67 replies to this topic

[mingy]

My wife told me last night that her Bini was revving too much when she accelerated away, the long and short of it is that the clutch has failed.
I made a call to a mate who mechanics for a mini challenge team and he told me it was a well known problem, he also told me that BMW use a peugot box which is poor and a chevrolet block which is bombproof, i thought it was a BMW engine.
I have just bought a clutch kit for £118.00 and my mate said he will do the job next saturday and it will take him five hours as the engine has to come out.
I like the bini for its handling and looks ( not as much as my classic rally mini i must add ) but after reading the reports on various websites i am not alone with the clutch problem.
Its bad enough with a classic job let alone a new bugger that breaks.I really must be a sucker for punishment.

Think i might get one of those " TRUE BRIT NO GERMAN - - - T " stickers or, if anybody knows where i can get a " My other car is a proper mini " I will gladly display it in the bini !!!!

[LukeMoss]

I have this in my Mini window sorry about the small picture but look at the rear window

[Alex_B]

My mums BINI wouldnt start on the morning of the Goodwood Revival so she had to load all her stuff in the back of my classic and we went in mine (i was taking mine already), but it was quite amusing watching her car cranking over without trying to start and mine started on the first turn.

My ego was massive that day

[mab01uk]

My wife told me last night that her Bini was revving too much when she accelerated away, the long and short of it is that the clutch has failed.
I made a call to a mate who mechanics for a mini challenge team and he told me it was a well known problem, he also told me that BMW use a peugot box which is poor and a chevrolet block which is bombproof, i thought it was a BMW engine.

The gearbox in Mk1 R50 MINI One/Cooper 2001 to July 2004 is the Rover Midland gearbox, originally designed by Peugeot and used in various other Rovers like the 25, etc. Rover engineers insisted on using the Midland box and also wanted to use the 'K' Series engine. BMW however wanted to use the Getrag gearbox and bombproof Chrysler Tritec engine for reliability........in the end they let Rover use the Midland box but insisted on the Tritec engine. With the Midland gearbox it is crucial to change the MTF94 oil every couple of years to avoid bearing failure. From the July 2004 R50 MINI facelift BMW fitted a stronger Getrag 5-speed gearbox.......the R53 supercharged MINI Cooper S has always had a bullet proof 6-speed Getrag gearbox fitted from day one.
More details here:
Early MINI Rover Midland Gearbox
http://forum.minicoo...read.php?t=9643

Edited by mab01uk, 18 November 2012 - 11:42 PM.

[brad-the-bear]

glad am not doing the clutch on your BINI... NEVER AGAIN!!!

[mab01uk]

Main Dealers quote a minimum of 6 hours for job, 'Mini Gearboxes' in Coventry below fit up to 15 Midland gearboxes/clutches a week and have got the job down to around 4 hour.
Many find it easier to remove the engine to do the clutch, like most modern cars with air con, etc, there is a lot to dismantle before you get to the clutch......
http://www.minigearboxes.co.uk/

Edited by mab01uk, 18 November 2012 - 11:53 PM.

[mab01uk]

[villa3]

Many of the older BMW minis are now failing,expensive repairs are needed to keep them mobile.Owners of classics must be smirking!!!

[se_juggles]

there is a member called roofless. He can make the sticker for you.

[Bungle]

the BMW mini is no different to other modern car's and isn't designed to last like classic car's were

[mab01uk]

Many of the older BMW minis are now failing,expensive repairs are needed to keep them mobile.Owners of classics must be smirking!!!

Most jobs are no more expensive on a new MINI than a classic Mini if you are able to do some diy repairs/servicing yourself and at least the genuine BMW spare parts fit first time and last......unlike many of the non-genuine parts that are now only available for the classic. There is also no constant battle with holding back rust from our salted roads every winter. Classic Minis are great but few can (or want) to run one as a practical everyday daily driver car nowadays, even though I did for around 30 years from the 1970's onwards.

Edited by mab01uk, 19 November 2012 - 07:39 AM.

[iMurray]

Most modern appliances and products are designed to have Smaller shelf life than older products. Means you replace them more often and spend your money every few years.

[jaydee]

Yeah but a clutch on the classic with engine in situ is a lot of swearing.
Its not that hard to remove the front end from a bini. its just that theres a lot of stuff in between the front and the engine..

[richw911]

Hows the power steering pump?

[mk3 Cooper S]

This is turning into a BINI bashing time again.

Please keep the replies factual and for real!!!