This CAN'T be good...
 

Cooper S 2004 about 56.5k miles. It's a "Friday" car. (yes, I know it's Tuesday but, it was pretty.)

TODAY it began manifesting a strange issue:

Hard to shift into third. Upon trying to re-create the issue it seems like it occurs at higher rpm. Tho, it also seems kind of random.

Also, tough to get into gear easy to get out of. THEN, it's easy to get back into that gear.

Syncho issue? Clutch? WTF?

Am I about to drop a boatload of bread?

Does it grind?

I wouldn't freak out quite yet. I suggest changing your tranny fluid and seeing if that makes a difference first. If not, have your clutch checked.

+1

Clunky shifting is a sign of worn fluid, generally.

it could be the linkage too - which is less expensive an issue.

fingers crossed for you.

No grindy. Tho, the clutch releases closer to the floor than my truck does.

That would point me to the syncro but yeah, I'd flush the fluid first.

Sorry but how does the clutch releasing right off the floor indicate synchro's?

Hah! I was typing that while walking around wal-mart on my iPhone. I was too distracted. I meant possibly cylinder :razz:

There is a cable part of the linkage, which, if it becomes frayed, I think could cause the symptoms you described. My 2004 S had that, quite a while ago, and I was certain that it was something really pricey, but it was only the cable. Best of luck either way.

Thanks SO much for all the ideas. I've yet to have a chance to mess with anything. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Todays winner in my paranoid automotive speculation thread.

I've been informed my "cables are binding". I had them change the fluid and they're fixing some other issues. I'm dropping less than a grand so I'm pretty happy.

Thanks for the hand holding folks.

The clutches in MINIs are hydraulic... You may have a leaking seal in either the clutch master cylinder or slave cylinder... Another possibility is binding shift linkage, but from the sound of your problem, I would bet it's either a bad master / slave cylinder seal or the clutch system is low on fluid...