Comments on: The Origins of the MINI Cooper 5-speed Manual

By: jack looney

jack looney — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Amazing! , so many people bought a Mini because it was “so cute” and made by BMW with “superior German engineering” only to find out later that the original engine was based on a Chrysler Neon and the manual trans.based on the English Rover. To me, that made sense because BMW had no experience in front wheel drive technology. But, I wonder how many Mini sales people told the customers that fact. Now, Mini is having trouble with the Japanese made auto. trans. Seems like the only successful component is the FRENCH made (Peugeot-Citroen) 1.6 turbo engine!!……Sac le bleu!

By: John S

John S — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:29:50 +0000

I have a 2002 Mini with the 5spd manual trans. At 81,000 miles I lost 5th gear and the transmission is making a grinding noise. The dealer puoted me 5 to 6 thousand dollar repair before they even took a look at it, Hmm sounds like they know what is happening, I have seen a lot of post with the same problem. Mini needs to take some responsibility for this!

By: Ed R

Ed R — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 02:40:13 +0000

Umm, Graham, the Mini Cooper’s engine is the same engine that was used, previous to the release of the Mini, in the European sold Neon. So, yes, the Mini’s motor is DIRECTLY related to that of the Neon.

By: Graham Robson

Graham Robson — Mon, 23 May 2005 16:32:29 +0000

As the MINI author whose book is mentioned above, I can confirm that the MINI’s current engine is not at all related to that of the Neon. The MINI engine, in fact, was especially designed in the mid-1990s, by Chrysler, and is built at a dedicated factory in Brazil. Originally, Chrysler were hoping to sell lots of Neons and PT Cruisers with the 1.6-litre MINI-type engine, but that hope was never satisfied. When the new BMW-Peugeot engine appears in 2006, the MINI-Chrysler link will be dissolved.

By: gabe

gabe — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 05:42:07 +0000

ah – that would be a problem :) Well wish I could help. Best of luck!

By: neonmike22

neonmike22 — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 05:39:32 +0000

Which unfortunately doesn't fit between the frame rails! While i don't have any data on the neon, there is some weird car over in china that uses the 1.6 with the neon's T350.

By: gabe

gabe — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 04:29:10 +0000

From my knowledge the MINI's engine not based off of the 2.0L engine but the export only 1.6L engine found in Neons outside the US. BTW I would imagine they would have much more success using the 6 speed found in the Neon SRT.

By: neonmike22

neonmike22 — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 04:26:38 +0000

I've got to wonder. Since the motor is based off the chrysler 2.0 found in the neon, would the 6 speed bolt up to one of the 2.0s? Some of the folks looking to hop up their neons would benfit greatly from having a 6th gear, not to metntion sensibly spaced gearing.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 27 Dec 2003 06:53:33 +0000

I think the new transmission is a great idea. I have a 2002 MINI Cooper and the transmission lost 5th gear at 5,000 miles. I don't even drive it hard. I have had so many problems with the car already and the dealer messing everything up that they work on. I am afraid to take it in for work. I took it in to have the rear chrome replaced because of cracks. I got it back with a ding in the side and screw driver jabs in the back along the chrome. They had to reshape the bumper and repaint it and it doesn't match on cloudy days now. I don't know if I should give up on it and get rid of it of what now.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 14:03:01 +0000

You have to remember that many Coopers out there are ordered with SS+ anyway (the MCS suspension) so I don't know if that will be too much of an issue. It's also worth noting that the SS and the SS+ aren't that dissimilar in their feel either.

It's also been my personal observation that the Getrag 6-speed feels more like a standard BMW manual compared to the current 5 speed in the Cooper. I think this change will simply bring the Cooper inline with the feel and the MCS and other manual BMW products.

By: Rocketboy_X

Rocketboy_X — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 05:41:59 +0000

The 6 speed Getrag is really a different beast than the average tranny.. I'm not sure that the knotchy-ness of it would be a good match for the softer ride of a MC…

By: Ian Cull

Ian Cull — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 03:54:20 +0000

I still think the 6 speed Getrag in my MCS is not as easy to use as the 5 speed was in my previous MC. After 6500 miles, it cannot still be settling in ...

By: steve

steve — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 01:23:41 +0000

I have been happy with my 5-speed.. It was on the boat when the recall came out so it was taken care of before I got my hands on it.. It would be interesting to see hiow different the Getrag will be.