I'll admit when we got my 07MCSa it was a concession so that my late husband could drive it with his leg problems. I live rural so no stop and go traffic and it somehow seemed like cheating to not be pumping the clutch. But we soon learned to love the options available with the paddles and bump shifting.

My concern now is how the auto holds out in the long run. By 63k, my poor little car has had everything replaced from fenders and hoods (deer hit) to the main computer and entire engine . The trany is one of the last major parts and I wonder what things to be looking for before my 100k extended warranty runs out...

 

It's a Japanese made transmission, it'll probably last forever!

Dave

 

My 2009 MCa has the paddles too.

S.

 

Living the dream...love my clutchless shifting

 

Glad I'm not the only one!!

Molly is 2.5yrs. old and just under 30,000...still "Lovin' Every Minute of It!!"

 

Add me to the list ! 2006 Silver MCS with paddle shifters

After 42 years of using a clutch, my knee is not missing the change !

Its nice to just sit back and let MiniKar do the shifting sometimes

 

Updated 10/25/10, 9:30pm:

MINI AuTOs (MINI Automatic Transmission Owners) club roster:

1. TimL -- '05 MCS
2. Curious George -- '05 MCS
3. 10Zero -- '10 MCS
4. RJKimbell -- '08 MC
5. AggieMini11 -- '04 MC
6. Tall Mini -- '08 MC Clubman
7. 4130 -- '05 MCS
8. Ferroequine -- '06 MCS
9. BensMini -- '09 MC
10. morphix -- '06 MCS
11. VioletDC -- '06 MCS
12. MINIxB -- '09 MCS
13. MINI28741 -- '06 MCS Cabrio
14. lacynpiper -- '09 MC
15. SteelersFan -- '09 MCS
16. OXYBLUECOOP -- '07 MC
17. pilotart -- '08 MC
18. Prost -- '08 MCS Clubman
19. checkers -- '05 MCS
20. ej -- '05 MCS
21. mochi -- '09 MCS
22. sequence -- '09 MCS JCW
23. smurfette26 -- '05 MC Cabrio
24. gaffer -- '05 MC and '09 MC Clubman
25. Themajickman -- '07 MCS Cabrio
26. ran-o-matic -- '08 MC Clubman
27. calicoop -- '08 MCS
28. saturn -- '07 MCS
29. CalgaryX3 -- '03 MC
30. MinnieMama -- '08 MCS
31. onetigerlsu -- '09 MC
32. darmog -- '07 MCS JCW
33. Herleman -- '05 MC and '09 MC
34. tekron -- '06 MCS
35. old rebel -- '05 MC
36. zemina -- '10 MCS
37. Cactusflier -- '06 MCS
38. hexmonkey -- '09 MCS
39. ke4sfq -- '07 MCS
40. Kodan -- '10 MCS
41. XXLil MickXX -- '06 MCS
42. Tio Barry -- '10 MC
43. SteveB625 -- '04 MC
44. kopov -- '07 MCS
45. moe-jiller -- '09 MCS Clubman
46. BlimeyCabrio -- '06 MCS Cabrio
47. atcql -- '08 MC Clubman
48. gonzoe11 -- '09 MC
49. MINIchaser -- '08 MCS
50. riversong -- '05 MCS
51. ian3 -- '10 MCS
52. jnoll -- '09 MC Clubman
53. Warnen -- '08 MCS Clubman
54. Suzanne's Chili Red S -- '06 MCS
55. flint-hills-mini -- '07 MC
56. chiorozco -- '10 MC
57. wineguy -- '08 MCS JCW
58. slotibartfast -- '07 MCS
59. Hawkeye -- '09 MCS Clubman
60. danmay -- '01 MC
61. garbageburrito -- '10 MC Mayfair
62. futuremini -- '08 MCS JCW
63. MattSaint -- '10 MCS
64. clutchless -- '08 MCS
65. Davidoyo -- '09 MCS
