When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I believe the only difference is the ratio of the 6th gear. Depending on the factory option a limited slip differential (lsd) could also be in your gearbox or not. If it has a label BKL, its has a lsd.
I had my 6spd manual Getrag replaced after a gear fork failure w/same pre-facelift transmission on my 04 R53.
I was told by the mechanic that I should've/could have replaced the pre-facelift gearbox with a facelift. His reason being that the later 1st gen facelift manual 6spd Getrags have a longer 6th gear ratio that cruises at top speed at lower rpms.
From what I have read/understand; the 1st gen pre-facelifts have shorter/quicker lower gears that are great launching the car off the line (1st-3rd) but will twist the engine higher (@3,000) rpms while cruising in 6th gear @85mph vs later 6spd manual Getrags (?)
Seems to be true in my 04 R53 by comparison to an 06 R53 I test drove.
I hope someone with more technical knowledge will respond to confirm or dispel my understanding.
Here are the overall ratios and max speeds per gear and tire size as pulled from an old faq from another site. I don't recall ever hearing about an electronic limiter in the R53, so I assume the speeds listed in sixth are drag limited (but don't quote me on that).
And to answer your question, the facelift cars all have shorter ratios in every gear... except fourth gear and reverse (14.105 vs 14.065) in the R50. Also, the One and the Diesel have different ratios from the normal R50.
It's not particularly relevant to this discussion, but I might as well also add the R50 ratios.
I've already gone overboard, so might as well continue to overdo it. Here's the One.
And the Diesel.
Last edited by deepgrey; Jul 29, 2024 at 11:02 PM.
Reason: Actually answer the question directly.
Here are the overall ratios and max speeds per gear and tire size as pulled from an old faq from another site. I don't recall ever hearing about an electronic limiter in the R53, so I assume the speeds listed in sixth are drag limited (but don't quote me on that).
And to answer your question, the facelift cars all have shorter ratios in every gear... except fourth gear and reverse (14.105 vs 14.065) in the R50. Also, the One and the Diesel have different ratios from the normal R50.
Whoa this is great stuff!
Thanks for sharing the Cooper and One as well@deepgrey
I had my 6spd manual Getrag replaced after a gear fork failure w/same pre-facelift transmission on my 04 R53.
I was told by the mechanic that I should've/could have replaced the pre-facelift gearbox with a facelift. His reason being that the later 1st gen facelift manual 6spd Getrags have a longer 6th gear ratio that cruises at top speed at lower rpms.
From what I have read/understand; the 1st gen pre-facelifts have shorter/quicker lower gears that are great launching the car off the line (1st-3rd) but will twist the engine higher (@3,000) rpms while cruising in 6th gear @85mph vs later 6spd manual Getrags (?)
Seems to be true in my 04 R53 by comparison to an 06 R53 I test drove.
I hope someone with more technical knowledge will respond to confirm or dispel my understanding.
The opposite is true if you look at the ratios deepgrey posted. Quick refresher: a larger overall ratio number means higher RPM for a particular vehicle speed and a smaller overall ratio number means a lower RPM for a particular vehicle speed.
(With that information, we can see the "tire fitment speed" numbers don't make any sense, but that's another discussion.)
PFL have "taller" gears (smaller ratio #s) overall. So there's lower RPM per mph for each gear compared to face lifted R53s.
@LukasH , you're welcome. I figured I would go ahead and post it since I don't know if it exists anywhere easily accessible other than archive.org.
@mrbean , what seems odd to you about the tire fitment speed? I didn't make those tables, but I get almost exactly the same numbers for the facelift R53 as that table shows, both for mph and kph.
@mrbean , what seems odd to you about the tire fitment speed? I didn't make those tables, but I get almost exactly the same numbers for the facelift R53 as that table shows, both for mph and kph.
@deepgrey I get almost the same numbers except for 6th gear (both pre and post facelift trannys) 264.6 kph and 252.7 kph,respectively.
Yes. I previously noted terminal velocity in the comment where I posted the tables. Whoever made them used what I assume is a quoted top speed since a stock R53 is incapable of running to redline in sixth.
I believe the only difference is the ratio of the 6th gear. Depending on the factory option a limited slip differential (lsd) could also be in your gearbox or not. If it has a label BKL, its has a lsd.
Wondering why you ask, are you having issues?
Not to hijack, but where do you find the BKL label? on the diff?
Not to hijack, but where do you find the BKL label? on the diff?
No its actually on the outside of the gearbox on a sticker. There are quite a lot of codes for the different models. (Getrag/Midlands, 5/6 speed, lsd, facelift or not)
This is a BFA Getrag gearbox from a 2006 Mini One. The M is for manual, A will obviously be an automatic.
I can confirm that the PF Trans works in Facelift cars, and it works really good.
With a Tune (197 WHP/176TQ, stock injectors and 17% Reduction, DDM Sealed Intake, and MSD) I can quickly speed up from 60-90 MPH with ease. I have a spare head from a PF engine, and I am going to do some research to see if I can fit a PF head on a Facelift Block, and if so, will be going a Big Valve head with a big cam, and 550cc injectors. Aiming to get to 275 WHP.
I actually went further with installing a Coolerworx Shifter, and was able to utilize the facelift cables on the PF trans, and everything bunches up perfectly. I do not get any DME faults, or bugs according to INPA either.
