First off, I have posted about this in a similar thread as well as talked about it in an intro thread that I started. Not trying to spam, just trying to get the question noticed.

Just got an '02 R50 with just under 75k on the clock. Had it checked out by mini of Boston and essentially got the green light (seller did a few repairs but I won't get into that in detail here - related to exhaust).

One issue that I had with the car, and that Mini of Boston was made aware of, is shifting into second was a bit... soft. I don't know how else to explain it. It doesn't grind. It just doesn't pop into second 100% of the times when I pull the shifter down into place. Sometimes it takes a second or third try. Conversely, if I hold it in place (the lever) while lifting my foot off the clutch it sticks in smoothly. The mechanic at Mini of Boston said he had seen this before. In fact, he drive an '04 and it does the same thing. He hasn't bothered to mess with it, but said if I were to do it, gear linkage is where he would look.

Just looking for a bit of input. I am a complete novice when it comes to car repairs, but if there are any diagnostics I could possibly run myself ad perhaps even fix the issue, that would be awesome. Obviously not a deal breaker; i bought the car well below book value and would like to get the shifting at 100% unless it is terribly cost prohibitive.

This community seems awesome. Thanks in advance!

Keep on motoring!

 

Sixty-seven views! No ideas/opinions?!

I read to take a look under the air box, though I am not sure what to look for. I am confident I can safely remove the airbox in the daylight tomorrow. I guess the gear linkage terminates there? The dealer made it sound like swapping a gear linkage required dropping the exhaust and getting under the car, so I am not sure why I am reading to look under the air box, but I guess it wouldn't hurt. Nothing to lose but time!

 

Find another mechanic from a different shop and see what they say. If diagnosis is same as the Mini mechanic, then may be safe to say the gear linkage is indeed the culprit???

 

Here in MA we are required to have a safety check done by a garage (basically check for things that the police might pull you over for such as busted tail lights, blinkers, etc.), and we had that done today. I asked the mech, and he said that is what it felt like, but without taking things apart, he wouldn't know for sure. Was going to take the airbox out today but it was raining (we don't have a garage) so I have to wait for clear weather. Should be able to get to it tomorrow maybe.

 

Do the motor and tranny mounts look OK?

 

I... wouldn't know what to look for. Basically been reading about issues/fixes online and dealing with it from there. I fixed the creaky steering today. It's obviously not a heavily tichnically involving job, but removing a steering wheel and trim is far more than I have ever done on a vehicle before. As cheap as we bought it, I am much more willing to poke around and learn with this car.

The Mini dealership where I had it looked at didn't mention anything. Is this something I can easily look at myself?

 

I would suspect that the shift cable is out of adjustment. With the car not running have someone try to put it into 2nd, 4th and 6th. Watch where the shifter cables attach to a linkage at the transmission.

Does it shift smoothly into 2nd when the car is off?

 

Please remember I am a noobie

I was speaking about the airbox before... am I having someone shift and looking under the airbox? If not, where, specifically am I looking?

It does shift smoothly into second with the car off. Truth be told, 95% of the time it shifts into second smoothly when the car is on too. The trouble is when making a sharp turn, specifically left. I would say it has issues well over 50% of the time when making said turn.

 

Open this file and goto page 60-69. It will show the linkage
http://rapidshare.com/files/12047928...ansmission.pdf

 

Thanks!

Looks like it's actually going to be under the battery (for the cooper models) and under the airbox (for the S models). This information potentially helps a lot because I'd be scratching my head looking for something that isn't there!

Would you happen to have the rest/more of the manuals? I'd like illustrations of how to remove the battery compartment if at all possible.

Thanks a million again for your help thus far.

 

I dont have one with the pics but you can read this.

http://rapidshare.com/files/2654406267/BATTERY.pdf

 

That'll do.

Going to wait until tomorrow when my wife is able to help shift the vehicle for me. No sense in removing everything before I have a helper. Will report here.

 

I still haven't gotten around to doing this... been rainy AND the wife kept poo-pooing the idea. She has the next two days off and promised she would help with the extremely labor intensive task if shifting the car's gears while I look under the battery and see what I can see.

I still kind of fear that I won't know what I am looking at. I plan to record some video and link to it here so that people who actually know wha they are doing might be able to help me out.

EDIT: For anyone following this thread (now or in the future), I found this link (from pelicanparts) with some illustrations. Seems both the airbox and the battery compartment need removal, as JUST the battery compartment cannot come out.

 

Alright my friends. Finally got around to taking a look. Truth be told, not sure what I was looking at... so I took some video. All help thus far (and of course in the future) is appreciated!

 

Hoping some of you Monday morning viewers come across the thread and might have something to say!

 

Anyone? Even if it looks normal, let me hear it! Need to look somewhere else? Let me hear that too.

 

Someone has to think something, right?

 

After seeing your video, I again say you might have a bad synchro. Years ago I had a car do the same thing but in 4th and thats what it was. Have the fluids every been changed in the trans? You could try that also. Take it to another shop and let them check it out.

 

Thanks for the input Bad syncro is not what I wanted to hear. That ends up meaning new transmission right?

How easily is a bad syncro diagnosed for certain? And what are the procedures/costs involved? Sorry for all the questions. I have a warranty on the car for the next 45 days. MA law states any issues like this would either need to be fixed by the seller or he could buy the car back from me less 15 cents per mile I have driven it.

As for the question re: fluids... I would think not. The car has 75k miles on it, and apparently mini claims this never needs to be done (though I have read of people doing it here with decent results though different initial symptoms), so I wouldn't imagine it has, but cannot say for sure.

 

Usually or they rebuild yours. Take it to a professional, costs would be covered by your warranty. I would think definitely yes!!! many horror stories from this not being done. You are under warranty so take it somewhere instead of trying to second guess it. Just my opinion.

 

Update: Appointment has been et with the local mechanic who does European Sports Cars and has gotten nothing but great reviews (we are new to the area so I don't have anyone I personally know yet). From what I told him he immediately said synchro. Ugh! Better to know now than later. Sales guy isn't going to be happy. He already put a brand new exhaust system and a new set of rubber onto the car for me in the terms of the sale.

Thanks for all of the help Bram (and others!). I will make sure to update here with information.

 

Please keep us posted.

 

BUT, you mentioned that the issue pops up much more when making sharp left turns (i.e., under a lateral load). This makes me wonder if it's not actually a bad mount someplace. Initially, I was thinking a bad shift linkage or one that's out of adjustment. IMO, you should check in order of complexity/cost (i.e., linkage/mount, THEN consider bad synchro). Not saying it's not a bad synchro, but check the "easy/simple" stuff first.

Disclaimer: I'm not able to check out your vids from where I'm at...

 

Your '02 looks different than my '05, it's a different tranny too, but my linkage is under the air box like you mentioned before.

The problem you described, I have the same thing but only with reverse. I just hold the shifter down till I get the clutch out and then I'm fine.

You're linkages seem to be making the full motion uninterrupted, so maybe it's internal, or it's a bad mount and it rattles out of place from the engine vibration.

I'm no mechanic, just speaking from what I've dealt with in the past.

 

I do that too, and sometimes it works, sometimes it grinds. I would say maybe 50/50.

I have read abut the mount being an issue, but I honestly don't know where or what to look at. I assume it is the thing that holds the motor to the chassis?

I am taking the car in on Thursday, first thing in the morning, so I will mention it. Is the mount something that is easily looked at? Does it require the transmission to be dropped?