What is involved, and what are the results?

 

Yes, Can be done and has been done.

Trouble is you need someone that is competent and knows MINI transmissions. Otherwise you're looking at double the labor costs.
And in your area there may not be many choices.

Here are the parts cost-
http://helix13.com/mini/products/suspension-chasis
Lowered Final Drive Gears HMS 7010 Lowered Final Drive Gears $1699.00 Quantity Imported from MINI Sport in England, one of the leading racing preparation shops, this king gear and pair of pinions loweres the final drive ratio of the Getrag 6 speed gearbox. It uses straight cut gears so the car is a little louder with that race-car whine. The result is very impressive on pre 2005 cars: the acceleration is ferocious, especially in the lowered gear. We installed this kit in a well-modified 2003 and the car is without a doubt the quickest non turbo car we have driven. The limiting factor is traction, not power. For more details on installation, and gear ratios, please call the shop.

and while you are doing that install you can also add a differential for more traction-

Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing Differential HMS 7001 Quaife MINI Cooper S R53 2002-2006 $1195.00 Please call to order HMS 7002 Quaife MINI Cooper $1170.00 Please call to order This A.T.B. differential enables your MINI to put the power to the ground in nearly all conditions. The Quaife unique design offers maximum traction, improves handling and steering, and puts the power where it is needed most. A definite advantage whether on the track or on the street. All Quaife A.T.B. differentials have a lifetime warranty.


So now that adds up quickly.
Lowered gearing $1699 plus shipping
Quaife for MCS $1195 plus shipping
Plus a few other parts for installation, bearings and transmission sealant $60-80
Plus labor for entire installation: runs from about $700 to $1600.
Also you can change the clutch and flywheel for the same labor essentially.
Stock clutch is more quiet and easy to engage but less durable for performance driving. Lightweight clutch is noisier but more responsive.
Clutch and flywheel upgrades are optional adds another $700-900+
http://www.revolutionmini.com/clutches.html

To me, I'd do the other mods discussed than to go this expensive route.
15% upgraded pulley $400
colder plugs
RMW tune with dyno $350 plus $100
If after that you still not satisfied then maybe lowered gearing.

Also don't you have stock suspension? Upgrades to suspension usually preceed lowered gearing.
Consider Koni FSD for about $630 a set front and rear shocks.
Works with stock springs and keeps your stock ride height.
Self adjusts for your driving whether on the street or for performance.
Adjustable rear swaybar also good, 19mm or 22mm is OK. Three hole 19mm set to middle setting is likely to work for you. About $220

 

MINIHUNE, You give the best info! I wouldn't have even thought of the newer geared tranny as an mod option. Someone mentioned it regarding my other recent post about Mods vs JCW. I don't seem able to find anything with much ease with the NAM search, thus this post. I have a tendency to want to know as many options as possible. Sometimes I think it is so I can be completely confused! In this case I wanted to know the hows and what ifs. As I said, this mod is totally a new concept to me. I'm not planning to jump in headfirst on a tranny. Mostly just curiosity on my part. Now the 15% pulley, that is definitely on my short list for this year. And with RMW working on remote tunes that may be possible too.

Thank you so much for taking time to respond to my questions!

 

I agree with Minihune. My plan is also get even with stock JCW or even exceed the HP/TQ. I might get a 380cc injector soon. From inputs of fellow NAMers, it looks like that RMW tune is all I need based on my current mods (see my sig).

 

I've converted about 4 or 5 02's to the newer gearbox. It's really simple. It just bolts in like the original one. Will get costly as we've always put in a lightweight flywheel and a quafie at the same time.

 

I may be thinking about a different swap, but I remember something about the cruise control only working in 4th gear afterward (possibly because the car's computer gets confused by the change in wheelspeed/engine speed relationship because of the different gears in the new transmission?)

 

Is a pre 05 (02) tranny ever an advantage in any case? I have looked into this as well. Im just waiting for my clutch to wear out.

 

Anybody on the west coast that's done this several times and know what they're doing?
I drove a local GP and loved the gear ratios, even did some research on a '05 tranny from a wreck that has a OEM LSD. I know its not as good as a Quaide LSD but I might do this when or soon after the whole engine upgrade.

 

Call Danny at MiniCorsa. He can do it and his labor rates are the best.

LB

 

I had it done a while back and the cruise control only works in 3rd.

 

Thanks for posting - it's entirely possible that it was your experience I was remembering, I just got the gear wrong. Did you post about it here on NAM? I haven't had any luck finding the thread I was remembering.

 

Ya I asked the question a while back when I finally got fed up with only having 3rd gear for cruise control . Someone suggested asking Dinan about it because they did the same swap in their test car. I asked them about it and they said the same thing, "Yaaa we got our cruise control to work....but only in 3rd gear!"
What you said about the wheelspin/ engine speed relationship was spot on too.