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This car is a 5 speed and several have suggested going with a 6 speed swap. Here's why I probably won't.
A previous ride of mine was a 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder. I raced it until the engine succumbed to rod knock. I swapped out the 1ZZ (138hp) for a 2ZZ (168hp) engine with Lift. Lift kicks in at around 6500rpms and throws your head back (it is quite an experience). The car came with a 5 speed trans and I kept that with the 2ZZ. It was just not designed for a 5spd. The gearing left you very little room in 2nd gear for Lift and when you shifted from 1st to 2nd you went out of lift until it spooled up again past 6500rpms. It was just not right. The 5spd matched the 1ZZ and the 6spd was a must for the 2ZZ.
So, I would assume, unless I could be talked into it, that the Mini is the same. The horsepower jump, i believe, is bigger than the Toyota one and I'd bet that the 6spd trans would just not be right. I am also not a big fan of 6spds anyway (too many gears?) and, I believe that my 5spd might not have internal problems. I haven't gotten it out yet.
So, there you go. Above I have been told there is a swap availbable and it is in driving distance (a local seller) of all I need for the swap, but I can also just put in a used 5 speed and be done with it.
So I took off the front end and the radiator support is in bad shape: fixable, but in bad shape. I found one on Ebay for $114 shipped (some had >$100 shipping charges). However, I am trying to stay cheap, so I could try to fix it (it is split down one side). However, I did have to cut the bottom clips off and I am not sure what to google to find new ones. Anyone know the name of these these clips?
The radiator and fan seem to be in good shape. They are cheap to buy as well, but, I want to save money so I think I will reuse them.
What parts would you just replace under the hood for an engine out update? Water pump? Alternator? Belt tensioner? I have found most parts to be relatively cheap. Your advice?
I paid a mechanic to swap my box from 2 Cooper's I owned same colour and that just one was a 2004 prefacelift just needed a new box so I used the one from my 2005 facelift both r50 . Now I was under the impression the 2004 had a different box (midland ) to my facelift 2005 (geartag) or something like that but they did it anyway after 3 days and first clutch they ordered was the wrong one so now I have a metallic sound coming from the osf best way to describe it is a light scrapping/grinding that speeds up when the car does but only when I'm driving straight or turning left. Now I have changed osf bearing/hub noticed the "mechanic " handed screwed the disc to the hub and left the half of the broken screw in the hub so renewed and fitted and had tracking but sound is still there last time it made that noise was 2 days after the gearbox work when the driveshaft popped out of when driving that the same mechanic put down to a clip on the shaft ... Please help before I turn it into a f#@k off fishtank
Sorry about your problems! I suggest getting on the Facebook: "Mini Cooper Mechanics" group. These guys are fantastic and helped me with lots of questions that I had. I got answers and hours.
the 2004 does have a midlands trans and the 2005 has a 5 speed Getrag. I swapped a 6 speed Getrag (as advised above) into mine and it worked great, except for the airbox. I had to do some customization there. Yours sounds like there is a problem elsewhere. If it shifts and moves, it sounds like your problem is the CVs. However, your question is fuzzy. Please go to Facebook. Those guys are great.
Yep two transmissions 5 speed getrag ( from a base model) and 6 speed (from an "S"). What ever one you put in you have to treat like your shipping for that clutch to axle as you have the 2005 w/ that transmission from that year. Sounds like they are mixing things up.
