Yeah i am 99% sure my transmission is shot. Today i was in reverse going about 10 mph when it all of a sudden made a loud noise and went into first gear. Granted i didnt touch anything while backing up. I turned off the car and examined everything and nothing seemed to be leaky or broken. I got back in started the car and put it in first and drove home (a block a way).

I then drained the fluid waiting to see metal, fluid came out clean. Car goes into first - six and drives just fine. Car goes into reverse and makes some really bad noises and doesnt want to do much.

With the car on and in neutral with the clutch out you can here something whining in there.

So I am guessing she is shot.

Time to source a new one.

 

Hmm... Maybe repairable. But transmissions are a pain

 

Oddly enough, I swapped out the fluids and it drove fine just no reverse all the way to work. Got to work and decided to try reverse.. and it worked.

I am confused, but I know its just a matter of time before it tanks again. time to source a new one.

 

Take lots of pics and rebuild the trans. I enjoy your how to threads

-JL

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles. We have a Cooper (non-s) and also had a transmission problem (grinding when shifting to 2d). Fortunately, we caught it while the car was under warranty and the dealer replaced it. Check with your service writer and see if they have any options or history of this type of problem.

 

Ok, I'm confused... There is no way, none, impossible... for a manual transmission car to do that. The reverse gear dog and 1st gear are on completely different shafts, rotating in opposite directions. There is simply no way for that to happen.

It can pop out of gear, but...


So you are saying you were in reverse going about 10 mph backwards and then you were in first going forwards at 10 mph? Since reverse and first are roughly the same ratio, but opposite rotation?

 

The transmission will just be replaced with a low mileage one. You cannot get parts from MINI for these trans as they are non-serviceable.

Yes it really did go from reverse to first.. it happened. I dont get why or how.. but it did there are some nice skid marks to show it.