What all is entailed in switching out an automatic setup to a manual setup? Besides the obvious of transmission and pedals would there need to be a swap out of wiring harness(es) and instrument cluster and anything else?
Thanks in advance.
MikeB

 

On a gen1 mini there are several guides and many diy threads....
A quick search will be you the info...
But the long and short of it, tons of stuff, and it's usually more $$ than the value if a car...so a labor of love, but not an economic choice....
Changes include CV joints, starter motor, tranny (of course) reprogramming the ecu), the physical interior pats. And lots of little parts..shift interlocks, etc....a totaled car for parts is usually the best option, and lots of diy time....some shops will or have done it....but if you included the parts, and a WEEK or more full time in shop at a couple hundred bucks an hour....it must be a special car for you to "re-buy" it again...

 

As someone who switched an R50 5-speed to a 6-speed, I second the labor of love point. Or labor of obsession.



It's one of those things that while you're in the middle of it, it seems really important and kind of fun. But then once its all done, you add up how much you spent and what you have to show for it, and you see that it would have been better to have sold the old car and bought one that has what you want. But then you have to remind yourself that you were doing it because you wanted to do it, not to save money. Not something you need. But then again, I don't need a Mini at all. I don't really need to have a car. I happen to like it that's all.

So go for it if it sounds like something you'd enjoy. Don't forget to consider alternatives you could have for the same expense and effort as a major transmission retrofit: an LSD, maybe, or complete brake or suspension upgrade. Or several track days.