Drove the car just now. And I tried to down shift into 2nd gear, from 3rd gear. I couldn't find 2nd gear at all. Same with 1st. And when I did put it into 1st gear, it grind-ed. Go back home. Luckily, I was near. As I get home, I attempt to go through all the gears. It went in like normal, if anything, possibly with more slop. Other than that, there are no odd sounds or anything. Clutch bite point is the same.

2003 r53 with a craven speed short throw shifter.

 

Check your Shifter Linkage connections, inspect the cable bushings, take a look at this artical ... Pelican Technical Article: Shift Cable Replacement - - R53 MINI Cooper S (2002-06)

Also could be needing adjusted ...

Best of luck,

Motor On!

 

If not a clutch issue and perhaps a shift link issue -
Just adding to my personal experience :
You may want to take a look at your shift-weight bushings while your in there. They may be excessively worn and need replacing. A seller on eBay (from Belarus) sells a bushing kit alone (I've replaced mine with his kit ). To the best of my knowledge; no one in the US sells the replacement bushings by themselves. Detroit Tuned sells complete refurbished/like new shift-weights for about $200.
EDIT: In addition / to look for - Pull the shifter boot up and check to see of the plastic "ball surround" has cracked, split or broken. You can re-grease it with white lithium if it also seems dry....

 

+1 check shifter and cables

 

Are the shift weight bushings the ones I circled in red? If so. I I installed the aluminum ones that come with the Cravenspeed Short throw shifter.

 

No - Actually, this is what I was referring to:

Assuming you have an R53/6 speed; The shift weight as shown above, is mounted to the top of the transmission.
It is best accessed from the top by removing the airbox. The shift cables are attached to it by its balljoints.
The white bushings are what eventually wear and maybe (POSSIBLY), contribute to be the cause of your shifting issues.

 

Awesome info, thanks!! I have been a little busy. But hopefully, I can check it tomorrow, or, this weekend.

 

Anyone see anything wrong?

 

With regards to the shift-weight bushings: It is hard if not impossible to see their actual condition unless you remove it. In the fourth pic looking down from the top, The top of the white rectangle bushing doesn't appear to have excessive wear. However, the real wear occurs within its inner walls where the shaft moves around and wears out the inside. Unfortunately there is no way to see the condition of the pivot bolt bushing without removing it. Trust me - that pivot bolt is/can be a real PIA to remove; threadlocked and torqued down with gorilla force and doesn't allow much room or access to work in. Not impossible; but can be a pain.
I would look at other potential suspects (as mentioned in the other replies) that maybe the cause relating to the issue before moving on to removing the shift weight.

I'm not 100% certain the shift-weight (bushings) is the problem.

 

i dont see anything jumping out. however something that might be worth looking into

there was a change in the cables at one point, an upgrade to metal at the red arrows in the pic attached

 

modemini has a vid about it

 

Yeah, I noticed those broken metal retainer clips also.
Shift cables feel solid on the ball ends. I'll double check.

Then, I'll pull the shifter to see how it looks in there.

 

Anyone notice anything wrong?

 

And of course, as I'm trying to see what was the reason(s) of me not being able to find 1st or 2nd(and when it did, grinded), it is now going through all the gates fine.

 

Looks ok from here

everything tight? or does it play? i'd give everything a shake test. make sure it was tight.

the other part of this is the connections of the cables underneath

not sure how far you want to go with this. you’ve already gone pretty far

 

By shake test, do you mean the shifter?

The shift cables, at ball joints are not popping off when I pry(lightly) on them with a flat head screwdriver.

I will at least put some lithium grease on the shift lever ball,.

 

yes. i mean make sure there is no play in anything related to the shifter, shifter box.

the cables have ball joints at the transmission AND under (inside) the shifter box

if i went in that far i think i might upgrade the cables to the facelift version. modmini has a good vid on this