I'll start by saying, I am closer to being a brain surgeon than a mechanic....

Digression:

I have been hearing a slight 'knock' sound when switching from 1st to 2nd gear.

Some info on the car: 02' MCS, 30k miles. 2nd owner.

The sound cannot be reproduced while in neutral. Only when the car is moving. A better description would be: Imagine the sound of shifting gears if your ear were right up on your transmission. Now amplify that loudly enough that you can hear it while driving.

I noticed also that there is no sound when switching from 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 4th, and so on.

Please tell me this isn't something serious.

As always.... Thanks in advance!

 

If I were you, I'd bring setup an appointment at DTM to have the problem diagnosed. I know a lot of owners have had problems with the Midland transmission that the earlier Cooper models used and many times the result was having to have a new transmission installed that costs bookoo bucks. Certainly not trying to get you all antsy, but considering your MC does not have high mileage, it's probably a good thing to have checked just for sanity's sake.

GotMINI

 

Define boocoo bucks...

 

Does it maybe sound like a tired synchro that just can't get those gears up to speed and you get just a little ker-clunk when entering second gear?

If you pull the shifter into second really fast and hard, is it worse?

If you pull it very slowly is it better?

Does it do the noise differently if the car is cold vs warmed up?

Does the outside temp make any dif?

If the prev owner slamed second gear hard frequently you may just have a worn synchro... 30K is way too early to have xmission problems.

Consider changing the fluid and try to notice if there is a difference afterward. Keep at it and posting and we'll try to help you as much as possible from afar.

YD

 

yes, i would like to set up a service appointment please

 

Roeri says in his post that his car is a '02 MCS, which would have a Getrag and not a Midland.

Roeri, check this thread...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=44291
it's long, but I think it's what you're hearing.

 

1, yes

2, If I shift from 1st to neutral, then 2nd there is no noise at all. It's only going directly from 1st to 2nd.

3, haven't noticed. Seems to be all the time.

4, Again, haven't noticed.

I greatly appreciate the help!

 

Can changing the tranny fluid really make a difference?

 

HOLD ON! There are other threads on this. My '06 makes a "clack" sound (maybe a "ker-clack", I don't know, it's more than just a one-hit "clack") when I change from 1st to 2nd - and others do too (I remember from a thread when I first bought the car back in 10/06, thread was older than that). It may "just" be the linkage changing directions. Others had this noise too, and it's not an issue.

Now, if it's a noise INSIDE the trans, a grinding noise, or something that causes the drive to slip or judder, then it may be a more expensive noise. The noise I have is, well, a characteristic of the car (and noticable from outside). I don't hear it in winter with the windows closed.

 

It is a "klack" sound. But only from 1st to 2nd.

 

Hmmm, mine's a "clack", with a capital hard "C", but yours sounds more serious as a "klack" with the "k', I wonder if theres been a change since the '03's...

Seriously, I think it's the linkage and it makes that noise, when I asked the dealer I got a "they all do that" response which, in this particular case, kind of makes sense...

 

haha... thanks Partsman... I must have missed the whole MC"S" part... I suppose that can be considered a good thing nonetheless, since the Getrag is certainly pretty reliable.

GotMINI

 

No worries, and yes, the Getrag is pretty durable.
I wonder if Roeri even noticed the link I posted. 5 will get you 10 that is what he's hearing.

 

I got it all and thanks for the info everyone! I feel much beter about this but still intend on having it looked at. Again... MUCH appreciated!!!!

 

I also notices that it only makes the noise when I am driving slowly. Like through a parking lot. If I am on the road at a red light or something and accelerate quickly, I don't hear it at all.

Does this help define it a bit better?

 

No help from me, but I have to ask:

Is "noice" Australian for "nice"?

 

HAH! No It's american for typo.

 

Went to Aamco and was told it's a collapsed bearing. At 30k miles?????

I'm screwed...

Might not be at the Dragon with you all!!!

 

My MCS is a 2006 model with only 1700 miles on it. I bought it brand new with 12 miles. I just noticed recently that it started making a clanking noise from 1st to 2nd after about 300 miles about. ::approximation:: Should I be worried?

 

I've been told everything from "They all do that" to "you need to have your tranny rebuilt" (the later costing around $1,500)

It's definatley something to look at. Aamco looked at mine, and while no MINI experts, I'd assume a tranny is a tranny and I'll assume they're right.

 

So I need my transmission redone? How come? and why so soon? I have maybe only had it for a month and a half max.

 

I'm not saying it needs to be redone, just that it is worth having someone look into it. Small transmission problems become HUGE transmission problems.

 

oh okay! Thank you so much for the help! I really appreciate it and I will have it looked at.

 

Some info on my noise:

Only does it when the car is moving.
Only does it when driving slowly. (can't seem to notice it when accelerating faster)
Only does it from 1st to 2nd.
Sometimes doesn't do it at all (about 70% of the time)
Only does it when switching DIRECTLY from 1st to 2nd, not if I switch from 1st to neutral then to 2nd.

Does yours do this?

 

yes basically that sums it all up!

You nailed it with those descriptions.