8 replies to this topic

[blackbelt1990]

I know I know, but I really don't like new mini forums and there's enough knowledge here!

What's the deal with changing gearbox oil on an R50 One D? That's the Toyota engined one.

I assume it's a "sealed for life" job but at 173K miles I'd hazard a guess that it's exceeded its expectancy! I find it hard to get into gear sometimes so I'm considering changing the oil. I can't really find much info online relating to the spec or even the service interval!

[mab01uk]

If the R50 MINI One D has  the Rover Midland gearbox then it is definitely best to change the gearbox oil (MTF94) to prolong its life......BMW said it was 'filled for life' like many modern cars but out of warranty there is of course no compensation if it fails due to noisy bearing wear. I have an original Midland box in a 2002 R50 MINI which has had regular oil changes and has a very slick gearchange. Many say a good Midland box has a nicer less clunky gearchange than the later Getrag box. It is possible to fit the later gearbox to early MINI's but you need to change mountings, clutch and driveshafts, etc to suit from a later model.

Lots of info here:

http://www.totalmini...nd-gearbox.html

 

How To Change Manual Gearbox Fluid.............
I followed these instructions on some US MINI forums below:-
Transmission Fluid Change How To? - North American Motoring

(The pics shown of the metal debris on the fill/drain plugs was very similar to what I found on mine! )

Quote:-
Manual Transmission Fluid Change How-To
Although the manual transmission fluid for the MINI is called a “lifetime” fluid it’s far better to change it at not longer than 50,000 mile intervals (would advise more often on the Midland Cooper/One gearbox). It’s not so much that there will be a viscosity break down, but that it will be saturated with wear metals. There is no filtration system in the manual transmission only magnetic fill/drain plugs or disc to capture the large debris.

Tools needed:
8mm allen wrench or socket
Breaker bar
Torque wrench

Equipment:
Funnel
Tubing
Fluid receptacle
Ramps

"Operate the vehicle to warm the transmission and suspend any particulates, raise the front of the vehicle either by driving onto ramps or lifting and placing on stands. I backed the MINI up an incline before driving up ramps in an attempt at leveling the vehicle as much as possible.

Loosen the upper fill plug on the transmission case, then loosen the lower; I recommend a breaker bar and allen socket because often the plugs are over tightened from the factory. Once loose the plugs unscrew easily by hand; then drain the old fluid into a wide mouth receptacle.

Screw in the lower fill plug and hand tighten. Attach a tube to a funnel and feed through the top of the engine compartment near the exhaust manifold into the fill plug opening. A 3/8ths ID/1/2 inch OD tube is just about right; the length of the tube will be determined by the type of funnel used.

Add 1.75 quarts (or until fluid flows out of the fill plug) of your favorite transmission fluid. Screw in the top fill plug and torque both top and bottom plugs to 32ft-lb for the MCS, 22 ft-lb for the fill and 30 ft-lb for the drain plugs on the Cooper/One."

 

PS. The reason for loosening the upper fill plug first is so that in the event of you not being able to undo the upper plug the car is still drivable to a garage.

Ie. If you drain the oil first via the lower plug and then can not undo the upper fill plug the car is stranded with no oil in the box.......

 

I bought 2 litres of MTF94 from my local Jaguar Land Rover Dealer as no where else seemed to stock it.

Edited by mab01uk, 27 July 2016 - 06:57 AM.

[blackbelt1990]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply! I didn't think the diesels had a midland box, I thought the whole unit was sourced from Toyota?

[mab01uk]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply! I didn't think the diesels had a midland box, I thought the whole unit was sourced from Toyota?

 

I think you are right from quote below it is a Getrag but I think the process of changing the gearbox oil is similar. Is yours 6-speed like the S?

 

"The gearbox's in the D is similar to the gearbox out of a Cooper S but as the D is fitted with a TOYOTA Yaris engine the bell housing on the gearbox is totally different"

 

Pics of the diesel gearbox here:-

http://minigearbox.co.uk/

Edited by mab01uk, 27 July 2016 - 09:27 AM.

[blackbelt1990]

Yeah it's a 6 speed. At least I know it's Getrag now, gives me something else to search for!

[mab01uk]

The 6-speed Cooper S Getrag is fairly bullet proof but it would still be worth changing the oil at that mileage.

[Broomer]

Slightly different but I changed my bmw 5 series "sealed for life" oil at about 130k and it definitely looked like it needed it.

Didn't solve the notchy selection when cold but was peace of mind knowing it was done.

[blackbelt1990]

I changed the gearbox oil on a Volvo 480 I had a few years ago. That was also a sealed for life unit and made a big difference when cold!

[mab01uk]

'Sealed for life' just means the manufacturer wants to promote low maintenance costs but has no real interest in a long life for the car once outside warranty.......they would much prefer the owner to trade it for a new model. More and more people treat their cars like their phones and just want to make 2 or 3 years monthly payments with full warranty cover + 'free' services and then 'upgrade' to the latest model.