It seems I will need to replace transmission, but not enough cash right now. The mechanic showed me the differential is we're the noise is coming from. It is not loud now and we will only drive if emergency or last resort.
Is there a thicker fluid to put in, I am in SoCal so it doesn't get cold.

Any advice for a poor man option to prolong the enevitable replacement,

AMen

 

, so is the car drivable as is now?

what noise are you hearing? Mechanic said it is your diff?

what kind of noise is it? is it constant?

 

The car is driveable and when car was up in lift with it in gear (manual Trans) I could hear the gears grinding

 

S or non-s ....
And year....
The non-s did have a tranny change in 2005....
Edit...
From the pic...it must be a r52....so both s and non s have a getreg (so a 5 speed or a 6)....the midlands tranny was changed out for the 2005 year production....and they are NOT interchangeable...other parts like CV joints had different number of splines.

 

Manual 2005 convertible non S

 

5 speed.

 

if you want a thicker trans fluid try Redline MT-90.
Normal replacement for the MINI is Redline MTL.
However, if you can hear grinding I don't have much hope for fluid helping.

 

Thicker fluid will only make shifting more difficult....especially for the first 10-15 miles every day.

Who's idea was that, yours or the guy who examined the noise.

 

I ended up getting the red line mtl, I know it won't make it better, just maybe prolong.
I called mini and they said mini OEM fluid is $230 for 5 liters . There are members here who have been running red line and good results.

So I am going to give it a try
AMen