I've noticed that my shifting hasn't been the smoothest with my car, don't know if its still because its being broken in or not. but I have noticed that with the clutch pushed to the floor I can make second gear grind still when it hits a certain point....I usually never notice this happen unless I shift very slow but I was wondering if this was normal at all? shouldn't nothing be happening if the clutch is fully engaged?

 

I am experiencing the same thing, especially when the transmission is cold, I have the 2nd gear grind with clutch fully depressed. I went to the dealership and test drove with a mechanic, but since the issue cannot be duplicated, there is nothing they can do. Please let me know how it goes, I am driving a MC with about 5000 KM on it.

 

ya usually happens when the transmissions not warmed up for me too

 

I also notice it the first time after the car been sitting...i get sad when it happens...

 

Hm.. I think I'm having a similar problem, but it's with first and second gear. unlike yours though, it doesn't get better when warming up, it seems more of a random thing. I have 1000 miles on the car, but even when I"m parking the car and shifting it into first, I will notice that there is sometimes a slight grind. I will move it back to N and then back to 1st a couple times then it will be smooth. This happens when I'm stopped at a light as well, seems the first move into first is slightly grindy while, if I move it back down and up a couple times, it will be smooth. I doubt it has to do with engaging the clutch or how I'm moving it as I do it pretty slow and consistently, is mine bad?

 

Mine only grind on 2nd gear, and seems to happen when transmission is cold. The dealership checked it, there's no leak and they said it's not a safety concern, but it's quite annoying having a brand new car grind the gear.

 

I had an 02' WRX with the same problem. It got so bad that it ground very loudly every time I shifted into 1st no matter what I did. I took it to the dealer at about 20k miles and they said they it was a common problem (about 1 in 5). They replaced the 1st 2nd and 3rd gear syncros and the 1st and 2nd gears.
It may be a similar prob with the Getrag in the MINIs

 

I have the same issue with mine - since about 600 miles, I get a grinding noise from 1st to 2nd - but usually only when first driving (the car is cold), if I have parked in gear (seems to make it happen more often), and it only happens once or twice. I'm taking it in to the dealership tomorrow (for the second time - the first time they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it). I'll post back if I have any resolution.

 

I had it a couple of time, but now i just make sure i shift with a little more force than it seems like it needs and I never have the problem. Seems like this is a problem on a lot of the newer 6 speed transmission from what ive heard. Shifting forcefully seems to solve the problem normally. My guess is the syncros dont want to work slowly to align, get it in gear quick and wait for the rev matching to let the clutch out.

 

yea shifting faster for me seems to help i havent done it in the last week but still bothers me, if anyone got anything dont at the dealer let us know

 

The syncros would have more of a problem if you were to shift quickly. If the problem happens when shifting from 1st to 2nd, try allowing the RPMs to go down (have some hesitation between shifts) and see if it still grinds. This definitely seems to be a syncro problem. Getrag transmisssions have had a reputation of being bulletproof though, I am surprised to hear of these issues.

 

Isn't any kind of grinding in the transmission generally considered to be a bad thing ?

 

Does it make grinding sound??

 

I have the same problem. Of course it isn't every time I shift but enough to get on my last nerve. I have about 2000 miles on the car. I seem to have the problem regardless if the car is cold or not.

 

I am having the same problem. The dealer told me there is only a small amount of fluid in this transmission and when it is cold the syncro does not have enough lubrication. I got the car in June and first notcied the problem in October when the weather got cooler. Once the car gets hot it shifts O.K.
I am concerned that over time it is doing damage to the gear.

 

As I posted earlier - I'd been having this issue since I got my car in May. A trip to Manhattan MINI just after break in did not resolve anything - they told me transmissions don't fully break in for 4-5000 miles. At 5000 miles, it was still happening, so I took it to Morristown MINI, (which is where I bought it, but they are much further from me.

Morristown did a great job of contacting MINI, where they were notified that there was a PUMA case (#13739808) - for a defective transmission. They replaced the entire transmission.

