I posted the vid because it shows the difference between all wheel drive systems....

My sales rep told me its 2 wheel drive, 4 on demand....I'll trust a mini sales rep before any article on the Internet

 

i will refer you to this link http://www.motoringfile.com/2011/12/...tem-clarified/

it is and interview with Heinz Krusche, the head engineer for BMW’s Driving Dynamics devision. Driving Dynamics is the group responsible for the DSC, DTC, xDrive and All4 systems for both BMW and MINI

i will believe an engineer before a salesman anyday

so, you are wrong, the mini all4 defaults to AWD 50/50 split

scott

ps the automatic trans fluid is not lifetime either

 

I'm wrong then, it's 50/50

 

here is a real world practicle test to verify the cms all4 is awd (i have personally done this in my car w/manual and my dad's cms all4 w/automatic)

find a spot where grass is growing right up to pavement with no curbing

back onto the grass, leaving the front wheels on the pavement

turn off dsc/dtc by pressing and holding the dsc button

NAIL IT!!!!!!! (not really, just an aggressive, non clutch abusing start is necessary)

the fronts will not spin, but the rears do spin

scott

 

Thanks for the heads up on that test.

Given that, I would imagine that Countryman All4 owners would probably see a bit more even wear of their tires than a traditional front drive Mini?

Also, I'm going to guess that they say things like Transfer case and Differential fluids are lifetime too...what do you think a more real life fluid change on these items be? 30,000 miles?

 

too soon to say on tire wear for me, only 2,500 miles so far, but i intend to rotate tires every oil change (4,500 miles)

yes, manual tranny, diffs and xfer case oil change intervals, i have been pondering on those too ... right now i am thinking 27,000 miles as that will coninside with an oil change (every 4,500 miles)

scott

 

There also isn't much out there on the type of fluids is there?

It took some time, but eventually, we in the X3 forums found what types of fluids our vehicles took... I've used redline for the diffs, though supposedly, bmw is the only known source for the X3's particular transfer case. Makes me wonder if it won't be the same case with the Mini...

 

i have a good friend that owns a transmission shop ... he has access to the info

i have already asked him for it and will post it when i get it

scott

 

That's good!

Hopefully that may make it's way to a stickied post for easy reference!