So I got my hands on a very clean Pepper White '02 R50. It's my first Mini ever and I'm very happy to have it and my wife adores it. I bought it fully knowing that the midlands in the car was shot and I got a great deal on it including a replacement transmission already ready! I was able to limp it to my makeshift shop in 4th gear with the wrapped-in-a-tarp replacement transmission in the back. The person who sold it to me was a friend of a friend and they told me the replacement transmission came out of another Mini of yet another friend. Anyway I can point the guilt finger around all I want but I didn't do my due diligence and after nearly fully removing the transmission from the car I unwrap the replacement transmission to discover what I believe is the 5-speed getrag and not a midlands. So much for just a bolt-in. So I went home last night pretty upset at myself since I was doing this car on a budget and now I realize I'm going to have to buy quite a few more parts to do this swap. There are lots of information about swapping the midlands for the 6 speed getrag but very little for the 5 speed. I am also aware that the 5 speed is actually more rare and expensive so maybe it's a blessing in disguise?

I have some options available to me right now:

1. Sell the 5-speed getrag and get a 6 speed instead + parts.
2. Keep the 5-speed getrag and make it work. (Need parts list as it's different from the 6 speed)
3. Sell the 5-speed and get a rebuilt midlands. (Hahaaa...Probably no.)

Option 1 is definitely my preferred option however with the already lack of research the previous owner did about the replacement transmission I don't know how to verify if the 5-speed getrag is even good or not. If I want to go with this option how should I go about selling the 5-speed? What are your opinions and do I have other options? I feel anyone on these forums wouldn't want it and would go the way of the 6-speed like myself however if someone is looking for a 5-speed getrag I'm more than happy to part with it. I'm in northern California about two hours away from Sacramento. I notice there are some junkyards around that may have some Mini parts. I am not building this as a performance car as it's really for my wife so I am looking at bang-for-the-buck-good-enough parts list. Although one day I do want to build a nice S for myself!

I'm pretty overwhelmed and discouraged and I already spent about as much as I wanted to for a car. I did pay $2200 for the car and everything else about it is in good condition but looking at the parts list and a replacement 6 speed is going to cost half that yet again at least and I just saw another Mini on FB going for a little more than what I paid and it runs and drives fine. I was really hoping to have this car put back together this weekend but now it's turned into a bit of a project.