I was looking at the Faq at MINI2 and I see that max speed for the Cooper went from 125 to 120. In addition top speed in each gear went down.

Link:

 

The ratios in the Getrag are lower than they are in the Midlands transmission that was used up to 2004. Those are calculated speeds, not necessarily observed speeds, as a 2004 Cooper might not actually be able to hit 125.

 

So as a newbie to understanding gear ratios. What does it mean from an out side perspective? Is there more torque? Is the feel of acceleration about the same or a little less for the same usage going from 1st to 2nd etc..?

 

The gearing was made shorter in 2005. This means quicker acceleration, but lower top speed, in each gear.

Most people prefer this change, since we don't drive at top speed very often, but we sure do use our acceleration! The downside is that highway mileage might suffer since the car will be running at a higher RPM while at the same road speed.

 

Ahh, got it. Is it possible to swap out 1st and 2nd gear for something a little lower to get even more acceleration up to crusing speeds without having to add the horse power of a Cooper S? I would assume that fuel economy in the higher gears would not change because of this.

I also agree I would prefer the change.

Just curious.

 

Is it possible to swap out 1st and 2nd gear for something a little lower to get even more acceleration up to crusing speeds without having to add the horse power of a Cooper S?

Sure, anything's possible, but it would cost a whole lot of money for not much benefit. If you lowered 1st and 2nd, then it'd be a big step up to 3rd, which wouldn't necessarily be good for overall driveability. Best leave it alone, and hope it holds together.

With rear-wheel drive cars, you can just change the gears in the rear differential and change all the gear rations at once, but front drives don't really lend themselves to that.

 

OK, just curious.

I was seeing that enough people had clutch issues that if mine ended up needing to be replaced that at the same time gears could be swapped. I know in my 914 that 1st gear is really easy to change without having to open the whole transmission.

 

Not to mention I've hit higher speeds in 1st-4th (track time road course and drag strip; so bite you tounge IB4ers) IF and thats a huge IF you where to change out the gears I can't understand why you;d want a taller low gear but I'd instead go for a longer 6th (5th in your case) for improved MPG on the highway and and overall higher top speed if we ever crack the limiter thats in 6th on the S. I think the Cooper is areo/hp limited where as the S can go higher than 145 in 5th but can't manage the same in 6th because the limiter on 6th holds the TB from opening all the way. Of course thats extremely costly and only for use on the Autobahn and maybe a handful of racetracks around the US but after you validate it that them there is some good braggin' rights.

 

I thought the S was quoted at 135 MPH and the JCW at 142. Pretty sure of that. It also the CD. Flying bricks don't make for good HP. You need a LOT more HP to gain a few MPH top speed. Yes, I know TULs show 150 mph but how much HP was he running

 

There is a top speed based thread, a MINIac in Germany, with an Autobahn commute has photos of his digital readout in the kilo version of the 144 MPH range. Now even Tuls couldn't get the higher speeds in 6th he had to drop to 5th because of troubles w/ ECU closeing the TB so the HP just wasn't there in 6th. I get the feeling we;ve discussed this before.

 

It my Mini Cooper I hit around 122 on a very long straight away track. IT took forever, but It got there. Im sure if you really pushed it...then you could get 125.