My fiance and I have both noticed on our 07 MC that when the car is cold shifting into second gear usually results in a grinding noise. It is almost as if you don't have the clutch pedal down enough and are trying to shift gears, but this isn't the case.
Anyone else have this issue? I am going to call today to schedule an appointment but have a feeling the dealer won't be able to replicate it. (We don't drive the car that often and it doesn't happen all the time).

 

I kinda get this on my 07 MCS too. I just tend to move the shifter down, "rest" it in the gate for a second and then move into second when the car is cold. Once it's warmed up a little it tends not to be such an issue.

 

Doesn't grind for me but it feels like it gets caught on something for a sec. Goes away after a few shifts.

 

there is another thread on here about this, you should search for it

i beleive some fellow figured out how to fix it and has the documents needed so that you can prove there is a problem to the dealership.

I have the same noise, I just avoid going down to 2nd when I am shiftign down. In fact, for normal city driving, I can shift down to 3rd in a corner and the Mini still has more than enough torque to pull out of the corner with ease

Marty

 

The second gear syncro is weak on our cars. It does the same thing trying to shift to 2nd at high RPM.

 

I'm curious why the problems have been reported with second gear (the "banshee" noise reported elsewhere and the grinding reported in this thread). First and second both have the double synchros IIRC.

Redline MTL did make shifting a little smoother in my car. It is still a little more difficult to shift when cold, but that would likely happen with any fluid. Of course the word 'cold' doen't mean the same thing in Houston as it does in other parts of the country.

-JL

 

I've had this problem on other cars before. All you have to do is before you leave your parking space, shift from first to second and back to first a few times. Maybe that trick will work on your MINI?

 

I have this issue as well, I took it to the dealer, and big surprise they couldn't find anything wrong with it. In fact they acted as if they had never heard of any problems with any of their cars. This usually goes away after 2 or 3 shifts, but it is quite annoying. I am going to make an appointment.

 

It isn't a downshifting problem, it's an upshifting one (ie going from 1st to 2nd).

 

Well it appears after a few weeks of arguing with the dealer, I am going to be getting a new transmission. Just waiting on the service center to call me back .

 

i had the same problem with mine. although mine was not just 1st to 2nd it was almost every gear. the best thing to do is change over to Redline tranny fluid. Mine has stopped grinding when its cold. A little heavier weight tranny fluid did the trick for me.

*I live in FL so cold here is 60deg*