What about the special tools? The dealer wanted well over $500 just for the 4 tools mentioned in the guide. Anyone have some I can borrow? Are they necessary? I mean, is there a different way to align the clutch instead of their $165 alignment tool?

I've never done any of this before and just find it odd that I'd need a special tool to align a clutch - doesn't it just fit?

Anyway... anyone have the tools they got for their project? Wanna loan them out? I'd pay shipping obviously.

 

know i'm really late to this party, but this is a good guide. anyone have any idea how feasible it is to swap out an ecotronic for a getrag? love my CVT, but in about four years, i will need modding potential, and a getrag manual is just better to mod with than a ZF CVT. not to mention this swap won't cost me much more than a new CVT, god forbid i pwn mine in the next few years (it has over 100k miles on it), if it's at all reasonably possible.

 

Hi everyone,

I have a 2004 mini cooper I'm not planning on racing my mini but sometimes I have a heavy right foot. Right now I have a shattered tranny due to running over a large pot hole now I'm leaning toward the 6 speed conversion due to its durability my question is do I need to buy a aftermarket clutch and flywheel to do this swap or I can pretty much use whatever parts that will come out of cooper S. I have about 4k in funds is that sufficient enough to do the swap? I live about 2 minutes from the junkyard here in San Diego CA. Thanks in advance.

 

You can use the MCS oem clutch and flywheel, but it's kinda heavy for a
cooper (28# vs 18# for MC oem flywheel), so I'd suggest an aftermarket flywheel/clutch.

 

That makes a lot of sense 10# will rob a lot of power on a stock motor do you recommend after market that's affordable?

 

I believe a lot of people use Clutchmaster (fx100 or fx200) clutch and lighter
flywheel. I think they're about $900-$1000 for both from several NAM vendors.

 

Thanks

 

$4000 should be enough to do it all. You should be able to get a clutch/fly for less than $900... I think I spent close to $500 for both (Spec brand) from Outmotoring (I think).

And I've got the OEM ones from an S if you decide you want to use them.

 

Yes I'd suggest getting the lightweight flywheel clutch kit. Since you have a cooper anything to help it rev better is good.

Also I have a 04 Cooper S I'm parting out if someone needs conversion parts. Including trans and motor.

 

rev better is an understatement. When i got in my car with the lightweight flywheel and the FX200 kit, and the engine revved. I literallly stopped and went WTF?!?!?!? and revved it for liek 20 seconds
up and down
up and down
and i was just perplexed at it.
ITS AMAZING!
just wish i had had the money for the quaife...

 

My 2002 justa has the 5 speed Midland that is now making noises like something is about to blow. It has always felt like it should have another gear for freeway cruising. A year or two on from the start of this thread is the general opinion still that it is worth upgrading to the 6 speed getrag?

 

Well I dunno about the general opinion but imho it is definitely worth it, especially if you can find a restyling 6 speed, which has shorter gears. I'm planning to start searching the needed parts for the swap after the summer.

 

It is absolutely worth it. I did my own labor though so that helped. I figured I'd put in a transmission that wouldn't ever break again. Another Midlands... who knows how long it will last - I think I was lucky it lasted 113K. It was hard to swallow, but in the end I'm glad I did it. I'd like the shorter gears of the later Getrag, but I also really like the lower RPM at speed of the older ones.

 

OK, so I have a r50 with approx. 80k miles. Bought it off my uncle knowing that the cvt tranny would need to be addressed. I searched for other automatic trannys with the similiar mounts but had no luck. Here's my question, I want to know if I can swap out my cvt for a manual tranny and if so how much the cost will be. The way i see it, a new cvt is about 8k and will definitely not last. If the swap is less or equal to 8k seems like it would be worth it for a more reliable transmission that will last longer. Please point me in the right direction, I won't be doing the work myself so of course it's going to cost me but I need to know which option is the best. Thanks

 

First, you'd need the transmission and all accessories. Figure maybe 2-4000 for those parts (not new). Then you'll need a clutch pedal and stuff. I have no idea how you'd do all that.
Good luck. Sorry I can't be more help. Def post back if you get more info.

 

does anybody have this pdf they could send me? the link is broken for the original!

 

pm sent.

 

NOOOOOOOooooooo!!!!!!!
Interesting, the URL int he 1st post resolves to WayMotorWorks now. I wonder if it's just a broken link or if it's just not avail anymore?

 

Could you also send me that PDF? I'd appreciate it.

 

I could use the guide aswell. I am a professional mechanic just getting started on mini. I'm doing an 04 Cooper s clutch. I wouldn't mind specializing in Mini since there are so many here in the sf bay area. So far I'm just getting started. I am pulling engine/ trans together instead of taking trans alone. Seems easier than dropping the sub frame and dealing with the steering rack.
Got the Valeo clutch kit and flywheel.
I'll update with some pics tomorrow.
Please pm me the guide thank you very much.

 

Here is a pic of the power train ready to drop

 

Ok thats better

 

Have any of you guys had problems inserting the drivers side axle shaft (half shaf) Im having a hard time getting the Shaft inserted past the C-Clip

 

According to pelicanparts, the Getrag 5-speed is 73.7#,
the Getrag 6-speed is 104.5#, but couldn't find a weight
for the Midlands to compare - not sure if this is shipping
weight or actual weight.
According to my old outdated ETK, the Midlands is 33.5 kg
which is also 73.7#, but couldn't find weights for the
Getrags there.

 

Found weights on all of them on one site: www.penskeparts.com
Getrag 6 speed 105.82#
Getrag 5 speed 73.85#
Midlands 5 speed 72.75#