That's how the tech explained it to me, and we know they are all knowing.
And why the Mini S doesn't have the same problem with reverse.

 

Synchro's are for when you want the gears and the collars on the shaft to match speeds before they engage the teeth. Since you must be stopped to engage the idler gear, you don't need a synchro to match the reverse gear's speed to the output shaft's speed.

As for why some Mini's have problems? Why do some Porsche's have problems in the forward gears?

 

Hmmm, then maybe there is something inherent omitted from their design that would otherwise stop the idler from spinning and bring it to a dead stop when reverse is attempted as in better gearboxes. But they admit that it's a shortcoming of the 5 speed gearbox. The 6 speed (on the S) doesn't have this problem. And supposedly the new '07 5 speed was redesigned because of the many consumer complaints.

 

My car has the same problem. Sometimes I can't shift into first and I have to declutch and depress the clutch again. Also, I have problem with second as well. Sometimes it feels like there is pressure against it when I try to shift to second (like trying to shift into first on some cars when it isn't so enough). Anyone know what it is?

 

Not sure but does it feel like this:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showpost...88&postcount=9