The new tranny is great - much better shifting through all gears (not just 1st to 2nd).

 

I've had the same issue- only the first 2-4 times I shift from 1st to 2nd when the car has been sitting for 8+ hours. I'm at almost 3400 miles now. I hate having people riding in my car thinking I have no idea how to drive a manual transmission because of the awful grinding noise it makes, and I really don't think that a properly functioning transmission should make ANY grinding noises.

kimmc- I'd replied to your earlier post about this issue when you took it in the first time. I'm glad to see that the 2nd dealership was helpful. I have a service appointment scheduled for Nov. 17th, so I am really hoping to get this resolved. (This and the stupid sun shade that won't stay closed!)

 

Hopefully your dealer will resolve the issue. I made sure that they didn't drive it for more than 12 hours (which meant getting a loaner, which they were actually very cool about) in order to re-create the problem. Give them the PUMA number I listed above if it helps.

Luckily I don't have problems with the sunscreen shade. It sounds like a small problem, but I'm sure it's super annoying!

 

I am taking mine in tomorrow at Brecht...I'm tired of having to "be careful" when I shift from first to second. It also started grinding when I shift down into first. I've started letter writing..sent one to Mini USA and made a copy for tomorrow re: CA lemon law. As seasoned stick drivers, we shouldn't have to put up with grinding on brand new cars.

 

I just wanted to give you guys an update on my service appointment... fortunately, the folks at Flow MINI didn't think I was crazy when I took the car in, and decided to replace my entire transmission. I haven't gotten it back yet, (they're waiting on a part to complete the repair of the sunshade) but hopefully will enjoy my new smoother, quieter transmission!

 

I have been having the same issues with my transmission. If I am quick off the line, which is most of the time, it grinds from 1st to 2nd gear. Also, if it is cold outside, it does is repeatedly no matter how you shift.

My first trip to the dealer resulted in them telling me I don't know how to shift and that others on the lot do the same thing. So I took the customer service rep and a mechanic for a ride and they were both able to replicate the issue while depressing the clutch fully.

It is in the shop right now and I will update as to the progress. If I get another flippant answer such as "they all do it," I will ask for my money back. This is not how a car should drive.

 

Update: I spoke to the CSR today. He suggested I come in to drive some demos that also exhibit the grinding. My reply was a firm "No." I told him that was an unacceptable response and that I don't care if they all do it. It is wrong and I will not be burdened by a vehicle that is not properly built. He is checking into the matter and will get back to me Monday.

This is a pretty crappy deal and I am losing that loving feeling.

On the bright side, my loaner is a Pathfinder and white death is descending upon us this weekend in Cincinnati.

 

I'm having this same problem - thing is, it is on a transmission that was replaced in my 05 MCC at 25,000 miles. (tranny was replaced at 25k miles because i complained about how going into reverse grinds... well, they never fixed the reverse problem) My new transmission, after 6,000 miles, is doing this, and the dealer says they can't replace the xmission without mini's approval, and a mini rep tested my car, blamed the grinding on me, and says they won't fix it.

any suggestions?

I posted about this a lot in the 1st gen stock problem thread, i'm still unsure of what i should do at this point. Has anyone gotten their car back with a repair done that hasn't failed again?

thanks
Eric

 

Well, I posted that my transmission was just replaced. My problem wasn't resolved until I started writing letters to MiniUSA. I don't see how reverse grinding could be caused by you. Was it grinding after the tranmission was replaced at 25000? Does it grind even at a stop? I was told that reverse can grind sometimes as it is the only gear without synchros...although mine doesn't grind unless I shove it in, which I don't.

 

Yes, mine still grinds in reverse, i don't care about that so much. I care about how it grinds from 1st to second... and sometimes 2nd to 3rd...

Aren't 1st gen and 2nd gen transmissions totally different? Anyone certain of this? Why would they exhibit the same behaviour?