2003 Mini Cooper R50

[Blackie]

There will be boxes available locally.

There are but of course that means paying the good auld “NI Tax” which means that they’re shy of being twice the price of the mainland, at least from two of the three Mini breakers I’ve tried/found here.

The other one has prices in line with the mainland but doesn’t have any in at present.

 

[da.murf]

I'm assuming @pablo means this ?

Mini One One 1.6 Petrol for Sale - RMS Classifieds

 

[Blackie]

Take a look at this. £2k.

How much is a 6sp conversion plus all the “while you’re in there” work? Bet it’s not far off 2k

It’s a good bit off it to be honest. Even at NI Prices I can get all the parts for need for around £700-£800 and that includes the “while I’m there” stuff.

If it were close to £2k I wouldn’t be entertaining the idea at all. Hell if it were over £1k I wouldn’t be entertaining the idea!!

 

[svensktoppen]

Just do the oil, drive on, and take care of the family. If it breaks it breaks, but most likely it wont. And you will get plenty of warning anyway.

No need to panic. Anything else you buy instead will need work too. No such thing as a "cheap car" anymore.

 

[Blackie]

Anything else you buy instead will need work too. No such thing as a "cheap car" anymore.

This is exactly what my wife and my 15yr old son are saying.

Think about that, my 15yr old son who doesn’t drive, who has helped me do small odd jobs on occasion, is saying that anything I’ll buy will need work and money spent on it!

So yea, gear oil and additive’s tomorrow and I will try to keep calm and save for the 6sp conversion and the other jobs in the meantime

 

[svensktoppen]

Listen to the lad, he knows

Better the devil you know and all that. Just keep in driving, no panic

 

[Bryan]

ok, just so you know, that gearbox is one of the easiest to remove, literally falls right out with no subframe removal required, just pull the front clip off. Also, i have rebuilt a few of them, you can buy the bearing set and swap them all out easily with a set of gear pullers. If thats not your forte then shop around the breakers, you will get a gearbox for buttons. Try AG breakers in balloo in Bangor, seen he has had quite a few through the door for breaking. New clutch, fresh oil, away you go....

I have yet to get a gearbox out without removing the subframe. Even then you still have to remove the entire front end, battery box, air box, gearbox mount etc etc. just to get the subframe off too. The only way I've found it comes out without removing the subframe is to lift the engine and box together in one go and even then it's very hard to do with the lack of space and you usually end up banging the delicate OEM plastic water pump pulley off the chassis leg.

I would do what everyone else says; drive on. If push comes to shove I will help you out where possible as discussed.

I will keep an eye out for a later car with the getrag gearbox fitted for parts.

 

[pablo]

I'm assuming @pablo means this ?

Mini One One 1.6 Petrol for Sale - RMS Classifieds

The very one doh.

 

[dddrrift]

I have yet to get a gearbox out without removing the subframe. Even then you still have to remove the entire front end, battery box, air box, gearbox mount etc etc. just to get the subframe off too. The only way I've found it comes out without removing the subframe is to lift the engine and box together in one go and even then it's very hard to do with the lack of space and you usually end up banging the delicate OEM plastic water pump pulley off the chassis leg.

I would do what everyone else says; drive on. If push comes to shove I will help you out where possible as discussed.

I will keep an eye out for a later car with the getrag gearbox fitted for parts.

Its tight, but slips out no problem with the front end off and subframe on. Box has to rotate to come out with not much room to spare. Yes you have to strip airbox etc to get at the box. done loads of clutches with the box in place too, just slide it back 6 inches. Time is money... lol

 

[big_pete]

I wouldn’t be panicking just yet. I know when you are under stress it can make a big deal out of something. In the nicest possible way, this isn’t a big deal, it could drive on like that for years and years and years.

My cayman had noise in 5th gear from the day and hour I bought it. I panicked and googled and people talked about it being a common noise and new owners freak out about it.

A specialist didn’t pick up on it either. It lasted like that for 4 years, of me kicking its teeth in every drive and in the end we only sorted it because it was being stripped for the LSD to be fitted. Never got any louder in those 4 years and 20ishk miles.

It’s a cheap fun runabout, keep putting the pennies away, month by month. Build up a lump sump and change the car to a fresher one.

Throwing money into runabouts means you will always be back at zero. I know it’s in our nature to tinker and mod cars but if you could put that mod money aside and do the bare minimum of maintenance for a few years you will be in the position of jumping into a fresher/better car with far less stress.

Can still have fun in the mini in the mean time. If it ****s a box, dump a breakers yard box in it at £150 and rip it on until it throws another box out.

 

[Smurf.]

