Ok, well I have an '03 and I have noticed at some local autoX events that everynow and then I ahve an issue with it popping out of second gear..
Not only does this hurt my times, but I dont think its supposed to do that.

It has been brought to my attention from 2 other mini owners at the event, that they had the same issue and that they had to have theirs replaced.

I fear the worst, But is this true?

 

If it's popping out of gear it definitely sounds like a synchro issue in the gearbox. Unfortunately the way BMW/MINI sells things you can't buy individual parts from the gearbox.

 

Well when I bought the car, (not from Mini) I did buy a 3rd party warranty with the car so if it does sound like an issue, I will get it fixed for sure. It doesn't happen all the time, as a matter a fact the only 2 times I have had it happened / noticed it was racing...

Would the syncro for second make the syncro matching for reverse difficult?
ex. Sometimes I will go to put it in reverse and it wont go , so I take my foot off the clutch and push the clutch back in for the syncro to match up.. I am just wondering if they might be inner related by chance?

 

Are you running any kind of engine damper or poly engine mounts?

If not it could be that the engine is moving around to much in the engine bay. Had this problem in a VW and it was solved with new poly engine mounts.

 

No dampers, or poly mounts... I might have to try it, but why only second though that's what I cant figure out.

 

Good luck on the third-party warranty....and being occasionally difficult to get in reverse is just the way the Midland 5-speed works.

 

Bring it up to Indy and I'll put a Tranny in it. I've done like 3 Coopers in the last month. Even did one CVT.

 

I had the same problem when I welded the shift fork that snapped on my midlands. After I reinstalled it it would pop out of 3rd and 5th. But that was fine compared to my new problem. I heard a POP and burning oil. Something either popped out or I have a whole the size of TX in my case. Dumped tranny fluid all over the freeway. Now its just sittin outside. I wanna see how many times I can fix it before it goes Supernova on me and I have to put the 6-speed in it...