Hey everyone,

The last 2 days my Mini has been in a funk. I have a:

2011 Hardtop Cooper
6 speed Auto
38,500 miles.

It seems like its been shifting harder around 2nd gear (upshifting and downshifting) and while it downshifts it jerks the car hard(for a quick second) while coming to a stop. I have no problems from 3rd to 6th or when starting off. Its been cold here in PA all winter and haven't had a issue till Thursday of last week. Parked it in the garage and nothing is leaking from the car. I thought since my round trip to work and back is 10 miles, I thought maybe the car was just not warming up and maybe the transmission fluid was thick cause of the cold. Sat till yesterday and took it out for a 20 mile drive and was still having the same issue.

Seems odd a car with 38k would have transmission problems. Of course my Mini warranty ran out in September, so now i have that Vehicle One insurance I recieved when I bought the car in 2012. Am I looking at an expensive repair? No check engine lights are on, and this is the first major issue I've had with my car.

Thanks,
Joe

 

Almost sounds like your throw-out bearing or even you clutch cylinder is going bad. To rule out a slave cylinder problem try pumping the clutch several times quickly while in neutral, then shift the gears and see if this improves the problem. If it does you may need a new clutch cylinder (not a bad job overall).

To test the bearing, run the warmed up car at idle in a garage or next to a wall with the windows down (the sound can be hard to detect) and in neutral with the clutch out. Listen for any rattling sound. If you hear it, press the clutch in and if it goes away the bearing my be going bad (a much harder job).

 

its a automatic.

 

Then change the oil first and see if it helps.

 

I thought its a sealed system?

 

OK What I posted will not help

Check the fluid (as per the owners manual) first make sure it is full. Smell the fluid make sure it does not smell burnt (very unlikely).

If that checks out I would lean towards the vacuum modulator (easy fix). That is hard to test by yourself, I am not sure where on a Mini Transmission it is located. It is a round cylinder probably about 3 inches or so long with a single vacuum line to it. You could pull the line off and apply a vacuum to the modulator and see if it holds the vacuum.

This problem would occur wile it is hot AND cold, but would be far worse cold.

 

It is not a TRUE sealed system, but at the same time there is no dipstick if I remember correctly. Under the engine, you have to remove the dirt shield, the trans fill bolt is small and located on the side of the trans it is like 6 or 8mm. Remove it and check the fluid level that way.

 

Man I wish i had the tools at the house to do this but I don't. I usually do stuff at work but our access road hasn't been plowed all winter (work at a golf course) and the mini won't make it haha. If I make an appointment at a Mini dealership and request the fluid be change will they do it? How much will this run me? $200-$400?

 

You may not want to just throw money at it. If it is due for a service interval then fine. If you trust the dealer and can reproduce the problem, I would take it to the dealer and go for a ride with the technician. Make sure they clearly see and understand what you are concerned about and just ask them for an estimate. just my 2 cents...

 

I mean I'm do for an oil change and I guess my 42,000 routine maint. Since my warranty is out, how much will the routine maint run me?

 

The 42k is one of the cheaper ones

http://repairpal.com/estimator/42000-mile-service-cost

 

You should ask your dealer if theywould cover such an issue since your mileage is well below the 50k warranty. Worth asking your SA if they would good will you a service.

 

i thought the warranty was 3 years 36,000

 

Maintenance is 3 yr 36k mile. Warranty is 4 yr 50k mile (I think)..

 

Like others have said take it to your dealer first and see what they could do for you. If that doesn't come out well then go to an independent transmission shop that knows about these type of transmissions. In most cases they do a ATF fluid change and that will resolve your problem. Even with your low mileage I would have it changed. Any good transmission shop will tell you that it should be changed every 30k give or take a bit.. My 2013 MINI I had the ATF changed at 12k. But I used a synthetic ATF when I had it refilled. Its a much better type ATF and shifts better in cold and heat..good luck!

 

If the OP's car is less than 4yrs old and has less than 50K miles shouldn't his manufacturer's warranty cover the transmission problem (but not the routine service)?

 

My brother in law took it out for a drive, said it may be a transmission solenoid, and I believe I found a thread here while I was on my phone that someone had the same issue on a 2005 and said it was the valve body.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nsmission.html

Having the same issue but when it downs shifts from second to first it really jolts you.

edit: post 3. My problem is in all modes (sport non-manual, sport w/ manual, manual non sport mode)

 

OP, are you still under warranty? Being a '11 under 50k mile, you're probably very close.

 

I'm at ~39,600 as of today. So i'm well under the 50,000. My Boot to Bonnet ran out back on September 23, 2013 and I was well under the 36,000.

 

So would I be lucky and the 4 year 50,000 would cover the transmission issues? I mean I'm sure the labor/parts/ and fluids aren't going to be cheap.

 

Ya, I was afraid of that. I read somewhere that the warranty starts after the mini is built (year prior than model date) instead of when it's sold to the first owner. I know I'm not helping with your transmission problem, but I'd be looking at taking it to a good independent for a diagnostic.

 

The free service (eg oil change, etc) is for 3 years. Parts and what not are for 4 years...

 

the sticker on my mini says 09/10. So even so it should still be covered till 09/14 or 50,000 miles. So what I'm gathering is any transmission issues should be covered under the 4 year/50k warranty?

 

OK, you really need to check if you are still under warranty vs maintenance. As previous posters stated, maintenance (oil changes basically) are 3 yr 36k miles. WARRANTY (fix stuff) is 4 yr 50k miles. As I mentioned in a previous post, am a bit hazy on when that actually starts. You need to call a mini dealer with your VIN and see if you have any left.

 

Yep, if you are still under warranty, it will cover the transmission..