Is there an available reverse detent modification (5-speed manual)

4075 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by jeremybingham, Sep 21, 2016

--james--

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2016

Hi,

I am a newcomer to Mini. My wife has a 2015 Cooper (non S) with a 5 speed manual. Since the day she bought it, she has complained about inadvertently selecting reverse when she wanted first gear. I have driven it quite a bit, and I have to say that I agree that it is way to easy to put it in reverse by mistake. We live in San Francisco where stop and go traffic on a 20 degree incline is normal, so this is a major frustration. There is no reverse indicator light, or gear indicator of any sort, which just compounds the problem.

At first, I insisted that we would just get used to it, but 6 months on it is still a problem. Not quite as often, but my wife and I are both fed up with this design. We have both driven manual transmission for a lot of years, but always with shift pattern where 1st was up and left (Honda, GM, etc).

Does anyone know of an aftermarket shifter or mod that introduces a button or collar detent to block the transmission from shifting into reverse. I know this existed on an older BMW that I drove a few times. If not, has anyone ever tried putting a stiffer spring into the reverse gate? I tried searching for this question and turned up a few discussions about the Cooper S having a very stiff spring that the driver had to overcome in order to shift into reverse. I do feel a spring in our Cooper, but it is very soft and doesn't stop me from sliding right from Neutral into Reverse at a stop light.

I have seen the Cravenspeed shifter retaining clip that is supposed to offer a tighter feel with less play. Can anyone comment one this part? Does it help at all with the ease of shifting into reverse.

Thanks for reading!
James

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teeninvader

· #2 · Sep 21, 2016

Maybe something is wrong with your car

I have to reeally push harder to get to reverse

I cant put it by mistake

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--james--

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 21, 2016

@teeninvader. Interesting ... do you also have a regular Cooper (non S)?

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jeremybingham

· #4 · Sep 21, 2016

Its a six speed manual gear box surely! Agreed you can popit in reverse instead of first. Not aware of any fix for this other than take care! There is also a gear display which tells you which gear you're in and prompts u to change but that doesnt help that much!

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teeninvader

· #5 · Sep 21, 2016

--james-- said:
@teeninvader. Interesting ... do you also have a regular Cooper (non S)?

Jcw manual

The only time it goes to reverse by mistake it if it was already on reverse and i am trying to pop to one ... but thats like once in a million times

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Desert Rat

· #6 · Sep 21, 2016

I did this a couple of times when I first picked up my MCS. Once I got used to it I haven't done it since.

--james-- said:
There is no reverse indicator light, or gear indicator of any sort, which just compounds the problem.

In the speedometer there is a window that shows you what gear you're in.

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High Desert

· #7 · Sep 21, 2016

Had same problem with my wife's '13 coupe. An easy way to learn a fix it is to always go to second gear, then straight up to 1st. Once you get the habit, no problems. It is an old trick from my 4 speed days. Really like the indicator on the F56, especially merging onto the interstate. A glance down to shift from 4th to 6th when hitting 75 mph at 4,000rpm, engine not even whining.

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Desert Rat

· #8 · Sep 21, 2016

High Desert said:
An easy way to learn a fix it is to always go to second gear, then straight up to 1st.

Good point. I do this do out of habit since my Austin Healey has a non synchromesh first gear and that's how I have to engage first gear.

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02fanatic

· #9 · Sep 21, 2016

Desert Rat said:
High Desert said:

An easy way to learn a fix it is to always go to second gear, then straight up to 1st.

Click to expand...

Good point. I do this do out of habit since my Austin Healey has a non synchromesh first gear and that's how I have to engage first gear.

I agree with this as well! I've just done this for many years as a manual transmission driver....it's the same with most gearboxes, unless you have a rare dogleg first gear trans! ;-)

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--james--

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 21, 2016

jeremybingham said:
Its a six speed manual gear box surely! Agreed you can popit in reverse instead of first. Not aware of any fix for this other than take care! There is also a gear display which tells you which gear you're in and prompts u to change but that doesnt help that much!

Yes, it's definitely a 6-speed. I have typed 5-speed so many times in the past that I barely thought about it. Unfortunately, it seems to be too late to edit my post.

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jeremybingham

· #11 · Sep 21, 2016

Phew that's a relief i was panicking slghtly. A lot of people think the same as you re reverse me included .why they can't i introduce a simple collar is beyond me and i feel so sorry for learners when i see motoring schools using minis . not seen a solution but someone might.if its any consolation time helps you develop strategies to cope!

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