My 2010 S has started popping out of 2nd gear when I decelerate. I figure linkage or synchros. Anyway, I called the dealer and was at first pleased that they said Mini would likely pick up some of the cost if it was the synchros. Then I found out they would be gracious enough to pick everything EXCEPT $2200.

I have no idea what the total cost would be. This is my second Mini, the first was an early 2002 that I got 220k out of with nothing like this. This one only has 72k. on it.

I have never had a car, new or used, that had something this major go, so I guess I'm just not used to a repair bill that big. Sad to say it's really soured me on a car that I just (used to) love. I am the only owner and have driven standards my entire life (60+), so I know I didn't cause this, and nobody but me drives it.

Anyway, I digress. Is this kind of cost in line or would I be better just getting a used gearbox a the junkyard and having my shop put it in?

Really hoping its the linkage...

 

Well how many times did you change your manual transmission oil? your at 72k now so I hope you at least changed it a couple times. If they are going to drop in a brand new transmission for that price its not bad.. specially for a dealer! goodluck!

 

My experience with transmissions jumping out of gear is that they were never all the way in gear in the first place. I'm thinking linkage. Maybe just an adjustment.

 

Do not cave in or accept any responsibility for the repair, it sounds like a defect. Try to find out more info before caving in. Best of luck to you.

 

I split the case on an AWD Eagle Talon and it would pop out of gear when letting up and punching it. Gears would push away from each other. $4200 to replace.

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That's going to give the OP a heart attack.

 

Besides this transmission, I'm curious how you like R56 vs the R53.
I would find a used trans, and any good mechanic to swap it out. GL

 

You need to get a cost breakdown to figure out exactly what Mini USA is covering in the repairs. That's not outrageous for a remanufactured transmission and install but it's certainly not cheap. I don't know that the shift cables have an adjustment mechanism. It's possible the cables stretched but if that was the case it would likely be popping out of other gears as well. You could have messed up some of the bearings running the trans low on oil which is causing the pop-out issue. Lots of other possible problems. Best thing to do would be to replace the trans with a used/remanufactured one and move on with your life.

 

I had this exact problem on my S. It would do it maybe once a month, then got progressively worse until it was once a week. On day driving on the interstate it popped out of 6th and I could not get it back into any gear. Long story short, they cannot be rebuilt, it will be about at $4k job if you pay for the parts and install. That is reman.

 

Wow, well, for some reason the problem has now gone away. So I guess their offer of 2200 wasn't that bad. I had my shop look at it in terms of fluid and linkage and all of that is fine.
So, I guess I'll just wait and see what happens. Luckily I work from home now so I only drive it about 5k year (used to be > 30k).

Funny though, my mechanic was not surprised, he told me most of his Mini customers would never buy another one due to problems of this scale/money happening all the time. I got over 200k on my first one (#166 in 2002) and had very few issues. He said he always felt I got lucky.

Thank you for your input, hope the gearbox Gods are with me....

 

To answer a previous question... I love(d) the car. I loved the first one I had as well.

 

Similar problem with 5th gear --- didn't feel like it engaged properly, and would "pop out" when used for braking downhill. Dealer replaced linkage grommets, and "pop-out" went away, but engagement problem still there. Couple years ago, when my clutch / flywheel was replaced, the mechanic MIGHT have put it back together "wrong". Dealer also said they don't repair internal problems --- replace entire tranny.

Just finished a major rebuild with drivetrain removed from car, and transmission separated from engine. On re-assembly, the shift linkage is on a spline, and I now have "improved" 5th gear engagement. This was accidental, but next time I'm in there, I'll try to find an even better spline match, to see if this will fix 5th gear. It's a pretty simple task and worth trying before a complete replacement.