Hi motorers!

I just moved to Miami, 2 weeks ago...

On my way from Montreal to Miami, the 6th gear was sometimes hard to get in. And the shifter now moves from left to right easily...

So, as a good NAM member, I did a search about this. I really think my shifter bushing is going bad.

I got my MINI in at Lauderdale MINI (my favorite MINI dealer btw) and they kept the car for 5 days, trying to figure out what was the problem. They ordered a shifter bushing, which comes with the whole shifter assembly. The parts cost 150$. They'll get the part on Monday.

But they think my transmission is broken too...

So my question is : Could a broken shifter bushing make the transmission a bit weird to shift?

I mean, sometimes, the gears will go in easily, and sometimes, they are hard to get in... Hard in the way that it seems like I can't find the "path" to the next gear, and after playing a bit with the shifter, it will go in... And sometimes it's hard to get into a gear. But no grinding, no stange noise...

Also, I've never abuse of the transmission. I've never been hard on it. Only 2-3 times in 130 000km, I grinded a gear, clutching out too fast. But only 2-3 times in 3 years/130 000km.

Lauderale MINI will install the bushing on Monday, but they really think that I might need a new tranny...

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

i had a similar problem. It felt like a sand bag was preventing me from engaging the gears. Took it to my dealer and they told me that the battery cable (that thick red cable that runs from the boot to the bonnet) was getting stuck in the gear linkage. They sorted it out and has been fine ever since.

 

really?? This happened without you changeing anything to your car?

Because I haven't touch my shifter/transmission... Could the battery cable gets in the way without any special reason?

 

any other opinions?

 

I doubt it is the shifter bushing, if they are refering to the cage that is on the main shifter ball. I broke this piece on my car when I installed the short shifter. It shifted fine and I didn't want to buy the whole shift assembly so I left it that way. Over the years my shifter has become a little sloppy and I am missing more and more shifts. I believe the problem (on my car at least) is that the bushings on the ends of the shift cables are soft and have too much play. I can move them around on the cable ball joints, where as the new ones are very firm. I haven't had time to install these yet, but I would try/inspect that before replacing the transmission.

Of course check the text book stuff like clutch, clutch slave cylinder. I doubt synchros if they are not grinding.

 

002, thanks for the tips!

So you suggest I check on the shifter's cable? Because I got those changed under warranty 8 months ago.

 

Are you still covered by the warranty?

If yes, get it to the dealer and let them fix that for you.

 

I just know that mine are really soft and the new ones are rock solid. I don't know exactly which shifter bushing you are refering to, but mine (the onew grey cage on the shifter ball. It can be seen by pulling up the shift boot) is cracked and works fine. It is still in place, so if yours is destroyd mabye that is it. There is one other between the shift lever and linkage that attatches to the shift box.

Like kenchen posted, if it's in waranty, let them deal with it. If they ok a new tranny, why not. They will still have to replace whatever else is the true cause anyway.

The cables are under the intake on the mcs, so that does have to come out to get good access to them.

 

Thanks for the infos 002.

The problem is that my warranty is over now... So I'll try anything before getting a new tranny.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment @ Lauderdale MINI for a shifter bushing assembly. I'll try that first, and then check the shifter's cables (like you suggest me) if that doesn't work.

Thanks for he help...

Any other MINI drivers who had this problem before ?

 

Sounds like the shifter cable to me. I had a similar sounding/feeling problem (couldn't get into reverse w/o nearly breaking my arm...feeling like a sand bag prevented me from 1/3/5...difficulty finding gears) and it turned out to be the cables. MINI calls these the "Bowden Cables" and there are 2. I had the gaskets replaced under warranty years ago, but apparently the cables still failed (water and crud got in) after about 3 years.

The cables themselves are not that expensive - about $100 each - but it cost that much again to install them. Knowing that the intake probably had to come out to do this helps explain the $500 charge for the job. Yikes....but I guess it's better than a new transmission.

