As the title says, what are the needed parts to rebuild a Midland gearbox?
http://minifans.info/original/R50/Co...2002/01/mg-23/
This is the link to the Midland gearbox. What should be changed during a rebuild?
Also, could some tell which part is the synchro of the 2nd gear?

 

Realoem.com has better diagrams only due to the fact that the parts names are in there with the Part numbers.

What you need depends on what you've torn up. Bearings and seals for sure, all else just depends on the carnage.

 

Do i need to change all the bearing i can see in those diagrams?

My problem is that the second gear "hits" hard when i am shifting at high rpm!

 

If you are going to go through all of the trouble to get to it and then open it up, you might as well spend a little more money for the rest of the internals. If I were to open up my tranny, I would completely rebuild it. Although theoretically, you only need to replace what has gone bad.

 

I think this is everything...? search for the numbers on pelicanparts.com or realoem.com pelican parts has the parts, realoem has the diagrams etc.

Sincro part numbers here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=23&fg=15

 

Im so glad my synchros werent bad...luckily mine was an easy fix....stoopid shift fork! I would say you could buy mine cause im purchasing a 6-sp....but your pretty far away!

 

Update, that website has the diagrams with the P#s, you just have to click on the diagram and the page will reload with a bigger diagram and the numbers below....Nice site http://minifans.info/original/R50/Co...2002/01/mg-23/

 

How difficult do you think it would be to change the syncros? I am planning on changing everything that bears load...so pretty much everything. The closest I've gotten to getting into a transmission is looking at the diagrams on realoem.

 

Same diagrams as realoem, but it looks better with the black background and the pictures of minis...

 

Let me get my teardown pics from my buddy tonight if he is in town and I will post em up. Trust me...its easy...

 

Thats awesome. That makes me feel much better about knowing that my midlands will fail soon. At least I have another option. I never even considered rebuilding it myself, mainly because I have never even opened one up and places charge so much to work on them.
Any pictures would be great.

 

You guys must have some mechanical ability. I don't even know how to get the tranny out let alone open it up and fix it. But for the $8000 I've been hearing this might be the time I learn from people in this forum who have done so. Is it really that simple to replace/rebuild the Midlands?

 

Yes...it is. And I just bought a 6-speed and have dealings with a MCS/tranny right now. So, if you need to replace anything...this is the way to go....

 

Are you saying it's better to go w/6speed or rebuild the Midlands?

 

The 6 speed is heavier and needs lots of other parts.
In my opinion, the best choice is the Getrag 5 speed, but it's not easy to find, and not going to be cheap!

 

Yes...you will need a few expensive parts to retro a 6-speed...but in my mind its worth every penny...

 

Well...I lost the 5th gear synchro yesterday. It pops out of gear on throttle pushes. Oh well....the 6-speed be on the way!

 

Wouldn't you have to replace the same expensive parts for swapping to a getrag 5spd and 6 spd. I think both swaps involve swapping out the same parts.

 

I have the PDF from TSW. You basically need tranny/mount/clutch slave cylinder and axle shafts. For the most part.

 

I am about to do a clutch and poly bush job on my R50 and see that gearbox internals are available from Mini Mania let alone a rebuilt gearbox.As it's off what's your opinion of rebuilding it at 45k,according to UKSUV it's easy,parts dont look that expensive.

 

I only know of 1 person who swapped for the Mini Mania rebuilt midlands. He had it shipped to the states from overseas, then it blew out after a couple of months. I don't think he is on here anymore, but his username was ranzo. Search for his thread from a while back. The uprated Midlands stuff was only available from minimaniaUK, but I can't seem to find it anymore. I believe the uprated internals are from a peugeot. I guess if you are going to rebuild the internals, you might as well get something stronger than oem. It would probably be more cost effective to just get the internals and rebuild it yourself since you would have to pay for shipping a rebuilt tranny from the UK. You might want to search on MINI2 since there are many more on there in the UK. There are likely a lot more people over there running that transmission.

good luck!

 

As for rebuilding it while you have everything apart, thats a tough one. I want to say you should go ahead and do it since the tranny will be accessible, but at the same time, there are many that have gone over 100k miles without breaking their midlands. You could inadvertantly create problems by digging in there and replacing everything. I would say just wait until it breaks. If it aint broke, don't fix it IMO. BTW, I'm on my second midlands and I have 60k on the current one. It is still running fine (knock on wood!).

 

Thanks for the reply,both the internal parts and the rebuilt gearbox are advertized on Mini Mania,before it was only available out of the UK website,i'm on my second box as well,the first went under warranty at a year and this one has lasted 4 yrs,i tend to agree if it aint broke dont fix it,gonna keep my fingers crossed.At least we've got an option.

 

Hopefully my tranny holds up long enough for someone else to rebuild with those uprated internals! I'd hate to be the first...

 

As far as I know...the "uprated" gearbox is only a stronger welded shaft input or something. TSW has went through 2 or 3 of these "uprated" gearboxes. The Midlands is just garbage. If your gonna spend the money...why not go for a 6-speed anyways?!? I dont get it. I got my tranny for 1100. Flywheel and clutch...400. Misc parts..100 and 1/2 shafts roughly 400 used (1500 if you pay dealer cost. 800 if you have a buddy...LOL). Grand total for me?...2K.... ) Not bad since you will pay more for a Midlands. Or if you dont do a 6-speed....why not throw in a Getrag 5-speed instead of the Midlands if you are die hard 5-speed do-gooders.