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MINI Cooper Clutch & Transmission Questions

545 messages,  Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 4:02 PM

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What is this discussion about? MINI Cooper, Transmission, Convertible, Hatchback

    
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Messages Page 46 of 55

#445 of 545 Re: Clutch GONE at 1000 miles! [puffin1] by busiris

Sep 01, 2011 (2:59 pm)

Replying to: puffin1 (Aug 31, 2011 6:15 pm)
That being said Mini is now offers a $500.00 rebate if you order a Manual tranny on a new 2011.
 
That's a misleading comment. Mini is indeed offering a $500 discount on manually equipped models, with the following restrictions:
 
1-Only available on select 2011 hardtop, convertible or Clubman models. Doesn't apply to Countryman or John Cooper Works models.
 
2-Offer expires October 3, 2011. Not much time to order one and take delivery before the offer expires.
  
 

 Now, is this a Geartrag tranny?
 
I think you meant Getrag transmission, not Geartrag transmission.
 
I don't red line any of my cars and I don't engine brake or Jake BreaK.
 
I'm sure you don't jake brake. No Mini has one. Just so you understand what you are talking about...
 
From Wikipedia:
 
A compression release engine brake, frequently called a Jake brake or Jacobs brake, is an engine braking mechanism installed on some diesel engines. When activated, it opens exhaust valves in the cylinders, releasing the compressed air trapped in the cylinders, and slowing the vehicle.
  
Although Jake brake properly refers to the Jacobs brand of engine brakes, the term has become a genericized trademark and is often used to refer to engine brakes or compression release engine brakes in general, especially on large vehicles or heavy equipment.

#446 of 545 Re: Clutch GONE at 1000 miles! [busiris] by puffin1

Sep 02, 2011 (7:52 am)

Replying to: busiris (Sep 01, 2011 1:03 pm)
Well, I never went to MIT or RPI.That being said.I think many past Mini trannys went because they were abused by their owners motor crossing or dragging.
  I must admit I love german engineering.However, after having 2 MGB's and a TR 6 with their lousy Lucas electrical systems and dual needle carbs. I'd never buy anything the Brits build.
 Well, maybe an Aston Martin,or a Bently and they did have a great engine in the Spitfire, a R.Royce I believe.
  Have a good day

#447 of 545 Re: Clutch GONE at 1000 miles! [puffin1] by busiris

Sep 02, 2011 (8:36 am)

Replying to: puffin1 (Sep 02, 2011 7:52 am)
There's a joke told often in Germany.
 
It goes... Why do the Brittish drink ther beer at room temperature?
 
Because Lucas makes the refrigerators in England.
 
Car manufacturing is so widely dispersed nowadays, with parts coming from all points over the globe.
 
While I would agree with your opinion of past-English auto manufacturing quality, what BMW produces at it's MINI plant based in England is a totally different product.
 
Remember, the English also made the Merlin aircraft engine during WW II, one of the best engines during the conflict.

#448 of 545 Re: Clutch GONE at 1000 miles! [puffin1] by ihatemymini

Sep 02, 2011 (8:45 am)

Replying to: puffin1 (Sep 02, 2011 7:52 am)
I NEVER abused the tranny in my Mini. I have only owned cars with manual transmissions for 40 years and never replaced a clutch. Mt tranny melted down after I was stuck behind a fatal accident in I75 last year. We were in 96- degree heat for hours. When I got back in the interstate, my Mini started slipping gears at high speeds when I accelerated. As long as I kept a steady speed it was okay. The next morning I did nit get a mile down the road before it completely dropped dead.
 
The repair shop staff who fixed my Mini tell me that the tranny is made fro
 cheap alloys that will melt down under exposure to high heat. That sounds right to me and I will get to the bottom of this. I'm going to have the parts analyzed. I am out $6000.00 plus $875.00 to tow it.
 
One thing you do not want is to find yourself broken down in a city where there is no Mini dealer as it will be a disaster.
 
