Had to post this...last Friday when I gave Molly her Weekly Drink, BTW she likes the Good Stuff, she got 31.9mpg, Fuelly.com calculated and because I was using the Steptronic Transmission as much as possible!!

 

I have an automatic as well. This is my first Mini and for the first time in years I actually want to get out and drive all the time.

 

Sunday I ran my first autocross with our MC. No matter what I tried (sport mode, gear lever to left, manual mode in 2nd) it would not stay in second gear. In many transitions it would up shift to third when I would lift for a turn. Then there was a lengthy delay in going back to second at WOT. I was expecting it would hold second gear, especially when in manual mode. There seemed to be no difference between sport mode and +/- in sport mode.

Has anyone else run into this issue, and did you find a way hold it in a chosen gear?

 

That is, unfortunately, the way it was designed. The auto will upshift at redline or before depending on transmission mode. Nothing can be done.
Some other cars have autos that will hold a gear, for example my IS300. Auto shifting will reduce warrantee claims, but hinders track and autoX performance.

 

That's is unfortunate. It is understandable that it upshifts at redline or a little less. What doesn't make sense is that it upshifts when in manual mode and I lift for a turn.

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

Hmm, maybe it shouldn't be doing that upshift on lift off. I will have to experiment with my R52. It should just hold the gear until redline in manual sport mode until you tell it to shift.
Were you near redline when you lifted for the turn?

(the Mini is my wife's and she won't let me autox it)

 

It happened close to redline and also well below.

 

Happened to me as well at autocross. Fortunately I was only approaching redline at the end curve of the course

 

Hi,
I'm new to the site but we've ordered a 2013 MINI Cooper S Convertible with Automatic transmition. Just sold my Jeep Wrangler which was a Standard Transmission due to my back issues. Too hard getting in and out of plus it being standard. I loved my Jeep but it was time to make a change. What better way than a MINI Convertible. Still waiting for it to catch a boat to head this way. Anxiously waiting...

 

Collected graymatter:
The car is a 2006 MINI SC, 6-speed auto, with 60k on the clock, no problems and not hard driving. Nothing in the manual of course and I can't believe that it won't fail at 120k miles without a flush (my other cars have, including a BMW 540). The Aisin is a small transmission, lots of clutch packs and small valve bodies, with plenty of chances for contamination. Yet everywhere everybody claims horror stories after changing the fluid.

I have sent a note to a fellow in Glendale(?) who says he rebuilds the Aisin and CVT autoboxes but have not heard back. I'm on the east coast though.

Advice please.

Jon
2006 MINI SC

 

I didn't see this thread untill today.
Bought my sweet 05 MC almost 3 years ago. 75,000 miles on it now and just replaced the CVT. Still loving every mile in Minikins.

 

That name... it seems oddly familiar....

 

Yes Tim. Saw your name when I joined a couple of years ago and was pleasantly surprised. Great minds think a like ??

 

Indeed!

 

I recently took my car for some recall work in and i have another automatic in a 13' MCS and she flies compared to mine. I am most definitely checking for carbon buildup today. I'm gonna seafoam her and clean the fuel system. Then next weekend I will get to work on cleaning the valves myself.

 

Hello NAM

New 2012 R56 Cooper Auto owner in BRG. Have had it for a month now and been babying it. Only premium of course and even gotten into the whole OCD detailing thing with Prima products courtesy of OctaneGuy.
So far I've changed the antenna to an Alta stubby, got the blacked-out LED side markers from Outmotoring (along with misc. rubber floor mats and keychain schwag), and (know this is frowned upon on NAM sometimes) plastidipped my OEM 16" wheels black. Hoping to get tint soon... thinking I'll go 35%

Loving it so far!

 

Wow, 75K does not appear many miles to have killed a transmission. Mini, also a 05, is now at 65K km and I hope to see it continue on for another 65K before such a sad day comes. If you do not mind me asking, What was the cause of the failure, did it receive the 65K fluid change, what kind on money are we looking at? I would have traded this car in long ago but my wife loves it but the 2014 looks interesting, so maybe .....

 

Senior,
It was tested several times to verify the failure and document the erratic RPMs. It didn't just all of a sudden stop and there was no transmission fail, warning. No cause was determined and mine had a previous fluid change at 40K, according to records. It was a concern I'd read about before buying it in 2010. I got it at a very decent price and bought a service program that paid for the CVT replacement and other previous, fixes. The figure I was given was around 6,500.
There are many CTVs out there that have been trouble free and yours is most likely one of them.

 

I have a 2008 Cooper S Clubman with the 6-speed auto, when I drive in local street like up to 45 to 50mph, the transmission never shift to 6th gear automatically, I am not in sport mode or sport shift (pull the level to left). I can only shift it to 6th thru the level manually (or use the pedal). After I do it manually, it will stay at 6th until I slow to below 40mph or "kick" down on the throttle...I just wonder is it the case for most of you?

I did up size my tire from 205/45-17 to 215/45-17, does it make a difference?

Thanks

 

Wanting to join the group! Had my 2013 R58 JCW for about 3 weeks now and love it! Prior to this, every car I drove was a manual. Very pleased with my Auto and its paddles!

 

This is normal behavior. It is part of the automatic's shift logic. If you pay close attention, you will notice it tries to hold revs around 2200 rpm and never under. This was done with the idea of performance in mind over mpg. Upshifting manually to top gear will yield better mpg at the cost of, well, you will have to downshift if you want go.

 

Kathy I am about to buy an 06 with CVT who did you buy the warranty from and for how much please?

Thanks,
John

 

Ours, unfortunately, has an automatic... so do I join this too?

For the record, on that upshift issue, I think they solved that with software in the newer models. Perhaps there's a way to patch yours if it is still doing it. I haven't had this issue with or without the Sport button lit up. I also use the manual mode to start in 2nd in winter, which really seems to help.

 

My other cars have manual transmissions, but I love my automatic MINI. I use the paddle shifters all the time.

Mine shifts into sixth automatically, so yes , it could be an issue with earlier automatic equipped cars.

Dave

 

John,
My service contract is with AUL. First two years were $960.00 at $100.00 deductable. Have since renewed for three years and the price went up a little. I'm very pleased with them.