Possible Clutch/Gearbox issue ?

[lowrider]

I have been getting an intermittent problem with my cooper that is annoying!
Usually the car pulls nice and smooth and is responsive but often it has felt slow and less responsive which usually coincides with the gearbox feeling lumpy/ gears become more difficult to engage. Could this be a clutch going to fail or a gearbox syncromesh or the like ? (my previous car, an mx5, did have a common fault of gearbox oil drying up due to gasket failure topping up made the gears as smooth as.....) Could a lack of gearbox oil cause this on my cooper ?

As always all advice appreciated :thumbs up:

[Gismo]

Defo get the level checked, also, when is the problem happening? if when cold then that's kinda normal, but, if when warmed up then yes, could be the start of a more serious problem

[lowrider]

Seems to occur randomly. One day fine next not so good, or it can be fine for a week then re-appear. I f anyone could post how to check and change the gearbox oil levels or MINI service instructions I would appreciate it.

[C.Noble]

How old is your cooper, and I assume it is not an S??

[lowrider]

It's a 2002 cooper