System Components
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 7 other vehicles, including the 2008 MINI Cooper, 2007 MINI Cooper, 2006 MINI Cooper, 2005 MINI Cooper, and 2004 MINI Cooper. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The drive train for all 3 gearboxes consist of the same elements. A final drive, offset to the left of the center line of the vehicle by varying amounts. An intermediate shaft connects to the right side of final drive with a support bearing at its outer end. The support bearing is fixed by a bracket and bolts to the engine block, and incorporates the inner joint. This configuration, in effect, gives 2 drive shafts of equal length. The benefit of this is reduced drive shaft derived torque steer that can be a problem on front wheel drive cars with unequal length drive shafts. See Fig 1 and Fig 2 .