What is the life expectancy of the manual transmission? What kind of maintainence does it require? How about the clutches?

I had a 1979 Chevy Luv and around 60k I have to start adjusting the clutch.

I really know nothing about new manual transmissions so any knowledge is helpful. I am just wondering how it will last compared to the automatic.

Thanks

 

Well, I hope mine will last a long time when I get it...but I will say one thing: you probably don't want to compare the transmission on a 2008 German engineered/English built vehicle to a 29 year old truck.

 

Wow, 29 year old. Seems like yesterday I was buying it. I bought it brand new in 79 for $6100. It ran and ran plus is was fast.

 

My dad had an '81 Chevy Custom Deluxe 10 that he bought used (in 81) for about $4500 with his trade. I was three years old when he bought it, and 27 years old when he sold it for $900. I'd say it had a pretty good R.O.I.

 

so what about the transmission?

 

Oh, it was an automatic. He never had any issues.

 

So a modern tranny these days should last the life of the car. The clutch itself is likely to need replacement in the 80-100K range, depending on how you drive.

Note that first gen Mini's do have a habit of eating a clutch very early in their lifetime. That's nothing but a design defect. It's normally covered under warranty.

 

The German made Getrag manual 6-speed gearbox in the MINI is bulletproof. I have had it in my '05 R53 Cooper S for 3 years, almost 40K miles with zero problems. However, the ächilles heel" of the manual transmission MINIs is the German sourced Luk clutch kit (Clutch disk and flywheel) which seem to have spotty reliability. LuK sources OEM clutch kits to virtually every carmarker on plante earth. I do know some MINI owners have had premature clutch issues (I was one of them requiring full clutch kit replacement at 25K miles under warranty, no questions asked) but others that drive the snot out of their cars have had their factory clutches last 70K-80K miles. Check the Chevy Duramax pickup forums. Owners with manual transmission pickups have experienced problems with the LuK OEM clutches that General Motors installs in these trucks. Again, your experience may vary. The automatic transmission in the current MINI is made by Japanese transmission manufacturer AISIN. Toyota owns 70% of Aisin. These transmissions are used in virtually every Japanese car on the market today and they are very good transmissions. MINI started installing the 6-speed AISIN automatics on the R53 Cooper S model as of January 2005 production, so they have been onboard MINIs for 3 years. The transmission appears to be very solid as well and honestly haven't come accross any serious complaints or reliability issues with the AISIN automatic slushboxes.

 

i'm on my 3rd transmission. i have a 2002 mini cooper 5 spd. the first two had to be replaced due to "Internal failure".

i love my mini SOO much but i will not be buying another. this one will be garaged after i pay it off.

 

sefalese has the midlands... poorly made transmission. the getrag is far more reliable than the midlands 5 speed, sorry Sefalese :(

 

You had the Midland Gears Peugeot derived 5-speed gearbox. It was discontinued on the Cooper model after the 2004 model year in favor of the more durable and reliable Getrag. The Getrag 5-speed in the R50 and R52 has revised gearing ratios.

 

The R56 hardtops (Manual), R55 Clubman (Manual), R52 Cooper S Cabrio (Manual) all come equipped with Getrag 6-speed manuals.

The R56 Hardtop, R55 Clubman and R52 Cooper S (Automatics) come equipped with the AISIN 6-speed slushbox.

R52 Cooper Cabrio (Manual) has the 5-speed Getrag manual transmission. The R52 Cooper Cabrio (Automatic) has the ZF made CVT transmission.

When the current R52 cabrio ends production later this year, both the 5-speed Getrag, ZF CVT and older R52-53 6-speed Getrag manual will be discontinued.

Expect the R57 2009 Cabrio to offer exclusively the Getrag 6-speed manuals and AISIN automatics in both MC and MCS trim levels.


Hope this helps!

 

Both the R53 and R56 have self adjusting clutches. The transmission itself shouldn't need any maintenance at all. Depending on whether you plan on modding your drivetrain at all (Stock HP vs Modded HP) expect between 60k and 150k on the stock clutch. It really depends on how you drive and what you do to your car.

Other people have chimed in about the older Midlands being horrible, and the ZF CVT's being an almost guaranteed failure. Getrag makes great transmissions, they're pretty much bulletproof. AISEN as people have said also makes good transmissions. If you're only concern is reliability, go with the Getrag, it's a LOT more fun. If you're concern lies in other areas (Traffic issues with a manual, etc) then that's a whole different story. I personally think it's a breeze to drive my stick in traffic, and wouldn't drive an auto if someone gave me one.

FWIW, I'm at about 30k right now on my stock clutch with over 100 HP on the stock MCS. I'm probably going to replace it soon to go to a lightened flywheel and a new LSD. I can still drop the clutch at 3.5k rpm's and get it to hook just fine (The tires on the other hand are a different story ).