Hi guys, i am looking for a part immediatelly, since there is zero availability even at Germany, and they tell me to wait until the end of May to get it!!!!! I ask the guys here because i know there are many that swapped to 6 speed gearbox and may have the part laying around. The part that i am looking for is a bowden cable, it's part number is 25 11 7 515 455 and it is the number 6 in the diagram in the link : http://minifans.info/original/R50/Co...5/ill-25_0386/ . Please let me know if anybody has it!!

 

So you're looking for a shift cable (in laymens terms), right? According to the diagram, #6 looks like a shift cable. Is that what a "Bowden Cable" is? I wondered.

I'm doing the Getrag swap this week. I'll probably be taking it off to replace with the S ones. If so you can get it.

I'll PM you.

 

I'm not sure replacing the bowden cables is needed in the swap to be honest, they do seem the same between S and non-S models from realoem, at least that is what I remember from my research on the matter. But I might be mistaken and besides, when you tear the trnany apart for a swap, a pair of new bowden cables is not going to make a big difference so it's still better to change them anyway.

 

You do need MCS shifter cables for sure. I know...I went through 2 Cooper ones cause I thought (and told by many) there were no differences. And btw Nick....I threw my cables away. Those were expendable parts I didnt want in my garage...sorry.

 

I've thought of doing a 6 speed swap into my 06 Cooper. Can you guys give me a quick overview of your thoughts on it? How gard was it? What are the benefits? I'm assuming better fuel mileage, how is the power delivery? I work for a MINI dealership, so I could probably come across a tranny somehow.
Thanks for your input.

 

In the middle of the swap. I'll let you know

 

If they're the same length (which TX Speedwerks seemed to verify) and the ends are the same, the ONLY difference would be routing and that can be adjusted.

Well, I'll find out soon enough. I'm in the middle (exactly the middle, old stuff out - new stuff about to go in) of the swap now. I haven't pulled my old cables out yet. Hoping they work. If not, I'll have to pull them and insert S ones. I'll let you know!

 

Surely more than 2 people on here have done it (Tx speedwerks and UKSUV). Any more opinions or did everyone replace them (have to or just did)?

 

Benefits? Much less risk of breaking it (even the Getrag 5 speed of your 06 cooper can have problems), shorter gears so better acceleration + a sixth speed which you can use on the highway and travel on very low rpms thus probably saving fuel, and of course it is a must if you plan to upgrade your engine considerably, because the Midland and 5sp Getrag won't be able to handle more than 150hp at the crank (the Midland even less). I still haven't done it so I can't be more precise though, sorry.

I checked on realoem and the part numbers are different so I think UKSUV is right and they need to be replaced.

 

Well I looked at cables last night. The length of one is off by about 1 or 1.5 inches

 

You mean compared to what the realoem says? Can i have some pics please? I only want to see if the ends are the same with mine. Thanks a lot for the help.

Btw, i bought a used cable i found (the only one i could source), looked the same. Put it on the car, and it wouldn't work right... The selector was not ok, the neutral was at the place the 4rth gear should be.

 

I KNOW Im right because I had dealt with the inevitable for over a week or so thinking that I could fix a failing problem. With my Cooper cables installed...I couldnt get 3-6 gear and the shifter sat funny when supposedly in "N". So...hence...like I said....and I KNOW THIS cause I did the swap....change the cables....

 

As you can see in the other thread, I did change the cables and I've got a pic (I'll post later) of the lengths. It's a shame they couldn't make them the same length.

 

I noticed there is another thread on this topic. Sorry to have posted the question here. The benefits are slim at best. I understand the attracion to it. The 5 speed would actually be better for acceleration I believe as you would be spending less time shifting (you never see drag racers asking for more gears... right?) With the amount of money you would spend on a 6 speed transmission and install I'm guessing you could buy more than a few gallons of gas. I understand doing it if you plan to seriously upgrade the engine. (why not just start with a Cooper S at that point?) I'm not turning on my Cooper friends, I've had 2 S's and I prefer a Cooper.

If anybody is looking for an aFe intake for a Cooper I have one that I can't use. I bought it used here and I believe it cam from a 2003. The heat shield won't work with my 2006.

 

Well, this is off-topic, but the reason I did it was so I'd never have to do it again. I don't race or anything and mine went. If it went once, it could go again. The Getrag should last forever and I won't have to pull it apart in another 50K miles.

It's also nice to have the 6-spd on the highway - for sound AND mileage.

 

The problem with this theory is that the gear ratios on the 5speed are too long, so you actually accelerate better with the 6sp

 

The best aceleration in a n/a car, comes from a really close ratio gearbox. The Midland is not only the weak point in reliability, but also in performance! The pre facelift 6 speed is also no good, but the facelift 6 speed is ideal

 

Did you ever get the cable?

 

No, i never got a new cable... The car was in the workshop for more than 20 days, and still there wasn't a new part available.. finally, after a lot of search, i managed to find a used one.

Exactly the same thing, happened with the engine mount. It failed, i ordered the part, and... THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AGAIN. I waited for 2 months!!! And you know what happened? The mount i got was not the same with the stock!!!!!! The stock has a lug up and down, while the updated part had a lug only on the upper side... and if u want to replace it, you have to drill the chassis, and put a 110mm bolt under to tighten it.

 

Something was definitely weird on the motor mounts on the 02 models. I had the 5 speed swapped for a Getrag 6 speed. I have the cables from my 5 speed left over if you know anyone that needs them. I had to use the 6 speed cables and my engine mount was shot. My guys have never seen that type of mount before and my local Mini dealer was clueless as what to do. They ended up drilling it out and doing the same as yours.

 

Nothing wiward... just poor product support i would say... There is an instruction in the TIS on how to replace the mount. The old mount was produced until 01/2004, then the updated part came. You can check this in the ETK. I have a photo in my camera, the two mounts, i'll post it soon.

 

I didnt have a problem swapping mounts. Mine was cored out so I took Kalbones new one from his S and swapped it out.....looked the same...

 

When i send the pics, you'll be convinced

What construction date is your Cooper? Did you get a new or used mount?

 

On the left is the updated part, right the one that was on the car since it's production. The lower part of the updated will not fit without drilling the thread on the chassis.