Greetings MINI Drivers,

I'm looking for a little help in heading off potential expensive transmission repair on my 2008 R55 Cooper (Justa). I have two symptoms to describe and I'm hoping to hear from someone with experience that I shouldn't worry too much, or that I need to open it up now and do something proactive.

Symptom 1: The car is getting rather jerky when I let up on the gas. It's not a smooth downshift but feels like I dumped the clutch. Then followed by...

Symptom 2: I hear a subtle and unwelcome rattling sound that is unfamiliar over the car's 8 years and 95,000 mile life, sort of like a few marbles are rolling around in there.

I never hear the rattling under acceleration, just on no-throttle mode. Funny too that little road bumps seem to accentuate it sometimes. Maybe something is just loose under the carriage too, but can't be found thus far.

I'm wondering if there is some proactive thing I could do now to address the potential expense of a transmission repair in the future. I want to keep the car for years to come.

I have done a two quart partial drain and fill each of the past five years to keep it clean. Would dropping the pan and doing a 'full service' be of any help?
I may take it in to my favorite independent service garage, but I'd rather have some clue about it first.

I'd thought I'd post about it here to see if any of our wise forum members had a clue. Thanks.
TorchMini

 

Do the symptoms go away or at least get less obvious when you put the car into SPORT mode?

 

Hmmm, I'll think more about that and test it out, but the fact is it's most often in sports mode. Also I do a lot of manual shifting with both the stick and paddles. I hope that's not a stress on it. Nothing harsh, just like I'm missing life with a manual some days.
Might you have a theory involving sports mode? I'll post again soon with a sports mode review. Thanks.

 

I've noticed that my auto transmission sometimes stumbles when downshifting if in regular mode. It has always done this to some degree, especially in hot weather. When I change to sport mode the downshifting is a lot smoother.
I did one drain-fill at 40K; now at 52K. I was just wondering if this was just a quirk and doesn't indicate a problem. The other sound is somewhat worrying.

 

Updating my own question: The rattles and rumbles turned out to be my air intake filter housing which had stripped its mountings and was swinging with every lurch or brake. (replacement was $500, so I bought the DRM cold air intake for $250.)
But, the transmission...
still has a small clank with every sudden downshift, like when I take my foot off the gas and the engine brakes, always accompanied by the rattling or clanking of the gear. Something is loose in there.
No difference between sports mode and regular.

Is it wear? Is it something broken?
Anyone know what I can do at this point?

 

Just a thought, but are you sure the motor/trans mounts are good?

 

I'll check that, but clearly now, it's a gear sound, like loose metal within. Time to drive down to a specialist - Detroit Tuned might be her next trip.

 

We would be happy to try and help you. But did you ever ask the dealer about this noise while it was under warranty? Also the fluid flushes you did, did you just take out 2 qts and add 2 qts? Do you know it is at the right level? We had a R60 in yesterday that had "shifting issues" and did a proper flush and made sure it was full and it solved it all and he was super happy. BUT that doesn't always happen. We dropped the pan and got out as much as we could, as well as a filter change. but we KNOW we added way more that we took out, so what this under filled from the factory? did he add too much heat and burn some fluid and made it low? who knows, but we know it is better now. But we don't always recommend this for everyone. but it's not super expensive and that trans over all is not a bad trans so this could be where we start, but the bearing noise is not a good things over all. Give us a call and we can get you booked in at a time that is good for you. 586-792-6464

 

Thanks Chad, I will be looking for a good time to drive down. The rattly sound is new since around December, long after warranty ran out back in 2011.
I have wondered about the accuracy of draining and filling the exact same amount, and there's no dip stick etc.
I would have to have a Saturday appointment unless I wait for spring break at the end of March, since I'm working Monday-Friday. I'll continue on the phone or email.

 

Followup, possibly closure
Well, It's been 320 miles and 24 hours since leaving Detroit Tuned with my various issues that have been my expensive flare up that can accompany owning an aging car. I've had few miles or days since last August without one or more of my service indicator lights on. It's so nice today to see none!

