Happens to me too, 10,102 miles since Feb '03 (well actually Jan 29 '03 but who's counting?).

Actually every so often when I drop it into reverse from a dead stop there is a little bit of a "thunk" as it slips into gear.

I've kinda been attributing this to my ****-poor manual transmission skills. Yes, I have ground the gears a few times....

 

Mine does this too. I guess it doesn't bother me because my MGB has always done it. Must be a British thing. Just let out on the clutch and try again. By letting out on the clutch, you let the gears spin and realign. But don't try to put it in reverse until you put the clutch down again - it's bad for the gears. As the previous reply said, this is a double clutch.

 

Trying this method to catch reverse....make sure the car is stopped, push in the clutch, move the stick to 2nd gear position and tap the gate but don't put it all the way into 2nd, now put it into reverse. This works for me almost everytime. I have the 5-speed, I'm sure this will work for the 6-speed also.

retroom

 

This is kind of related. When i'm in reverse and my wheels are turned hard, then i start to move i get a chirp sort of noise. It's only happened twice. Am i doing something (like forcing the wheel too much and something's rubbing) or should i have it checked out?

 

I have this problem every few days, and have endured it for 12K over my ownership (Nov. 02: MC 5-sp.). Sometimes absolutely impossible to shift into reverse or 1st. I have been, embarrassingly, stuck in traffic with a lot of onlookers. Assumed it was just a "typical English transmission," pretty much same problem I had in the 70s with my Triumph Spitfire. But I didn't expect it 30 years on! Usually I try to "realign" the gears by moving the lever through 3rd etc., but it is a problem that I'll need to have investigated before warranty is up. I don't have much faith in my local service shop though...

 

Ok I just dont remember off hand right now but wheres reverse in the Regular MINI the 5 speed... this thread is asking about hard shifting into reverse in a 5 speed not the 6 speed but everyone or majority that is answering is saying that reverse is on the left next to first... is it in the same position as the MCS?

 

I've had this problem, and on previous cars, but never as bad as my MC. It's not a big deal. First try the re-sync; let out the clutch in neutral, give a small rev, wait until engine returns to idle, and try reverse again. If that doesn't work; go to first gear, move forward about 2 inches and repeat steps above. I have noticed the false reverse gear also, and usually cringe at the sound. Make sure it's in reverse, all the way in, before you move along. I think it's going to work itself out, or work me into it's master plan.

 

>>>I too have had this problem.
I have also found that there is a spot where is "seems" to be in reverse but actually is not.
You really have to muscle it...
I will have had my car a year in June and the the problem is still present.
If anything I think I may have just adapted to how stiff it is to throw in reverse. <<<

I'm almost at 14K, one year at the end of Sept and I have this problem every now and then. Luckily I haven't been in a "situation" so that is good. More frustrating. I have done the shift into 2nd and then reverse and that works. I let out the clutch and then stomp it again - not really stomp, but you know what i mean.

 

>>Mine does this too. I guess it doesn't bother me because my MGB has always done it. Must be a British thing. <snip>

Same here. I never gave it any thought, since B's and Spridgets have the same feel going into reverse as my Mini. Depress the clutch pedal, briefly shift into first to sync everything up, then back to neutral, and lift the hand away from the shifter an inch or so to the right... then a gentle bump back to the left clears the reverse gate detent, and the shifter easily slips forward into reverse gear. With practice, it all becomes very fluid and natural. No worries! :smile:

 

I recently put on a new CAI, (BMP/PROMINI), requiring me to loosen the trans mounting bolt to slip the CAI bracket in. Afterwards I've noticed it's much easier to hit reverse. The trans must have moved slightly allowing the shifter to align better. The problem is still there, just less frequent. I'll have the dealer look at the trans alignment.

 

>>You should always go in second before putting it in reverse and this apply to any



Sorry for my english I'm from Montreal

 

I've actually had the opposite problem in that mine too easily goes into reverse.

I think I'll have the dealer look at my transmission alignment next time I'm in. If it can go one way out of alignment (too hard), it can probably go the other.

I guess it was a loose wrench day over in Oxford...

 

A quick story: before my '03 MCS, I had an '02 MC, and about once out of every ten attempts at putting him into reverse would result in my NOT going into gear and/or hitting the friendly "false reverse" spot (i.e. GRIIIIIND). Anyway, the car was damn near perfect otherwise, and it was my only fear before selling that I would have a problem with this one itty-bitty problem. Wouldn't you know it, when I finally had a buyer on the hook and I went to show her the car, I had it in a parking deck, and I had foolishly nosed into the spot, which required my reversing it out of the spot right in front of her (and her dad!). It was like something out of a bad horror movie, when the killer is coming after the guy and he can't get the car to start and just keeps cranking and cranking and the killer gets closer and closer! I sat there and went for reverse and felt that squishy "false reverse" spot and knew that if I let out the clutch and they heard the grind that the sale would be off...I did a couple of quick 1st/2nd shifts and still no reverse was there...I gave it one more try (it's been about 20 seconds since I started the car, and they're standing right next to me while I'm manically shifting, and I'm literally dripping with sweat) and it finally hit reverse. Needless to say, the sale went through, so I was able to pay for my pre-mature MCS delivery, and everyone lived happily ever after....except for my '02 MC which burst into flames less than a month after I sold it.....but that's another story altogether!

 

>>I have this problem every few days, and have endured it for 12K over my ownership (Nov. 02: MC 5-sp.). Sometimes absolutely impossible to shift into reverse or 1st. I have been, embarrassingly, stuck in traffic with a lot of onlookers. Assumed it was just a "typical English transmission," pretty much same problem I had in the 70s with my Triumph Spitfire. But I didn't expect it 30 years on! Usually I try to "realign" the gears by moving the lever through 3rd etc., but it is a problem that I'll need to have investigated before warranty is up. I don't have much faith in my local service shop though...

My Jan '02 build does the same thing. Sometimes it will not go into 1st. Did you have the shift linkage fix done to your car? If so, could inter this be the culprit?

Keep me posted if you find a solution. Thanks.

 

>>I recently put on a new CAI, (BMP/PROMINI), requiring me to loosen the trans mounting bolt to slip the CAI bracket in. Afterwards I've noticed it's much easier to hit reverse. The trans must have moved slightly allowing the shifter to align better. The problem is still there, just less frequent. I'll have the dealer look at the trans alignment.

Better take that intake off before you take it in! They will jump at the chance to blame it on the intake !!