Is it possible to put a sequential gearbox on my '09 Cooper S? I was just wondering. Thanks for any responses

 

Yes, but you probably don't have enough money...

 

How much would it cost to install and everything?

 

I have no idea if there is even a sequential transmission that would fit on the N14 or N18 engine. Holy cow that would be big bucks.

The kit offered by M7 is not a sequential since you're still required to use the clutch between every gear.

 

Save yourself all the money and go with a CAE extreme short shifter, or do what I'm doing and get the Helix SS and the Tyrol Sport SS kit and you can get about at 60% reduction.

http://www.hardmotorsport.com/CAE-Ul...0034-10034.htm

 

The few supercars that have this are generally a NIGHTMARE to drive in city traffic...or at least that is what several reporters on the like likes of the English "Top Gear" reports it as...
Guess it might be nice for a track car ....but kinda doubt even a pro race team has done it....
Now if you are a multi billionaire....sure you could get a using one...modify it ...and go for a ride...if you could make the ecu play nice....that is the biggest issue in modern cars...the transmissions integration into the engine management system...tyranny swaps are basic on a old mechanical controlled motor/tyranny....but darn near impossible on modern cars....

 

Yep, there isn't much point in a street driven car. You'll be replacing gears fairly often. Full on race, then yes, it'd be a consideration, although an expensive one (probably about 1/3 the worth of your car), but it'd be murder driving that on the street, not sure why you'd consider that on a street car, unless you really like noise. Anyway, it would be prohibitively expensive to put in, and prohibitively expensive to maintain. Not to mention a new clutch. Money better spent elsewhere, if you're looking for performance.

 

Best point so far. Think multiple tens of thousands of dollars Nelly for development and application

 

What do you mean by "sequential gearbox"? There are a few things that fit this definition.

One would be a sequential shifter, where the gearbox itself and the clutch and such are all the same, but instead of an H-pattern you just push the lever forward for going up a gear or pull back for going down a gear. Those can be pretty complex (and do likely require at least some modification of the gearbox itself) but are probably the least expensive and least time-consuming to design, fabricate, and install. You still have to work the clutch pedal, and you still have to match revs.

Another might be a DSG or SMG setup, which is a lot like the above but the car actually works the clutch for you. You might be able to adapt a DSG from a FWD VW for this job, but it is very likely to take a ton of fabrication and it will definitely take a whole lot of electronics and programming expertise.

Another would be a full-on race-style sequential dog-box transmission. This allows for clutchless upshifts because it doesn't use synchros in the gearbox, and instead uses dog-ring engagement and other special internal parts. It also goes CRUNCH very loudly every time you put it in gear with the car stopped. (Think about how many times per day you do that.) And wears internal transmission parts very quickly, especially compared to a normal street-car transmission. Not a problem for a race car, which gets rebuilt and refreshed frequently, but not so good for a street car.

Plus that requires a total rebuild of the gearbox with lots of trick custom parts, in addition to working out the shift linkage and such. And you still have to use the clutch for downshifts (and match revs quite well or get a CRUNCH there) and for taking off from a stop (and still get the CRUNCH).

Any way you go, though, the cost will be in the "cubic dollars" range. The cheapest way to go would probably be to sell your MINI and buy a VW with the DSG and drive that.

 

Just so the original poster knows, he'll still need a clutch (and a different one than the OEM one) with this setup, although the upshifts once in first gear will be clutchless.

 

There is a bolt on one, it's about 7,000 EUR.