ckerr
Part of things
Posts: 257 
|
|
Apr 18, 2021 12:47:03 GMT
|
|
Hey Folks,
I know it's not really retro but the early ones are starting to creep into that territory but what year did the BMW Mini Gearboxes stop being made of cheese and failing?
Ta,
Chris
|
| |
|
|
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,829
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
BMW Mini Gearboxstealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
|
Apr 18, 2021 13:10:24 GMT
|
|
I don't think they did. Probably the chocolate engines they fitted on the 2nd generation ones that masked the chocolate gearboxes
|
| |
|
|
ckerr
Part of things
Posts: 257
|
|
Apr 18, 2021 14:28:18 GMT
|
|
Hahaha dear dear, gen 1 have gotten very cheap and I'm going to be need something soon to replace my Corsa B as a daily. Seem to be plenty of Mods and aftermarket for the BMW Mini which was making me look at them. Probably a big standard 1.6.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2021 14:45:01 GMT
|
|
|
| |
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,829
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
BMW Mini Gearboxstealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
|
Apr 18, 2021 14:53:06 GMT
|
|
I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend a BMW Mini to anybody, even somebody I didn't like. Just seem to be issue after issue even when they're looked after.
|
| |
|
|
b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
|
BMW Mini Gearboxb3nson
@b3nson
Club Retro Rides Member 22
|
Apr 18, 2021 16:10:08 GMT
|
|
Yeah the 5 speed have a bad reputation, the 6 speeds are much better. (This is on the 1st Gen R50/R53 Minis)
|
| |
Last Edit: Apr 18, 2021 16:10:58 GMT by b3nson
'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
'08 Panda 100HP
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2021 16:20:26 GMT
|
I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend a BMW Mini to anybody, even somebody I didn't like. Just seem to be issue after issue even when they're looked after. I have to sadly say I will back you up on this statement , they are lovely when working (rarely and intermittently) but when they fail , boy they cause a drama! If you’re looking for a stop gap car I’d say stick with your corsa B I have built a few of those over the years with various engines , even std they are miles better than a R50 .. 👍 |
| |
|
|
b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
|
BMW Mini Gearboxb3nson
@b3nson
Club Retro Rides Member 22
|
Apr 18, 2021 16:39:07 GMT
|
|
I’ve had an R50 diesel (Toyota engine) and an R53 Cooper S. Both were pretty reliable for 100,000 cars, no less so than anything else of that age and mileage (bearing in mind early cars are now nearly 20 years old).
|
| |
'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
'08 Panda 100HP
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2021 16:59:27 GMT
|
|
The 6 speed Getrag gearboxes on the early Cooper S models are pretty bulletproof. The 5 Speed Midland gearboxes are weak, but as they’re known for it, there must be plenty of people about producing recon units.
|
| |
 Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
|
|
|
BMW Mini GearboxBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
|
Apr 20, 2021 19:19:49 GMT
|
|
There are a fair few places doing cheap recon units now. I really like the R50 Mini, they're a real hoot to drive. Total pain to work on as there's no space under the bonnet. I sort of wish they'd gone with the K Series that was originally planned, but then I guess we'd have tonnes of Minis in the scrappy with popped head gaskets aswell as busted transmissions...
|
| |
|
|
OGDB
Part of things
Posts: 544
|
|
Apr 22, 2021 21:46:41 GMT
|
|
The facelift ones from what I understand are better.
I have a Gen1 2006 JCW Cooper S, my significant other has a Gen1 2006 Cooper and a good work colleague has a GP1. We have had them for 5 years each, maybe a little over. We’ve put over 50k on each (not the GP) and none of us have suffered any gearbox related issues, more to the point we haven’t suffered any significant problems.
My R53 has given me no trouble at all. Our Cooper has had a few parts, however all have been preventative maintenance type replacements.
As per anything to do with vehicle purchases. Buy the best maintained, lowest mileage, newest model you can. I have absolutely loved my Gen1, I would go as far as to say it’s the most reliable and enjoyable car I’ve ever owned!
The only thing I will say, is the Supercharged models always seem to have a heavy clutch. Everyone I have driven has been the same. When I bought the car I thought it was a potential problem, however it’s been totally fine. That said I am very sure that there are some total dogs out there.
If you’re in the south east I would happily take you out in mine if you wanted to have a poke around one. Feel free to drop me a PM.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 22, 2021 22:14:12 GMT
|
 I absolutely hammered my £200 Mini everywhere and never had any issue. 06 car so it had the Getrag 5 speed (04-06) which was marginally less prone to implosion than the Midland (00-04). But second hand units are £100 or there are recon ones available. All old cheap cars have their foibles and faults - at least Mini faults are well versed, identifiable and importantly, rectifiable. It's not like an old Megane with some impossible to find intermittent electrical fault or terminal rot on a 15 year old Focus... and everything is as cheap as bicycle parts for them now. And they're a hoot to drive which kind of makes up for it if you have to work at it. I've had several, the red one was my latest, it's only been a couple of months and I bitterly miss it, I should have kept it. |
| |
|
|
