is under warranty I'd make mini fix it.

 

Thanks so much for everyone's help! I just want to keep my Gidget healthy, so we can play together all the time!