If you spend £800 on a gearbox for a 2003 mini you need kicked in the shin

 

[Blackie]

If you spend £800 on a gearbox for a 2003 mini you need kicked in the shin

You haven’t read my post correctly.

£800 will get me the box, the timing chain kit and the various ball joints and suspension bushes I’d like to change whilst I’ve the engine/box out.

It’ll also cover sundries such as gaskets, sealant, oil and coolant.

 

[Blackie]

Ok, so here goes my rant…….

I’ve mentioned before that my mental health has taken a dip lately. As @big_pete has touched on I’m stressed to the max with running round after the kids, and as I write this I’m sitting outside the City Hospital waiting on my wife coming out from her latest round of chemo, so I half heartedly apologise for said ranting.

This is the situation:
1; My wife and my two sons want me to keep the car

2; the car is worth about £400 if I’m lucky the way she sits. Pumping £800 will get her sitting at being worth maybe £1k

So I hear you, it’s not worth it, but where would I get a car for £1k that’s as much fun to drive or that will be as well sorted as the Mini will be that won’t need a pile of money spent on it?


Go ahead, I’ll wait whilst you all find me something…………

 

[andy9eleven]

Simple. Stop worrying. Keep driving the current Mini until it gets to the "must fix" point. Then do bare minimum to fix it.

 

[Paul.]

There's a third option available: do nothing. The gearbox hasn't failed you yet, it runs, it has a full year's MOT, and you've got a son who is game to help with jobs. If worst comes to worst and you lose 5th, you've got four more gears left to get you home. But until then you've got all five gears. Slug a load of additives in for your own peace of mind and drive it on until something goes wrong. With a full year's MOT it's worth more than £400 any day of the week: someone paying that price might take losing 5th with a smile seeing as it'll still run.

Joyride it on for now while keeping an eye out for a six-speed box at the right money. Don't stress about it, it's something to put on the long finger and it'll be something to enjoy researching rather than a world-ending scenario.

 

[svensktoppen]

It's still a lot of cash to spend. Just keep on driving and put that money in the kitty instead.

 

[gav525]

Keep driving it as everyone has already said. If it breaks it breaks, fix it then. Put some molyslip or whatever in it in the meantime.

It probably won't break, ever lol

 

[eamon343]

Surely a slight whine in 5th gear wouldnt knock that much off the value of it? Its an old car, it will make the odd whine and the odd clunk here and there, its character building for them

Drive away and dont worry about it, you have more important things to worry about it by the sounds of things.

 

[lackingBHP]

Unfortunately I think the situation with your wife is making you think crazy, having had a family member by go through Chemo I know all two well what it's like. I would sit on autotrader for hours in the City trying to use man maths to distract me!!

You have enough on your plate, just drive the mini until something happens to it. If it breaks down somewhere I will grab the trailer and come and collect you!!

 

[Bryan]

Keep on driving away at it. It sounds like you have enough on your plate.

I have these three in the field at the minute. The red one has a good midlands box (well, it did when I put a clutch in it 2 years ago) and I may end up breaking it to donate the engine to the white one. The other two have Getrag boxes but they will be being fixed and back on the road. There's plenty of options for parts out there if and when the time comes.

 

[karl7900]

You have enough on your plate, just drive the mini until something happens to it. If it breaks down somewhere I will grab the trailer and come and collect you!!

Have to agree with everyone on this. You’ll be back to square one if you change now and end up spending a fortune on something else so drive away at this and enjoy it.

If the worst comes to the worst and you find yourself stranded stick an SOS up here. You’ll not be stuck. Certainly if I see a call for help, I’d come to your aid

 

[Mr.Mint]

@Blackie

Don't sweat the small stuff...

As the others have mentioned, put some fresh oil and additive into it and drive away at it. Worry about your wife, your kids and yourself and not about this.

Drive away at it and if it does **** itself, you'll get it sorted one way or the other.

 

[Mr.Mint]

If the worst comes to the worst and you find yourself stranded stick an SOS up here. You’ll not be stuck. Certainly if I see a call for help, I’d come to your aid

Same here. That and I have a few spare motors you are welcome to have a lend off until you get something sorted.

 

[Blackie]

Thanks @lackingBHP @Mr.Mint & @karl7900

I’ve just picked up this stuff in the vain hope it silences it

Not sure when I’ll get round to doing it due to the weather today and the fact I’ve to run around and get stuff for the kids.

 

[dub]

Thanks @lackingBHP @Mr.Mint & @karl7900

I’ve just picked up this stuff in the vain hope it silences it
View attachment 376296

Not sure when I’ll get round to doing it due to the weather today and the fact I’ve to run around and get stuff for the kids.

Happy days, keep us posted.