Since I took home my R57, I've noticed a slight play or wiggle room whenever the stick shift in any gear including "R". What I mean is that when the stick shift is in any gear, the handle can slide about 0.5 to .75 inches either left or right. It never pops out of gear, even under semi hard driving (I'm still in my break-in period, so I haven't taken it beyond 4500rpm yet).

Hopefully I'm describing this correctly so that it makes sense.

If you have an R57 "S" in standard, do you notice the same wiggle room or play in each gear?

 

I have about the same .5 in mine. My 2 sons each have Civics and they have much more play. I think the play is inherent in a front drive car. There is just too much length in the linkage to be any tighter. I must add that my Mini S has the tightest, smoothest transmission I have ever shifted.

 

There is a little slop in box, but mine feels just like other cars I have driven that had Getrag units.
I'm not complaining, but I would not describe it as 'snick-snack'.

 

I noticed the loose shifter when test driving the showroom floor R57. I just assumed that was the typical slack in the line. As stated above I had a Civic Si and it was every bit as loose or more and i never had an issue. I drove that Si into the ground, autoX and all,with 170k miles before I traded it in.

 

Thanks everone. I was only curious as I don't recall having this play or slope in my older Z3 Coupe. Just wanted to make sure that it wasn't just my Mini

 

I recently discovered that if I pull up on the shift lever it disengages from something below and can be rotated (with leather cover and **** twisting/remaining in place) is this normal??? Sounds like a problem. I was able to lift and twist it back to right orientation, so it must have a spring, etc. to pull back in. Anyone else have this experience?

 

On rear wheel drive cars like the Z3 the transmission is directly below the shifter and the linkage will be tight. On front wheel drive cars with transverse mount engines (like most front wheel drive cars-indluding MINI) the linkage is much more complex and the transmission is pretty far away from the shifter so some slop is inevitable. My '09 convertible S manual has the same play.