This is the second BMW we owned that has caused a financial crisis in this family. We are DONE!!!! It is a cute car. I loved it when I got it. It's like a little rocket on wheels. It is just not worth it. I will never, ever buy a car that cannot be fixed in any city in the US.

#449 of 545 Re: Clutch GONE at 1000 miles! [ihatemymini] by busiris

Sep 02, 2011 (3:20 pm)

Replying to: ihatemymini (Sep 02, 2011 8:45 am)
I certainly understand your feelings about the scarcity of Mini dealers. In fact, I agree totally. I would never buy a daily driver that didn't have local service.
 
A few questions, though...
 
What model Mini do you own? How many miles? Year model? Bought new or used? Manual or auto trans (I'm guessing auto from your description of the symptoms)?
 
Certainly the towing fee seems high, but difficult to judge not knowing how far it was towed.
 
In any case, sorry to hear about your misfortune...

#450 of 545 Mini Coupe With Baseball Cap Roof by puffin1

Sep 06, 2011 (9:33 am)

Well, it's sharp looking and really a HB.
  Kinda of scary180HP wowser.What a road trip car. There's room for a cooler and ice.$24600.00 then start adding ops.

#451 of 545 Re: Clutch GONE at 1000 miles! [busiris] by ihatemymini

Sep 13, 2011 (11:15 am)

Replying to: busiris (Sep 02, 2011 3:20 pm)
I bought a brand new 2007 Mini Cooper S in 2007 with a 6-speed manual transmission. The car has 50000 miles on it. A properly managed car should not have a burned out tranny at 50000. I don't care how many statistics people can quote, you don't want to be the one with a $6000-$7000 bill on a car that young, even if you are the outlier. Were the weather conditions while I sat in the traffic behind that accident severe? Yes, but I believe that car should have handled it like a pro. It did not. I didn't see anybody else stuck on the side of the road who sat in that traffic jam.

#452 of 545 Re: Clutch GONE at 1000 miles! [ihatemymini] by busiris

Sep 13, 2011 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: ihatemymini (Sep 13, 2011 11:15 am)
I NEVER abused the tranny in my Mini. I have only owned cars with manual transmissions for 40 years and never replaced a clutch. Mt tranny melted down after I was stuck behind a fatal accident in I75 last year. We were in 96- degree heat for hours. When I got back in the interstate, my Mini started slipping gears at high speeds when I accelerated. As long as I kept a steady speed it was okay. The next morning I did nit get a mile down the road before it completely dropped dead.
  
The repair shop staff who fixed my Mini tell me that the tranny is made fro
 cheap alloys that will melt down under exposure to high heat. That sounds right to me and I will get to the bottom of this. I'm going to have the parts analyzed. I am out $6000.00 plus $875.00 to tow it.
  
One thing you do not want is to find yourself broken down in a city where there is no Mini dealer as it will be a disaster.
  
This is the second BMW we owned that has caused a financial crisis in this family. We are DONE!!!! It is a cute car. I loved it when I got it. It's like a little rocket on wheels. It is just not worth it. I will never, ever buy a car that cannot be fixed in any city in the US.
 
Unless you were parked over a volcano or blow torch, I highly doubt you acheived a temperature high enough to start melting metal transmission parts...
 
I guess my first question is this: did you get the car taken by a certified MINI dealership for an examination of the problem before having an independent shop do the repairs?
 
If no, why not?
 
Also, $875 seems a bit high for towing, depending of course, how far the tow was.
 
I have personally seen BMW shops do "goodwill" repairs on late model cars such as yours, sometimes eating all the expense and sometimes eating the parts only.
Did you get any offer from the MINI dealer, or were you told to go "pound sand"?

#454 of 545 Auto Transmission Supply Issues? by stardude82

Jul 06, 2011 (2:41 am)

Has anybody heard if there are supply issues with the Aisin
 slush boxes?

Messages Page 46 of 55

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