Hello All,

My dream finally came true and I got myself a Mini Cooper. It's a 2007 Mini Cooper S Convertible with Automatic Aisin 6 Speed Transmission. My driver side axle is bad and I have no idea which one to get. There are so many axles out there and they all look alike. I do not want to get it from the dealer as they are $590 from my dealer. !!!

I was just wondering if any of you could help me out with idea or if you know the part number so I could look around.

I got an axle from o'rielly auto which they said will work and it nearly killed my transmission on the cooper, it came out that the diameter is smaller than what I have. The part number for that was 60-9275 so I know that won't work.

Would a BM-8032 work? Or would this one work: 420 06014 501 from ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IMC-420-0601...sories&vxp=mtr

Any help will be highly appreciated! Thanks much!!!

 

I would search here
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/

 

$506 on there doesn't help much.. I don't believe that the only way to go is dealer.. Doesn't sound right to me..

 

For 90% of folks, the oem is the way to go.
The aftermarket ones are usually pretty light, and fail fast...
A few folks make "upgraded" ones that are a bit thicker, but more $$, and unless you have 250+ hp, not needed....
A non dealer scource like waymotorworks will get the oem part at a discount...not huge, but it helps.
Most of the "lifetime" parts sold at the auto parts stores are cheap junk from china...bad part, good warrenty...so you spend $$ replacing it multiple times due to labor...

 

I just need the car up and running. I wouldn't mind not OEM.

 

I just ordered one from the drive shaft shop. This is the non-s version. They're not far from me (found that out while attempting to place an online order) and if you call them they can get you a single side. They didn't have one in stock for me and said it would be about 1.5 weeks to make one.

I ordered the "0" version which is a beefed up OEM replacement but you can get others that are rated for higher torque/horsepower.

Give 'em a shout and see if they can help you. They were really nice on the phone with me.

 

Thanks, I'll give them a try. Also thinking of just buying a used one from car-part.com that way I'm sure that I will get the correct one.

 

Yes avoid ANY axles that are $200 or less, they are all the FEQ and WILL FAIL.
We can get you an axle no problem, I may have a used one for that car I have to check. FYI the Axle in the AT and Manual are totally different.

 

Could you tell me how many splines there are on the shaft the side that goes into the transmission? Thanks.

 

I just returned from the drive shaft shop with the axle that I showed you in my link above. It's not the same length as the stock axle??? The section with the bearing is about 3 inches longer on the stocker over the one they made. They think that the stock axle is an S??? I know they are different but I'm not sure how.

I'll go back Monday with the one I removed and have them see if I've got the correct one. The said they have a few of the S axles in stock. I am not sure if there is a price difference but I guess at this point if I get the correct one I won't care.

This is the second or third part I've bought based on the catalog number / correct part that has not fit onto my car. I had to order 4 alternators before the correct one finally came in and it was for a car a year newer and for the S too... Maybe I should have just got the S... OR I got most of the S components without having to pay for them... Sadly, not the supercharger...

Side note on the facilities at The Drive Shaft Shop - it appears that they do make them all in house. I could see back into the shop area and there were bins and bins of parts. I think they had 50 or 60 boxes of parts packaged and ready to ship out.

 

When ordering mini parts, the production date (located on the drivers side door) is critical...
a good vendor that speclizes in mini's know change over dates...that is part of the premium you pay for.....

 

ThomB, could you do me a huge favor and count the splines on the axle side that goes into the transmission. On the original one. That would help answer some questions.. Thanks!!

 

I counted 2x and came up with 33 both times.

1 thing I learned is I'm getting old. It was hard to see to count.

 

Which Cooper do you have?

 

I have a Justa. The part that I bought (for the Justa) doesn't fit though... I'll find out Monday if the drive shaft I have is the S CV drive shaft or not.

 

What Cooper do you drive? I think the 33 splines are for a non-S Mini Cooper.

 

here is a picture of the 2 shafts lined up...

The Top is the shaft I removed the bottom the one I bought today. I'll hopefully get it sorted Monday.

 

Which tranny do you have??
cars that got the 6 speed s tranny transplant also got most of the s drivetrain swapped out with it to make it work....

 

Your finding out that there is about 6 different MINI axles. It all depends on S or not, then it depends on trans. They are all different lenghts and style on the end.
So from what I read you have an R52 MINI Cooper NON S with an Automatic?
If so I know I have a used axle for.

Sorry that you've had problems so many times with different parts, but things like this is what keeps me in business since we know these differences.

 

I think the OP has a 6-speed S.
Mine's a 5-speed non-S.

 

I got tired of the whole hassle and bought an used axle from car-part.com. It will be shipped Monday and hopefully it will be the right one..
It is so hard to find an axle for my 07 MCS convertible with an automatic transmission.. We'll see what happens.