Hi all,

I ran across a cheap '03 Mini Cooper with a blown gearbox. I have a Focus SVT currently, so I happen to know that the SVT and Cooper S share the Getrag 285. A quick search tells me I can swap the 03's box for the Getrag and that the SVT gears are lower.

But... I can't figure out if the case/bellhousing/mounts, etc. are the same. Does anyone know if the SVT box is a drop-in unit or drop-in with a bellhousing change?

Thanks for any light you can shed on this.

 

 

Sorry to waste the popcorn, but there doesn't seem to be anything to see here (or on the Focus message board). No matter, someone scooped up the Mini before I had a chance at it.

I've got an extra Getrag from my car sitting in my garage. If anyone in Chicago has a Mini box sitting around, I'd be happy to bring mine over and compare them side to side. It seems like it would be useful to know if they're interchangeable.

 

It would be interesting to know. Maybe just a picture of a MINI gearbox bell housing would answer your question?

 

you ever figure this out?

 

They have different bell housings. The internals are basically the same though. Getrag and Ford worked together to make the 285 work with their engines, so they changed a few things around, the bell housing included. But the answer is no, they aren't the same.