Looks like my CVT is dead. Can't get out of second gear.
Car was towed to the shop yesterday and they are diagnosing the problem now.

I read that there has been some action law suits regarding CVT failures but it is not clear to me as to what is covered or not.

Does anyone here know enough to help me make a decision of how to get this fixed?

 

More than likely BMW/MINI will want you to bring the car to a dealership to confirm that it qualifies for the class action. I would call the nearest BMW or MINI dealer and see what they have to say.

Otherewise, grab another CVT from a re-seller and throw it in

 

I'm not sure I qualify for the class action but the website has a lot of conflicting information... some say filling date passed (april 2014) but another place said it isn't.
Plus, my car is 10 years old, and they mentioned something about coverage for up to 8 years/150k so I think that means I get nothing.

In the meantime my shop called, they run some reinitialize process on the car. it seems to run perfectly fine at high way speeds but when tested around the neighbor hood it is still stuck at second gear.
They are planning to test the controller this afternoon and see it that is the faulty part and not the actual transmission. I still have hope it is not a completely ruined transmission.

 

I have have nothing but Manuals all my life, so excuse my ignorance.

Don't CVT's lack gears? I know newer ones have "simulated gears" but It was my understanding that they had no gears... In that case, how are you "stuck" in 2nd gear when its a "continuously variable transmission"?

Sorry if I'm missing something but I just don't get CVT's in general.

 

It is official. Transmission is bad and all they can do is replace it... estimated cost is $8000.... $5700 for the parts, rest for the 15 hours labor.

Any chance a mini dealer will give me something for a dead car?

 

Ugh. I'm so sorry to hear that.

I know this has been going on a while, and there's been a class action lawsuit, etc. but I still can't believe these cars just become doorstops after so many miles. Insane.

I had an '05 with the 5-speed for five years, and now picked up an eight-year-old '06 S. I can't believe there's no way to replace part of the automatic transmission. You're far from the first to post with an $8,000 bill on the CVTs.

I've seen something about rebuilds, like the above poster alluded to; maybe there's another option.

 

regardless... contact BMW or MINI dealership and see what they think. Its free to call them.... I think....

 

I called my dealer and waiting for a manager to call me back...

 

CVT's have a drive belt. I rebuilt mine. I have a 03 mini.

 

CVT continuous variable transmission, the belts are moving on asymmetric cylinders.They have no gears.
You had to change the oil at 40000 km (25000 miles) intervals .

 

Haha shoot I change my MTL almost that often! Sounds like bad maintenance leads to a bad CVT...

 

I had mine for six years, the new owner has still the original CVT gearbox.This system is very delicate, the first CVT (DAF) used a rubber belt, this one has a metal belt made in Belgium.

 

How many miles on the CVT? Did you ever change the fluid?

The service interval specifies a CVT fluid change at every Inspection (1 or 2). Which means changing it every 30000 miles depending on your driving style. Mine has 110000 miles on it, the only repair was a speed sensor 3 years ago. Honestly, it runs just about as good as day one despite the mileage.

I just spoke to my service advisor about the CVT at my last service. He said replacing the CVT with a rebuilt unit was $8,200. So you are right in the ball park, apparently, you are not getting a new CVT for that price, but a rebuilt one from MINI.

If mine ever fail on me, the car is going straight to the junk yard.

 

Here's a plan..

I have a very low mileage stock 2003 Cooper for sale for less than the cost of a CVT replacement. 35K miles, and CVT fluid flushed twice in the past 6 years.

Buy that, swap over any cool aftermarket stuff you have from yours like wheels or intake, and sell yours as a project car ;-)