I recently bought a 2003 Mini Cooper S with 18,000 miles on it. The gear box has lately become hard to operate. The dealer (Patrick Mini in Schaumburg, IL first tried to lubricate the cables; it has helpful, but this "fix" did not last long. Patrick is now offering to replace the gearbox, but I have to pay for the labor, estimated at 10 hours @ $ 100 per hour or $ 1000. I am told the regional VP is the one who decides this kind of thing.
Does anyone have a related experience?
Ole

 

Hmmm...mine feels loose in 4th and stiff shifting into 2nd and 5th.

Depending on where you live I can put you in touch with my dude here in the northern burbs. Message me if you're interested.

 

If your shifter feels loose I would check your bushings. But as far as the stiff shifting my 03 hasn't had a problem but I run Royal Purple's equivalent to the stock fluid. As far as who decides you could be right I have no idea, but I would try the fluid change first and then if that doesn't fix it you may have to replace the trans. sorry

 

Wasn't there a TSB on 03 shifter cables?

 

yeah i have a feeling its the bushings.

since i'm not the original owner, i'm sure 4th gear has seen plenty of down shifting use...

 

Yeah I see that happen a lot here at work, you should see some of the shifters. They are in gear and you can slop them around it looks like they could be in any gear... it's insane.

As for the bulletin I have access to alldata here at work and I looked it up. The only thing I could find
was a bulletin for the cables being stiff in low ambient temperatures. Basically moisture buildup and it freezing which could happen in any car to tell you the truth.