66. George Hinkel -- '06 MCS Cabrio
67. edub -- '10 MC Cabrio
68. vader -- '10 MCS Cabrio
69. ddfs12 -- '10 MC Clubman
70. mattolson -- '07 MCS
71. interchange1 -- '09 MCS Cabrio JCW
72. old81 -- '07 MCS
73. TheCheatOSX -- '07 MCS
74. vereinmann -- '10 MCS Clubman
75. Hannibal King -- '10 MC Clubman
76. srmitch2 -- '06 MC Cabrio
77. mellanor -- '09 MCS Clubman
78. isthar -- '09 MCS Clubman
79. blackruk -- '06 MC
80. wzabrouski -- '06 MCS
81. welshmenwillnotyield -- '03 MC and '06 MCS
82. ceoengr -- '10 MCS
83. LittleBlueBEAST -- '09 MCS
84. TChezem -- '09 MCS Clubman
85. sunny cal -- '06 MCS Cabrio
86. newmini06 -- '06 MCS Cabrio
87. Scanner -- '05 MCS
88. cambunbosti -- '10 MC
89. beelzebufo -- '10 MCS JCW
90. jsargevt -- '08 MCS
91. FamedChasers -- '06 MC
92. Curbiecooper -- '02 MC
93. ManassasMini -- '09 MCS Cabrio
94. Jared1010 -- '07 MC
95. Esham -- '07 MCS
96. NicoF -- '06 MCS
97. Frank123 -- '10 MCS Cabrio
98. kb30 -- '05 MCS
99. Senior -- '05 MC
100. ladyeeyore -- '10 MC Clubman
101. Chris Chappell -- '07 MCS
102. agondokusumo -- '05 MCS
103. Jaque_Mate -- '10 MCS Clubman
104. TheLex -- '10 MCS JCW
105. minimae -- '08 MCS Cabrio Sidewalk
106. exposition -- '06 MC
107. slapshot8999 -- '06 MCS
108. MaverickGun -- '10 MCS
109. cpe2008 -- '06 MCS
110. IamLili -- '10 MCS Camden
111. amberback -- '10 MC
112. gepperso -- '09 MCS Clubman
113. Mello_Yellow -- '04 MC
114. ckakats -- '08 MCS JCW
115. Spectral G -- '07 MCS
116. i3lacknek0 -- '10 MC
117. sekhmet101 -- '10 MCS
118. Springo -- '07 MCS
119. bluemeanie357 - '09 MCS
120. 20DYNAMITE07 -- '03 MC
121. madmike007 -- '06 MCS JCW
122. gasser -- '06 MC truck
123. daviddinh -- '06 MC
124. WillM -- '07 MCS
125. OctaneGuy -- '10 MCS Clubman
126. michele r53 -- '06 MCS
127. alcaponeshooter -- '06 MCS
128. djdraddy -- '10 MCS Clubman
129. motodad307 -- '10 MCS Clubman
130. MiniFTW -- '10 MCS Clubman
131. hoonpv -- '06 MCS
132. Penguin1257 -- '06 MCS
133. kalokster -- '07 MCS
134. Just4Kix -- '06 MCS
135. mgenette -- '09 MCS
136. MiniCracker -- '04 MC
137. mini-mon -- '09 MCS Clubman
138. yetti96 -- '09 MCS
139. dennisinmd -- '08 MC Cabrio
140. DneprDave -- '10 MCS Clubman
141. MINI-Lennon -- '02 MC
142. 512dart -- '06 MC truck
143. kalijay -- '06 MCS Cabrio
144. BillG -- '10 MCS
145. wayfare -- '04 MC
146. RllyDrvrIX -- '10 MCS Laurel Sport Edition
147. HR Cole -- '05 MC
148. Reebus -- '10 MCS Clubman
149. kami-sn -- '11 MCS Clubman
150. inimini2007 -- '07 MCS --> '11 Countryman S
151. FrameDragger -- '07 MC
152. SkyJumper -- '07 MCS
153. Soggy-1 -- '09 MC and '11 MCS
154. Carole -- '10 MC
155. minicounter -- '07 MCS
156. MisterClean -- '09 MC
157. MiniKar -- '06 MCS

MINI AuTOs by model:

R50_____ 22
R52_____ 3
R52S____ 8
R53_____ 27
R55_____ 9
R55S____ 18
R56_____ 19
R56S____ 50
R57_____ 1
R57S____ 4

 

Hello everyone!!!

As I have already posted here, I am an R56 automatic with JCW tuning kit owner.

