Let's talk about installing a 6 speed Getrag into a Cooper with a CVT. Today my dealer told me I need a new CVT transmission at a cost of $7600.00 So I'm looking at my options. After some searching I could not find any good information on this subject. Seems when the question comes up it is dismissed as too expensive. Well I know $7600.00 is expensive so what about this conversion? I read the Getrag swap article in Issue#2 of the NAMA Magazine and that is something I can do. So does anyone have any info on getting rid of the CVT and putting in a 6 speed?

 

If your car is currently down and you need to do this ASAP, then give TSW a call and ask them about it. They have done the 5spd to 6spd swaps and have probably worked on a few cars with cvt's. If it is at all possible, it would probably cost much less than $7600!

 

I would love to know if this was possible!

Art

 

This was looked into more by myself and Danny of MINICorsa. The biggest stumbling block is getting the car programed and the different wiring harness. Not to mention the cost involved.

If you think you can do the work I'd be looking at wrecking yards for a cvt with few miles on it.

General Auto Recycling USA-RI(Tiverton) Request_Quote 1-800-556-7316 has one with 37k on it for 3600 bucks

Found with Car-part.com

 

I think it is very possible. After briefly trading e-mails with Scott at Texas Speedwerks and looking at part differences between CVT and manual I came to the same conclusion as gnatster did above, the ECU may present a problem. Since I haven't spent enough time to understand the differences of a CVT vs manual ECU I can't really be sure. Scott did a great job on a article in the 2nd issue of the NAMA magazine. That article covers the changing of a 5 speed to a 6 speed so the CVT change out would be similar, but more parts are involved. This would be a project that will require alot of part research first and a plan that you know would work.
Every time I read a posting about this subject there is always the "cost" factor that gets thrown around. "It costs too much". That would be true if you wanted to change the CVT just for the sake of change. But, when you get a estimate of $7613.00 plus tax to replace your dying CVT that tends to get your mind moving and looking for options. I was lucky this time, first the MINI dealer called me the next day and volunteered to split the bill with me. That was still too much money and I felt that a change to a 6 speed could be done for less, as long as I do the labor. I called my service manager yesterday, I've known him since I bought the car in 2003 and he is the most helpful person I have ever met at a car dealership, we neogotiated a price around $1600.00. Knowing that a good used Getrag 6 speed woud cost me that much or more the decision was made to let MINI put in another CVT. This buys me some time to check my parts list, make a plan to swap it out, and get the best price I can on the parts needed. No rush, no pressure.

I could just trade it in afterwards, most people would, but I like my R50 and plan on keeping it.

 

Very cool. I'm shocked to hear you're getting that kind of cooperation from a MINI dealer though.

 

I have a parts listing that was worked up with Danny of MINICorsa that you can have. Shoot me a PM with your email address.

It will be Monday at the earliest, track weekend for me.

 

I bought a pair of seats for the Mini there. Interesting place to say the least. No setting foot in the yard, they have digital pictures of everything. No haggling and cash only.

-Will

 

im interested in doing this down the road... its good to know that MINICorsa is familiar with it... as they are the Shop SCMM recomends and i would take it too... if i didnt do the work myself.

 

I blew my CVT doing the 1.7 MSR over the weekend. So this would be nice. I'm suprised gnatster wasn't there...I always see his MINI there.

 

Please keep me informed on what you do to get this to work... im very interested in doing the same.

 

i am very interested aswell. i just want to know what i'm looking at when i do mine in the future. thanks.

 

Put me on the "interested" list for this one. Has anyone done the math, ECU issue aside? I have breakdown insurance to 100k but after that, I'm on my own...

Would it be any less difficult to switch to the 6-speed auto?

 

You guys are kidding me right? You think the ECU issue is just a simple plug and play fix? Might as well throw a MCS engine in there while you are at it because the cost would be high and would kinda be a kick in the nuggets not to do it at the same time. If any of you have been following my swap I got alot of my stuff for free and it still was close to 2K. Now, add the cost of the harness...DME and programming and your looking around 4-5K depending on who you know and what your skills are. Plus, you have to think about the clutch master cylinder and related parts and possible drilling of the firewall. I cant remember if there is a dummy hole or not. Sounds more intense then a MCS engine swap. This is one task that I would not want to try and tackle. And I have all the parts for a MCS swap minus engine and interior harness (and I dont want to try it). Have fun with this one. Let me know how it turns out. All I have to say is I really enjoy my 6-speed in the Cooper. Its different.

 

I certainly did not say that. In fact, my question regarding whether or not going from CVT to 6-speed auto would be any easier had precisely to do with some of your points (mainly the clutch install).

However, if someone is in the hole for $7500 to replace a CVT that's just going to go again down the road, I don't think seeking out other options is *that* crazy.

 

Sorry..my points werent really directed to you.. . The BEST option would to go on ebay and get nother CVT. I see them on there alot. But to go to a manual from a CVT usually isnt hard (on older cars). Its the damn electronics. I will do some searching on the BMW forums. Many people have done the swaps and now Im curious on how they did it...

 

Danny of MINICorsa and I looked into the cost of this. I can't find the parts list but I did fine my .txt notes with the totals. Parts cost alone incl a rebuilt 6sp was almost 10K. I talked to the MINI techs I know and they all said it was cheaper to sell the car with the bad transmission and pick up a new used one. The main body wiring harness is different which would entail taking the car apart and putting in a new main harness. Then you have ECU issues since the programming is different and is keyed to a VIN. You'd need a mighty nice dealer to do that reprogam.

We looked at this 6 ways from Sunday, I wanted the parts sale and he wanted to the labor charges but in end we kept coming back to this is not viable swap unless one can get the parts cheap and does the labor themselves and really really wants this done.

Call Danny at MINICorsa, I'd wager he will try and steer you away as well.

 

Here's a link that we found that may be of assistance: Click here. Hope it helps.

 

What about a CVT for a 6-speed auto?

 

Well...like I stated above...might as well throw in a MCS engine too cause everything you listed (besides the TCM) is entailed in the swap. Welcome to my world. I found an interior harness for super cheap but blah. I just got my car running from the 6-speed swap.... And now Im throwing misfire codes.... And I know people who know people who will reprogram to see the enigne swap through...

 

hey if i can get a 6 spd with 14k on it for $1k could this thing be doable in the future?