Detroit Tuned took off the auto trans cover pan and drained the fluid and filter completely, confirming that my fluid level was essentially ok after 7 partial drain and refills over the past seven years, but- it was gummed up with lots of metallic shavings. Gone is all that debris and also the economical Toyota Type 4 transmission fluid that I had been using. I had never given that economical trick a second thought until my Aisin began to crunch and rattle.

So now, a day later, there is a faint echo of the crunch and rattle, but it is much diminished and I am going to treat it as if it were fixed unless it starts acting up again. Henceforth, no more drain and refills, but a complete pan drop and flush every 40 to 60 thousand miles or so.

Also gone from the Troubles is my engine light warning which was signaling something vague that has been swept away by tightening some clamps and seals under the hood, I'm not sure just what actually. My engine light had gone on a day after I had a DDM cold air intake installed after my original air filter housing failed somehow with 'stripped threads' at my local garage, and I got the DDM for $250 vs. $450 for a MINI OEM replacement. I'm not sure how I like it since it's quite loud on acceleration and highway hill climbing, but it's a nice mellow tone around town.

Before these problems I had to replace the main ball joints after first getting the word that it was my new shocks that had failed, so I had to order, then return, a new set of Konis. One more caper to add to my months of angst was a low tire light almost ever since I remounted my winter wheels back in October, now all set and stable.

It certainly was worth the trouble to drive to Detroit (4.5 hours), stay in a motel and have a real Mini Cooper specialist look things over. I believe that my car now has the best chance it might have to live long into the next 100,000 miles. The new Detroit Tuned garage is an amazing 'palace' too. The same great service as before, but now quite an impressive building and a good neighborhood too.

Anyone have any updated opinions on using Toyota Type 4 over the official Mini Aisin fluid? I have read on these forums that they are interchangeable even with the Mini branded fluid a 3 to 4 times the cost, but I am not going to gamble on my tranny again.



My Clubman (center Hot Chocolate) parked outside Detroit Tuned February 3rd, 2017.

 

Thanks for the update and interesting info about the Toyota fluid and your trans issues. What kind of fluid did Detroit Tuned refill with, regular MINI or an aftermarket synthetic? Aisin is 30% owned by Toyota, the transmissions are used in their cars, and fluid says it meets the JWS3309 spec so I would think it's OK to use as an alternative to the MINI fluid.

In any case, I'm going to go with a filter change and MINI fluid on all future transmission services.

 

I believe they used MINI auto trans fluid also referred to as Aisin, which costs about $24 per unit (quart?), which is a full synthetic. I had believed that Toyota type 4 was a cheap and good alternative, but if so, I think Detroit Tuned would have offered it. Compared to the price of a new transmission, it's cheap.

 

OK,
To close this file, a brief story.

I had a persistent transmission rattle/clatter every time I went over rough pavement or train tracks. It came through my shifter ****. A truly bad, scary sound, even after the weird gear behavior had been improved by Detroit Tuned cleaning out my pan.

There was no diagnosis nor fix for the lingering rattles until a few weeks ago when I hit a solid object (log) on the side of a friend's driveway. It collapsed my transmission pan and caused a massive flow of red tran$mission fluid onto his driveway. My car was towed to repair. Parts were sent from Motor City Mini.

So far, so bad. With just days to go to MINI on the MACK I was depressed over more repair costs!

BUT- after only 3 days and $659, my transmission was back in one piece and the rattle/clatter was gone. No noise at all on any bumps now. What sounded like thousands was 'fixed' by hundreds and several years of detective work were put to rest.
In addition to the pan, gasket and fluid, they had to replace a filter that hung down into the fluid bath. I'm guessing this part had a rattle. The strategic collision hit the heart of the trouble and makes my car feel like new.

Leave this method to skilled crashers like me. Do not try this method at home...

Below- hauling my Clubbie away :-(
But- a happy ending