Hello to everyone!!
I bought a 2002 Mini Cooper (not the S) with 28k miles 2 months ago, now the car has 34000. Two weeks ago, I heard an ugly noise coming out of the gearbox when I started in 1st gear, there was also vibration of the clutch pedal. This was not all the time, sometimes happened, sometimes don't.
Then the clutch started slipping, so I stopped driving it. I Took it to my mechanic the day after that and in my way to the shop the car made a horrible grinding noise and completely lost traction. I was able to engage all the gears, I can accelerate but I didn't get any motion of the vehicle, not even backwards.
My mechanic towed the car to the shop, to see what was the problem.
He taught that could be the clutch, so they took the transmission out, and the clutch is in good condition, nothing is wrong with it. So, they opened the transmission and differential, but everything was OK, there was no visible damage in any component. So, I bought a new clutch kit to replace the old one, they putted everything together in the car again to see if it was the old clutch. They test the car, but they cannot get any traction, so the problem is not the clutch. Now they are going to inspect the gearbox and the differential all over again.
Can you give me your advice? I don't think that I have to change the entire gearbox, that's why I didn't take it to a Mini Dealer, because, their solution is to change the entire Gearbox, and my car is not under warranty anymore, so I'll need to fix this problem as cheap as I can.
Do you have any ideas of what the problem could be? Any advices?.
I will be waiting for your reply as soon as possible!!!!
Sorry about my english!!

Thanks in advance for looking at my post!

Kind regards

 

did the mechanic drain the fluid to check for metal shavings? try that and see what comes out.

if the trans. made those noises and it's not the clutch, i'm pretty sure is gonna need a new trans. good luck!

 

I also suspect it's a tranny problem (Rover made, not Getrag) for 2002 model. Wish you luck.

 

You can't be that far out of warranty...I'd try some persuation with your nearest dealer if it is the tranny.

 

Possibly a broken axle as well. Have you checked them? Did your mechanic run the vehicle on a lift, finding where the noise is exactally coming from?

 

I agree with techtipz. Look at the front axle when in gear and won't go anywhere. If the axle is turning, then you have stripped the splines where the axle fits into the wheel hub. This will require a new axle and hub. Not terrible, but not great. Much better than a lunched xmission.
YD