Come back and let us know what the issue is/was. Seems like a lot of people are having the same problem.

I've never looked into my issue cus it's just reverse, and real race cars don't even have that gear so I feel like I'm finally fitting in lol.

 

Yes, definitely sharp left turn results in near 100% failure. I would love to look at mounts if it is something I can do myself! As I mentioned, the mech is having a look on Thursday, but if I can have a look sooner I certainly would not be opposed.

 

I am definitely hoping for a bad mount, based on repair costs. Since it is under dealer warranty, I won't be stuck with a car needing a new transmission, but we really like it, it's in good (cosmetic) condition, and a blast to drive. Super low mileage for the year too. is something huge, the dealer MAY opt to do the repairs, but I doubt it. That's well into the $1000's even if he uses his own labor.

 

This is and should not be your problem if it is under warranty. He should have no choice since as you say it is under the warranty period.

 

The way Massachusetts warranty law works is as follows:

If there is something defective about the car the deems it difficult, impossible, or unsafe to drive, the dealer may:

a) Repair the car or have it repaired by a third party mechanic. He has the right to charge the buyer $100 in repairs.

b) Buy back the car from the buyer for the price he paid minus $0.15 per mile driven after the miles logged on the odometer at purchase date.

To be clear, the only warranty on this vehicle is the one that the dealer/seller is required to give under state of MA law.

So... my concern is that he will deam the car NOT worth dropping a new tranny in (assuming that is what is wrong with it), buy it back, and I am out a mini. While I am out no money (minus a couple bucks for the miles), it would still be a bummer and I can start my trek again.

 

Promised I would update... and the news was good!

It was the shift linkage cables, which is what mini mentioned it might be initially. I was told that it was certainly drivable, but if I have a tendency to grind the gear it is obviously putty wear on the tranny that it shouldn't be, so he recommended swapping it.

He needs to check on the part, and I told him my understanding is that it as right around $130 (from the research I had already done). He said there were more parts ranging from $70-$150 and he just wanted me to make sure he ordered the right one since designs changed even based on the month the car was manufactured certain years.

Anyway, at the most I will have to pay $100, since the car is still under warranty, and the salesman likely would just pay the difference rather than buy the car back, so I am a happy camper. May be a couple of days before they can get the part, but I will update back here with more.

 

A great mini centric shop in mass is Greasysgarage out in worchester....well worth the drive. Heck i drive an hour from nh when i want something done that i do not want to diy.very good reputation and MUCH better prices than the typical bmw/euro shop....

 

 

Just got the car back... boy does it shift nicer into ALL gears. The mech was super cool. He brought out the part that was replaced (the old part obviously) and it was exactly what I was pointing to in the video. I guess I could be a mech after all!

Thanks again to everyone that helped me thus far. $100 out of my pocket was a cheap fix for this. For anyone interested in the actual bill, it came out to $495, which included the labor on diagnosing the problem yesterday, the part, and labor on installation.

 

Good to hear it was a pretty simple fix (compared to a tranny), and it was done before the end of tge warrenty!!
Nice to hear when everything works out as it should...sometimes our convoluded rules (even down in mass about 3 miles from me) work as they should!! Enjoy the ride!!
Finding a shop that is both competent and experanced with mini's with decent pricing is a find....devoloping a relationship of sorts with one can go a long way!! Lets face it, dealers like the $$ warrentt stuff, and when a car is 5+ years old, half the guys in the dealer shops are usually working on newer stuff, and it can get $$ fast.

 

Awesome glad to hear it all worked out.

 

Thanks Bram

Zippy,
Thanks for te tip on greaseys. I had actually read about them before and will check them out if/when I need more work done. You must live around the salem area?! We go into salem a lot for our shopping needs. We live in lawrence and take advantage of the lack of sales tax! I do agree, some of the laws out here are quite strange. We are having a hell of a time getting on of our other vehicles, a lease, registered and plated. It seems when we get the paperwork we are told we need something else too. Meanwhile we were able to get plates on a car purchased in state on the spot. Silly, silly. I do love the warranty laws. I feel like all states should have something like that; keep used dealers from selling junk, and possibly even help that negative used dealer stigma.