Hi I have a 2005 Mini Cooper S with 66K miles

I was told by a mini dealer and another mechanic after running a computer test it needs a new transmission.

I purchased this can a few days ago from auto exchange type company, they swear up and down this is no transmission issues with the car, keep in mind they aren't mechanics and would highly suspect they didn't have the car checked out before selling to me before listing it " great running condition, transmission and engine in very good condition".

So my question is... is there something else the mechanic could look at before just replacing the transmission. I have heard a lot of different things on the web but wanted to see what kind of input on could get on here! Thanks...

 

What is it doing?
What's the mileage?

I have found recently that the 6 speed auto tranny is not very reliable. Bad valve bodies, spinning sleaves, bad solenoids etc. Your tranny may be toast or it may be fixable, depends on what is wrong and for how long it was driven with problems.

 

Thanks for response....

when i drive it in automatic once it's warms up and seems to jump/jolt (not real bad yet, but enough...) when transitioning from 1 to 2nd and also second to 3.

I do notice when i drive it in manual transmission it doesn't have this issue.

the car has 66k on it, should it be driven in manual until its fixed??

 

Mine is doing this same thing, so do many others. A new/reman valve body fixes it most of the time according to the web. This tranny is shared by VW, Saab, Volvo, Ford and others with lots of documentation of the issues.
A new valve body runs about $1k give or take and takes 3 hours to swap, plus fluid and gaskets. Looking at about $2k-$2.5k all in depending on where you get the work done.
Some people have cured it with a few fluid drain/fills. This is more complicated that it sounds but there are threads that detail the procedure. It didn't help mine, actually I think it is worse now.
Good luck.

 

Aspen, i truly appreciate you taking the time on sharing this info with me, let me take a look into this and will keep you posted!

Thanks Again! E.

I would be curious to hear stories from others?

 

Simple, safe answer, get your $$ back.
More complex answer...
The asin (of japan...many similar/amost the same trannys are found on a few toyota cars) is relilabe when the fluid is changed regularly, and driven sanely.....many mini drivers have driven their cars hard, heated the trannys up, and never changed the fluid...heat is the enemy of any auto tranny, and to make things worse,, mini says many fluids are "lifetime" when they are not...
If you are stuck with it, a flush might help....but the fact the computer has a fault error that appears on the computer tells me it will likely need a mechanical repair...the fact it shifts ok on manual mode makes me womder if the electronic in it are bad....but the mechanics ARE saying it needs a new one....

 

Zippy, yes it does, it shifts fine in Manual...

Yeah i have an attorney looking into this as well because like i said the company i bought it from said the transmission and engine were in great working condition! even though it was sold "as is" i believe this is fraud on their part for stating the above and in 72 hours and 34 miles i get this type of reports from 2 mechanics, one a mini dealer here in Chicago, Il.

I also heard you can't flush the transmission on the mini i have from the mechanic.

it's a has a Engine: 1.6L I4 EFI, Cooper S, 2D, 2005

Any attorneys in the house...

 

Mini calls the fluid lifetime...
Did that on the cvt mini with terrible results....
Since the tranny was not setup by mini to change the fluid, the manuals will not show a procedure....but most any good mechanic can just open it up, drain it, and refil it...one member here local to me had it done and used toyotda fluid...did seem to do the trick....

 

Double post....dang nam server!!

 

interesting.. didn't know that Zippy. Again, i thank you as well for that information, i am learning a lot!

 

Watch Youtube video. easy to change fluid..
i have new tranny.. but will not shift our of D1. code is P0974.. Shift A solenoid is High.
i think it has too much pressure. it jumps into R going to N.. and about half a jump into D..