On Friday, January 27th I took my 2005 MC to MINI of Towson for the first service. I actually had the oil changed at 5K miles by an independent service center. Anyway. While I was waiting the head of the service department told me that they found that my 5-speed manual transmission was leaking fluid (leaky seals) and that they were going to replace it - free of course - and that I could pick up Red 5 on Monday. They readied an '06 MCS for me as a loaner for the weekend and in fifteen minutes I was on my way home. They just called me (11:15 AM) and told me that Red 5 is ready , so when I am done work for the day (in Rockville, MD) I will be heading over to Towson to get my baby.

I was told that the leaking transmission was VERY rare and that it is something they don't take lightly. Instead of trying to repair it, they replace it immediately.

Anyone else had this happen and or know what causes it? This afternoon, when you go to get in your MINI, you might want to check underneath and see if your MINI is leaking anything.

MTFBWY,
--Will

 

This was not uncommon on the older Midlands 5-speed transmission on pre-2004 cars, but this is the first I've heard of it on the new Getrag unit. Glad to hear they caught it while you were in the shop and could get a loaner!

 

I should have mentioned my driving habits. M-F for my daily roundtrip commute I drive around 55 miles on a combination country road and highway. My speeds are usually from 5-10 (country roads) and 10-15 (highways) over the speed limit. I am easy on the shifting, although I do downshift a lot for braking. I've never been to a track. Don't know if that would have anything to do with it. I figure it was just one of those mechanical things that happens on the rare occassion.

MTFBWY,
--Will

 

I have an '03 Midlands and had my shaft seals replaced due to leaking.

 

I had the transmission, clutch, and clutch cylinder replaced on my '05 MC at about 4K miles under warranty. They didn't tell me what was wrong exactly, but it was difficult to get into 1st at times and it made a lot of noise.

 

Just had my 02 MCS Getrag 6spd replaced with 37K miles. It seemed hard to shift and I found myself grinding/mis-shifting fairly often into 3rd. I have driven a stick all my life, so I did not think it was me. I wanted to at least get it documented, just in case and also had other maintenance issues to take care of. Took it in and they responded 2 hours later with R&R. I also got the clutch (on my $$).

Seems odd for tranny to go at so low mileage, especially one as "reputable" as the Getrag. There are many postings here on NAM about these failures. One has to ask if it is common failure, or if just outspoken people?

Motoring on with new gears,
azminied

 

The reason they always replace the transmissions as opposed to tearing them down for inspection and rebuilding them, is simply due to MINI of USA's policy, which never allows a dealership to teardown either Manual or Automatic transmissions, they can only replace them.

 

A MCS loaner, have fun with it!

 

Sorry for the late follow up about the tranny replacement that happened on Monday. Sorry, but I giggle everytime I read the word tranny. Makes me think transvestite. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

The new 5-speed tranny was installed Monday and I picked up Red 5 that afternoon. There is a noticable improvement in shifting. It's much smoother. MINI of Towson treated me really well and I will give them the score of 5, even though I hate how the MINI dealers and service departments give us the sob story about anything less than a 5 = failure. Seriously, if they want that 5 so bad they really need to go all out for it and quit the begging. And kissing up to me in the process wouldn't hurt either

The loaner MCS was nice, but I love my '05 MC and I wouldn't trade for an S. The S just doesn't "do it" for me. But I would get a multifunction steering wheel and the auto darkening rear view mirror. Those are upgrades I would really like.

MTFBWY,
--Will

 

Glad to hear you are back motoring with your own baby. I always have gotten a MCa loaner when I've had my wife's MCSa in for service. Going from the S to a MCa always makes me badly miss the additional 58hp. Now if they would give me a stick MC...

 

They asked me if I wanted a stick or automatic. I thought that was pretty cool of them to care. When I said stick I also added convertable to the request, but they didn't have any of those available as loaners. Yeah, it's winter, but it's a mild one in Maryland and I would have motored with the top down and the heat on if they had had one.

My friend Steve-o had to take his MCS in for service at MINI of Towson last fall and he lucked into getting a convertable as a loaner!

 

I have an 03 MCS. Last year, I had a slight vibration in the gearshift in 1st and 3rd gears. I read a thread here on NAM with someone who had that exact issue. They had their transmission replaced, as did I. Mine was at 24k miles.

 

I don't understand the way MINI seems to treat engines and transmissions as a single part. If anything goes wrong, their only option seems to be to replace the entire thing.

I know they rebuild them and put them back into service, but this is the only car company that I've seen work like this. Everyone else would have replaced the seal and been done with it.

Is this the way BMW does business?