From the day my beloved MINI was delivered, I was frustrated about how the paddle shifters worked. I didn't like at all this Push/Pull function.

So today i changed it. I went at the dealership and asked them to reverse the left paddle's cables so that when I pull it downshifts and when i press it upshifts.

As a result my paddles work now like a dream... I can downshift by pulling the left paddle and i can upshift by pulling the right paddle.

I am so excited and I just wanted to share the joy.. If anyone is interested it is great now and the cost was about $30

 

Very good info on those paddles! Thank you.

Did your JCW Tuning Kit's sound, ie the mufflers, mellow with age so it did not sound so tinny?

S.

 

Mine did, but now they're a tad more drony

 

I hear ya bro. I have an old beater Toy PU with a manual, and I have to wear a knee brace when I drive it or my left knee will revolt in pain. About 42 years for me also.

 

Change the fluids every 30-40K (1/2 of reccomended) and the tranny will probably outlast the rest of the car.

 

I have heard the same for the Milltek exhaust system. I have considered the Alta catback because of this instead of the JCW system. Has anyone heard or not heard a drone with Alta?

I still love the Automatic since I too have knee problems; shrapnel went through one knee and in spite of what doctors say it has never been the same!

S.

 

wow. 462 posts. so much for the manual transmission owner's club

 

yes. It's just newer MCs, from about January 09 builds, dont have the paddies...

 

My '09 MCa has paddles and the '011 MCSa that is on the ship has paddles. Check out my Public Profile and then go to Gauges. The photos exist showing paddles, and they are not cosmetic.


S.

 

FYI the CVT was dumped with the 1st gen cars- too buggy and unreliable. yours is the Aisin 6-speed torque-converter slushbox all 2nd gen MINIs share, including the upcoming Countryman

Welcome to the club!

 

Right. the MCs paddles were dropped after January 09 (I beleive) production for USA builds, so early 09 builds have them, while MCS's still have them. Quite the controversy when they were dropped, and I remember the Canadians bragging about how their MCs still had the paddles. Hosers

Also, just for grins I took out a CPO Vee-Dub R32 with the DSG on a test drive, and let me put it this way: the T/C Aisin and its Steptronic interface is a MUCH smoother and quicker shifting system, esp. in Sport, and a lot less clunky than the DSG. Not impressed at all. then maybe its AWD and all that extra weight; the R32 is pretty porky....

 

I bought my Mini new in April '09.

S.

 

So it is. My mistake. n00b here.

 

07 justacooper 65k miles troublefree.

When I get time I am going to change 1/2 the fluid as suggested
on another thread.

We originally got the auto so my wife could also drive it.
But I can say I've never been happier. I wouldn't buy new
without it. I'm not sure if I would buy another MINI without
the paddles though. There's enough stuff that adds toward
being a deal breaker as it is. Like using the horn and the airbag
light goes off.

 

Haven't noticed anything to tell the truth but i am driving it everyday so if this changes slowly as time goes I wouldn't be able to notice. Don't remember anything different in the sound when new (it's been 3 years...)

 

Really...hmmm...sounds very interesting!! I'm not able to use the stick shift in DS 'cause I have to sit so far back to accomadate my longish legs, so this might just be something I have the Dealership do on Friday when I take the Molly car in for her 2.5yr. Check Up!!

Ok...e-mailed my Dealer we'll see if it can be done on Friday, I'll keep you posted!!

 

The Alta catback will probably have more issues with drone as it is a full 3" system. Also I have heard mixed results on NAM about drone issues with the catback. The JCW system I think is only a 2.25" system so there is less likelihood for drone, but that does not mean it won't happen. My exhaust, which is basically the same as BostonR56S's as I copied his exhaust with his help, does not really have any drone issues. It can get loud around 3k rpm, but it is by no means drony, at least to my ears. It is a custom 2.5" system with Magnaflow parts. My experience with it is that it was pretty loud for about 2-3 days and then it started to quiet down as the exhaust broke in.

 

Sign me up! 2006 MCSa with paddles. My wife doesn't drive clutch. I love the option of shifting or forgetting. I find that downshifts are much faster using the paddles. You can get crossed up if you shift too late and the auto has already decided to shift down a gear.