Okay so take it easy on me please. I've got a 2015 MCS Auto Trans. I love sport mode and I thought I'd play around with the manual shifting or whatever. Well I noticed I get a LOT of pops and burbles in Manual Mode... But is this safe downshifting in the MINI? My BMW M235 won't let you down shift too late to mess the engine up.. But what about MINI? Also, what is the purpose of the Manual mode and how should I use it to get the best driving experience?

 

You are not hurting anything... It only allows gears to be shifted at the appropriate engine and road speeds. It won't allow you to downshift if the engine speed is too high.

That said, you can prevent automatic upshifting in Manual Mode if the DSC is deactivated or Traction is activated

 

Okay...

 

"Also, what is the purpose of the Manual mode and how should I use it to get the best driving experience?"

Manual mode (M/S) keeps you in gear longer - high revs -> more responsive. It will still shift gears for you (Sport Auto). If you start shifting while in M/S (Manual) - It will not shift for you. Truly manual.

 

So after reading the above, essentially there are 3 driving modes in terms of shifting gears in an automatic MINI?

1: Don't touch the gear stick or paddles on the steering wheel and the car will shift by itself.

2: Change gear on the paddles only (keeping the gear stick in the right position) and if you change gears outside the cars safety zone, the car will override and put you in the correct gear for the rev range.

3. Pop the gear stick over to the left (engages higher revs and responsiveness) and use either the stick or paddles to change gear - the car will not override bad gear changes.

If I have that right, then only when you pop the gear stick over to the left will you risk damaging the gearbox if you change badly?

 

You can't damage the gearbox in an automatic by paddle shifting. It will not let you downshift to too low a gear no matter what mode.

 

Okay, you can never risk damage as the computer will always take over if you approach redline or fall below 1000 RPMs.


There are two automatics. Regular 6-speed and Sport Automatic 6-speed. They are two entirely different transmissions ($1250.00 option vs. $1500.00 option).


Regular automatic:
- No steering wheel paddles.
- GREEN/MID/SPORT modes to the transmission programming.
- "Regular drive": Lever in D.
- "Sport drive": Lever in D and moved to the left (available in all transmission modes).
- "Manual mode": Shift lever in D and moved to the left and moving the gear selector lever forward or back to change gears. Transmission stays in this mode until shift lever is moved back to center. Computer will override if RPMs approach redline or fall below 1000.



Sport Automatic:
- Steering wheel paddles
- GREEN/MID/SPORT modes
- Different transmission programming for faster shifts
- LAUNCH control
- Predictive shifting when the vehicle is equipped with Navigation.
- Regular drive: Lever in D.
- Sport drive: Lever in D and moved to the left (available in all modes).
- Paddle interruption: In any regular drive mode, you can use the paddles to downshift or upshift momentarily and the transmission will revert back to drive after a few seconds.
- "Manual mode": Shift lever in D and moved to the left and moving the gear selector lever forward or back to change gears or using the steering wheel paddles to change gears. Transmission stays in this mode until shift lever is moved back to center. Computer will override if RPMs approach redline or fall below 1000.


But the key is that you cannot damage the transmission - the computer will always intervene.

 

Great write up. According to the JCW owners manual there is a way to prevent the car from up shifting automatically. See below

 

This is awesome! Thanks for the info, knecht. I have not made it all the way thru my owner's manual. I thought I had heard that disabling DSC affects the transmission. Good to know.


That Sport Automatic has some crazy things going on!

 

I just completed the break-in period on my JCW so I haven't played with the transmission until today. Some will say manual is the way to go. All I know is once you put the car in sport mode and switch to manual or steptronic the pops and gurgles are fantastic. I was laughing all the way home from work. The sound and performance were amazing.

 

Select sport mode. Move floor shifter to left. Press shifter forward. Disengage DSC. Step on foot brake and set hand brake. Bring revs up to 2500, release foot brake, bang shifter to next higher gear and floor accelerator. What's that rubber smell?


ISAMIN

 

This is my third MINI and my first automatic MINI (and third automatic of the 29 vehicles I have owned). I am really impressed. And here in L.A., it is the best option for commuting.