After the cable replacement, everything is good.

 

Thanks for the notes. Now I have no excuse to let these sit in my garage any longer.

 

I think you mean the air filter box.
I haven't seen any shift cables running under the intake.

 

update : I dropped my MCS at Lauderdale MINI this morning, but got bad news later...

They ordered the wrong parts.... Cooper 5-speed bushing... So I asked for a discount.

I should get my car back on Wednesday evening.

 

I guess I don't see the air filter box and intake as two seperate entities. Anywho, They do connect to the transmission under the filter box, or maybe the dme carrier, or... ... Oh I'm just playing.

 

I'll get my MCS back tomorrow so hopefully everything will be fixed... without having to get a new tranny...

They changed the shifter's bushing assembly, and the cables too...

 

Lauderdale parts dept really messed up... twice!

First, they ordered a kit for a MINI Cooper.

And yesterday, they got the new part... for a 2006 MCS.

At least Lamont (a great guy btw) got me a loaner for today, tomorrow and maybe the whole week-end...

I'll keep you updated tomorrow... I really hope the bushing + cables will fix the problem... Or else I might need a new tranny. But I've never abused of mine...

 

You must be bummed becuase I even was looking foward to a fallow up post.

 

I had my cables replaced under warranty because of vague shifting and missed shifts about 4 months ago. I had the same experience- sloppy gate travel, balky lever action, and the dealer ordering the wrong cables. It seemed to help for a few months, but lately, that vague shift action is rearing its ugly head again. Promini (and I think B&M) sells a short shifter with some kind of improved bushing. I was thinnking that this might help things. Anyone have any experience with this item?

 

I have the b&m. It works well. I don't see how it can help with this issue, but I do like the shorter throw. Driving a stock shifter after the b&m is just silly. Pull up the shift boot and you can see how much play is in the shift box itself. I haven't seen the newer version yet. Maybe it's better.

 

I got my car back and it is fixed!

They changed the 2 cables and the shifter's bushing assembly.

The only downside is the cost... 720$ (3.8 hours of labor and parts)

But Lamont, my service advisor @ Lauderdale MINI, gave me a discount on the labor (100$/hr instead of 118$/hr) and some MINI stuff too lol (a MINI bag, ///M shirt, and a MINI tuque) Ok it might not worth a lot of $$$, but it's a really nice gift from a service advisor! He's really a nice guy, and really friendly.

 

Is the "shifter's bushing assembly" the box under the shift boot? Glad to hear it worked. I'll have to get off my duff and put mine in. I have had the news ones for a few months now. That was some serious cash though.

 

Since I got both the bushing & cables changed at the same time, I can't say which one solved the problem... But it is ok now and I' a happy man! No need to get a new transmission.

720$, it's a lot of money... I knew the parts were a bit expensive and it involved some $$$ to get it installed. At least, I "saved" 4k$....

Since you already bought the bushing assembly, install it and see if it solve your problem. It seems like an involving job...

 

It's an average job, just not that exciting.

 

lol

 

Update :

My problem came back a week ago, and it is worst thant ever before...

I went to two different transmission shops, spoke with Bimmershop (my favorite shop in Canada) and sent emails to MINI-Mania and DetroitTuned. They all think my transmission os going dead. The owner of one of the transmission shop took my car for a drive and told me it was a part in the tranny that was broke and he could not find a rebuilt kit for it : neither from the dealer or his contacts.

For the past week, I've tried to find an used tranny but couldn't find any.

I think I'll have to get one from the dealer...

I thought about selling my MCS and get a Toyota MR2 Spyder, but went for a testdrive today, and this car don't compare to a MINI. So I'll get my transmission replaced soon. Probably will cost 4000$+.

I know it's really expensive but I think it really worths it.

I'll keep this thread updated as I get more infos and prices... But I'll probably get a 2005 tranny with LSD.