yeah you think the case can't take the outward force under load? interesting. not sure how i would approach this. I would probably cut a plate and bolt it on over the case to strengthen it. Do you think there is really a need?

 

MINI Mania UK does something similar(girdle and better Peugot internals) to their uprated box IIRC. The Texas Works guys have one of these. A complete girdle would probably be better. The mount to the subframe would also help to sustain proper alignment of drive axles and would let the engine/trans rock or pivot on the top trans mount. I don't think it would help for the syncro issue, but some of the diff. problems, yes, I do. The cases on these trans are pretty thin. I have a spare subframe, engine and trans I could mock up....R and D work is the only way to tell coupled of course with driving them at least as hard as most of us do...

 

They have moved on to a 6-sp since they chunked a few of the MM gearbox's....

 

I'm hoping when the time comes, my Midlands get replaced with a Getrag.....
When I called the dealership about it, they said the part number/model for my tranny was a Getrag model number.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that: 1. my tranny holds out for a while longer, and 2. it gets replaced without any problems.

 

my parts are coming! ive ordered them thru www.pelicanparts.com. They were the only place i found who could supply the OEM internals for the midlands box (bearings, seals, clips, shims, etc.) Great service, i highly recommend them if you need anything hard to get. Cant wait to get the box back together. I'm looking forward to the next 50000km before I have to do this again.

 

I'm getting ready to order some as well.....But through my dealer.

 

You are lucky, I'm in australia. Our dealers do not supply internal components for these boxes. Not enough demand here. Pretty poor effort. Good luck with the rebuild, if theres anything you need to know, I'd be happy to help.

 

How do I make it Bullet Proof???


How bout a web-cam rebuild?

 

How much did you pay for the internals? any part numbers?

 

the part numbers are:
23211036989
3110662419
23117518638
23117550058
23121036984
23200630777
23200662267
23201037013
23201037014
23201037068
23210632252
23211036995
31531030851
31607518253
31531035645
---------------
all up parts cost was around AUD$250 and shipping to melbourne was about $100, so $350 all up. I got a whole bunch of other bits and pieces while i did this, but this was the basic cost of gearbox bearings/seals. i found all the part numbers from the diagrams on www.realoem.com. VERY useful.
i replaced all bearings, seals and spacers/washers, you may not need to. get what you need. hope it helps.

 

you need x4 of [FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=1]23200662267 and [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=1]23201037068.
you need x2 of [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=1]31531030851 and [/SIZE][/FONT]31531035645

 

When my midlands fails, it will be very humorous and interesting to see how I fare replacing the internals in the tranny. I've never done that before. Hopefully I have another 10 or 20k miles left. My second tranny is at around 65k now.

 

Ive never taken a transverse tranny apart before and the Midlands was cake...so simple...thats why my car is running again!

 

Just swap to the six speed already...you know you want to...

I have already invested in a Aluminum flywheel, clutch etc....and some classes of club racing don't allow a 5 to 6 speed swap, so I'll stick with the Midlands for now. Plus, the experience I get from building them will only benefit me. Instead of having a customer buy the whole trans, doing an in house rebuild would be cheaper.

 

its done. spent the day putting everything back together. im a happy man. at least for the next 58,000km.

 

As much as I would like a 6spd, I just can't justify spending over $4000 for the swap when I can rebuild the old one for a few hundred...If I was sitting on the money, I would have done it already! Whenever my tranny blows, I'll take pictures of my blunders.

On a side note, looks like I'm about to replace ANOTHER F*CKlN clutch release bearing. This will be my 4th over the life of the car with 110k miles...and the 3rd release bearing in the last 20k miles...So Ill just replace everything else while Im in there.

 

I am waiting on a 6-speed actually (even though mine is fixed) and I just got the go ahead for an S motor...So eat it! Movin on up from the ghetto onto the Cooper S forum!

 

I remember a certain person that didn't want to swap in a n "S" motor. By the time your done you should have just traded in your MC and got a MCS. I know you hate to hear that, but its true!

 

My compliments for the upcoming swap, but I'm sure you know putting the S engine in won't be a piece of cake...you'll need serious rewiring if you plan to move the battery behind like the S, and if you keep it in the engine bay, you'll have your options limited for the air filter, only a cone directly on the throttle body will fit, but it will get lots of hot air. Just so you know.

 

Actually, the hardest part is sourcing the parts for the 6-sp swap...not the engine swap...LOL. Once the motor/trans is pulled...all that is left is a MCS harness swap and thats totally easy. Everything else bolts up. As far as the battery location...I will be running an 11lb. Deka battery and can fit it in the bay. As for filter location. I dont really care because it will change spots once I go full turbo...

 

Nah...no trades here! The motor/tranny swap is costing me roughly $4K so my mistake for not initially buying a MCS is a grand...LMAO. And $1K isnt enough for me to take on more payments, swap all my parts (or sell them) and sell my car.... But right now, Im tackling an erratic DSC/ABS/TPMS light issue. I dont think that one of the steering angle sensors liked me doing 100 mph around a turn...hahahahha

 

So does that mean the wife gave you the go ahead or is this the Absolut Vanilla talking?

Dogbox?!!

 

Your Cooper actually hits 100 mph? Were you going downhill?

 

Umm...this is an silent deal between the father in law and I. It was either the AA kit for the BMW or a MCS/tranny swap.... I cant remember much of anything this week... Dogbox would be waaay after the turbo build. My last option to the car. I cant see spending $5g's for gears at the moment. And YES, the damn Cooper can go 100...LMAO!

 

Man you have one hell of a father in law, quite generous lol.