I bought an 02 manual MCS w/44k about a month ago. I have put a little over 1000 miles on it and love it accept for the way it shifts. When shifting up or down I always have to stop in neutral for just a moment. You can't just slam it from 1st to 2nd or any other gear. Last week I changed the fluid to Redline MTL. Everything seems smoother but I still have to stop in neutral. There is no gear grinding and the clutch feels good. Is this normal for the Mini or is there some to replace or adjust?

 

How long is "a moment"?
The reason I ask is that a little hesitation is normal during the throw. It allows the synchro to catch up. Now if its a full second or more, then you may have some other issue.
That said I haven't driven an 02 for anything more than a dozen miles or so, and your trans is one of the older versions, so there may be other issues at play.

 

It's close to a second. For normal around town driving I don't mind, but when I want to jump on it and grab some gears it's a pain!!! My wifes new R56 shifts nice, no problem getting rubber in the first few gears.

 

Trying to explain it better. When pulling or pushing the shifter to the next gear it's like it hits something in neutral like a gate or something. It does it for all gears, shifting up or down.

 

Sounds like something is off. Bent shift forks? I don't know. I have absolutely no problems burning rubber while shifting from 1>2>3, even occasionally from 3>4. There are a few times that I try to shift very quickly and don't hit the 1/2 slot right, and hit the gate, but that's just a mis-shift, it shouldn't happen every time.

 

I have an '04, but the'02 also used a Getrag, which I think, was not THAT different from other years through '04, and '05 only really changed ratios. I agree that there is likely something not right.

 

+1 for something not right.

- Do you happen to have a short shift kit in?

 

No, it's stock.

 

I have a 2004 MCS and had experienced a problem downshifting into second gear. This problem occured when I was on the track. Never seemed to have this problem while on the street. It only occured under hard braking and trying to "slam" second before a tight turn.

I spoke with many others that have tracked their Minis and some said they have experienced the same problem.

I bought and installed a Craven short shift kit and a Texas Werks engine damper.

Since then I have not had the problem. Not sure if there would be a "technical" reason why the engine damper would affect the shifting, but it is a fairly inexpensive mod, gives you the feel of quicker throttle response and seem to help make my shifting problems go away.

Just my two-cents.

Good Luck

 

Does anybody know if these cars (like typical BMW products) have a Clutch Delay Valve in line with the clutch slave? I know in the E36 and E53 (and E39, E46. etc.), those are the first things to get changed from stock for the enthusiast crowd.

That said, my '06 doesn't suffer from the same malady, so I have only another question to contribute to this thread.

 

that happens to me sometimes from going from 2nd to 3rd, but the weather has prevented me from finding out if thats the case when im hittin the rev limiter, etc,
maybe ill go find out today

 

Well, today I pulled the air box out and played with the shift cables and linkage. The cables and shifter stuff all moves very free and smooth. I guess it's something with the clutch or tranny. Something else it just started doing the last few days is first thing in the morning when I let the clutch out it makes a funny sound. Seems to only do it once a day.

 

Gotta wonder how much clutch you have left.

 

I'm starting to think it's the clutch. It's always a little hard to get into gear even when your at a stand still an you go from nuetral to first.

 

Might be worth brining in for a diagnosis. Don't want to go too long without fixing. Might be big $$.