Guys, I bought an '02 R50 5-speed about a month and a half ago. Long story short, the car has a vibration under power that is mostly felt in 2nd gear, sometimes in 1st and 3rd, feel it more when it's under load (either cornering or uphill). The Ford dealership I bought the car from replaced the front left axle because the CV boot was slinging grease. The vibration was still there, so I took the car to the local mini dealership and they said that that's a "normal" vibration for '02 mini's. Does anyone else experience this? I can't imagine that this can be considered normal. Any ideas?

 

We do get a vibration/buzz in the driver's side dash under hard acceleration, but nothing that you really feel that much. Or maybe we're just used to over the last 7 1/2 years.

It is only under hard acceleration, though.

Been that way since new in April '02.

 

No buzz or vibration on mine like you describe. 2002 MC, bone stock, 89,000 miles.

 

When my 02 MC started vibrating I had to replace the RIGHT front axle as there was a lot of play in the CV joint. Had about 85K miles at the time. That took care of it and then I sold it.

 

my MC started vibrating too.
but that was at 57k i think. close to 60k.
turns out, it was my left front axle.

like it would vibrate violently when i accelerat at 50+ mph, si i was like wtffff.
it maybe a MINI thing, but still, what does it take to break a front axle??

 

Ours does that. My mechanic thinks it is the right front axle, but I haven't tried to fix it yet.

 

No vibration on mine @ 61000 miles smooth through all 5 gears.

 

I have a whine/vibration in 1st thru 3rd gear, works fine though. We bought the Mini about 6 weeks ago, with the idea that the tranny may be in trouble, but other than noise, there haven't been any issues. I have ruled out the CVs since the sound/vibration goes away as soon as it is in 4th or 5th. I know I have read that the 5spd in the early R50s are a ticking time bomb, and basically will need work long before it should.