R56 Manual transmission failure - thoughts?
#1
Manual transmission failure - thoughts?
Had a major failure today in my 2007 Cooper S (Getrag 6-MT). I was cruising on the highway in 6th when it just suddenly popped out of gear and would not go back in. At the same time I noticed I could not get into 3rd either. I thought I could limp home in 5th, but after a few miles it popped out of 5th and the same thing - would not go into 5th, 3rd or 6th. At that point I quickly pulled over and called for a tow. While I slowly moved it around the parking lot where I stopped in first gear,I noticed there was some faint noise, kind of a low crunching sound they went away when I put in the clutch and let it roll. I'd like to pretend I was hearing things there, but I probably wasn't and that can't be a good sign.
It's at my my trusty indy BMW/Mini mechanic now and he is going to start tomorrow by draining the transmission fluid and looking for any metal. I am betting he will end up needing to drop the tranny to dig deeper, but I'm kind of ignorant as far as the possibilities go for these kind of problems.
Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone?
It's at my my trusty indy BMW/Mini mechanic now and he is going to start tomorrow by draining the transmission fluid and looking for any metal. I am betting he will end up needing to drop the tranny to dig deeper, but I'm kind of ignorant as far as the possibilities go for these kind of problems.
Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone?
Last edited by moto_mini; 11-20-2013 at 09:26 PM. Reason: Add
#2
#3
Interesting. I've been reading alot of about clutch slave cylinders causing similar symptoms. But I'd think if it was clutch related it would affect all gears not not just some?
#4
If it is popping out of gear when driving, I'd guess the problem is internal to the trans and not a clutch issue. The R53 uses a very similar version of the Getrag 6 speed, mine failed at the input shaft/bearing. It was making lots of noise when moving, went away when clutch was pressed to the floor.
Jason
Jason
#5
Yep, mine popped out when driving. Was crusing about 85 and just popped out of 6th and wouldn't go back in. Then lost some of the other gears. What you mention about the noise sounds similar to what I hearing in the parking lot. Goes away when clutch is depressed..
What was the scope of the fix in your case? Did you have to replace the whole transmission? I am dreading that as a cursory search is showing 4k for a reman Getrag?
What was the scope of the fix in your case? Did you have to replace the whole transmission? I am dreading that as a cursory search is showing 4k for a reman Getrag?
#7
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#8
Update - In the drained transmission fluid there is a bunch of metallic shrapnel. Based on the sheer quantity, mechanic is giving it a 70% chance of there being some kind of unrepairable catastrophic failure inside the transmission. Given that a factory reman Getrag 285 will run 4.5k and this car has 100k miles on it, I am thinking my best bet is finding a good used example. I have been looking on car-part.com and have found a bunch of used ones + LSD (which would be an upgrade) for $1.5-2k.
Any other recommended sources for a used transmission?
Any other recommended sources for a used transmission?
#9
#11
Nic find. I had to buy a used one with 20k miles on it for $2.5k, it came with a year warranty.Tried for a BMW reman but the only one was in Germany for $4k and had 3 week wait. Thought it sounded strange,but several dealers arround the country were telling me the same so tend to believe it.
#12
Nic find. I had to buy a used one with 20k miles on it for $2.5k, it came with a year warranty.Tried for a BMW reman but the only one was in Germany for $4k and had 3 week wait. Thought it sounded strange,but several dealers arround the country were telling me the same so tend to believe it.
Last edited by n559br; 12-19-2013 at 05:50 PM.
#14
In my case, no I had not changed the trans oil. I bought the car at 20k and it as about to cross 100k at the time of failure, so would assume it had never been touched for the life of the car. I now realize this is probably a mistake but honestly I have no idea how often it should need to be done.
#16
Most good transmission shops do recommend changing the fluid in them every 30k .. So in this case here I would say that the transmission failure was from not changing the fluid.. this applies to both manual and automatic.. I think MINI still currently says lifetime or change at 100k.. which to be honest..its very unlikely the transmission would ever make it that long anyway.. Ive been changing mine every 30k..on both my manual and automatic.. good luck!
#18
We change the oil on our R56 S transmissions every 30k, despite the label on the transmission case instructing us to not ever change the fluid. There's actually a class action lawsuit against BMW/Mini for this very issue. If I were the OP, I'd get in on it.
#20
Well the fluid is actually good for the life if the transmission. However long that is...Lol
Yes, change the fluid every 30k miles.
The only reason it's called a lifetime fluid is because BMW/MINI would have to pay for it in the first 3 years. Funny how BMW pays for tranny and diff fluid changes in all the M cars at 1200, and 30k miles.
Yes, change the fluid every 30k miles.
The only reason it's called a lifetime fluid is because BMW/MINI would have to pay for it in the first 3 years. Funny how BMW pays for tranny and diff fluid changes in all the M cars at 1200, and 30k miles.
#22
Got my car back tonight so thought I would revisit here with the end result. Two months and $4,900 later I'm running with the used tranny (allegedly 20k miles). It shifts at least as good as the old gearbox, really think it is better. Probably due to completely fresh fluid vs. the old one which was not changed in it's 99k mile "lifetime" (not to happen again ;-))
One year warranty on parts and labor, Fingers crossed.
One year warranty on parts and labor, Fingers crossed.
#23
#25
Used transmission was $2500 plus $275 shipping. Then there were misc seals, fluids, nuts, etc. Also found an unrelated leaky pressure hose for AC that was replaced for $100. It was 12 hrs labor at 100/hr and I know it took them much longer so they did not get rich off it.
True, you can find used gearbox for $1500, but to get a low milage part from a reputable source that offers a solid warranty is where the difference comes in. The BMW dealer will not install parts from Billy Bob's auto salvage, they only touch BMW/Mini certified reman parts and that would have run $6500 for the part plus their labor, which was also higher.
It is not as if I didn't call around and explore the options, but thanks.
True, you can find used gearbox for $1500, but to get a low milage part from a reputable source that offers a solid warranty is where the difference comes in. The BMW dealer will not install parts from Billy Bob's auto salvage, they only touch BMW/Mini certified reman parts and that would have run $6500 for the part plus their labor, which was also higher.
It is not as if I didn't call around and explore the options, but thanks.