I have heard some bad stories about past years CVT transmissions? Are the '06 any better? I hate to have it clunk out at 50k!

 

Don't worry...the CVTs are usually good for at least 60K miles.

 

Weren't the cvt's replaced by a conventional automatic in 06?

 

I believe an Aisin 6-speed w/ paddle shifters was made avail. for 06.

 

The Aisin transmission was made available for '05+ model years for the Cooper S. The base Cooper had the CVT through the '06 model year for the hardtop, and still has it through the '08 cabrios.

It seems as though most of the CVT problems are with the '02 and '03 model years. But that could be though because there aren't too many '04+ CVT equipped Coopers with high milage around yet.

Having said the above, I had an '04 Cooper w/ CVT, and I put 83k+ miles on it in about 2 years. I drove it like I stole it, and had no transmission problems outside of a software update right after purchase.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, but than again, if you plan on keeping it past 50k, I would consider a drivetrain extended warranty!


-Paul!

 

thanks guys. This car is a base model with currently 21k on it. I know they are not the fastest, but it looks to be an amazing car! I have yet to test drive it though...

 

I have two 06 Coopers with CVT and both of them have 21,xxx miles on them. They are not only driving like the day they were born, but...

They are plenty zippy, especially when slipped over into the sport/manual mode (I prefer manual mode, the S.O. likes the sport mode).

 

CR&PW&JB...are they both base models??

 

Yep... see the cartoons below ? Notice the CR and the PW one have no hood scoop. No hood scoop = base model Cooper.

 

Very cool. Are they still pretty zippy for around town driving?? I am currently driving a Jeep commander for my day to day work stuff and its killin me!!!!

 

PLENTY zippy for driving around town or in the city.

And even plenty zippy for driving around the Baltimore Beltway, one of the most dangerous stretches of interstate in the country. Drop it over into sport mode and there is no problem merging or getting out of sticky situations.

Our "S" has a lot more horses, but the Coopers are no slouches, especially when you get that lever out of "D".

 

My used CVT MINI was a slouch when I bought it. It took a couples of weeks to "reprogram" the CVT computer to get it to my liking. The car will learning your acceleration habits and adjust accordingly.

If it seems slow, it'll fix itself with a little time and some aggressive driving. Oh, and as CRPWJB said, it's much faster in SD/Manual modes

 

I agree with the above. The CVT, when you get used to it and it learns your driving style, has a decent amount of pep! I even suprised a JCW during a fun run when I made a left turn from a stop sign, and he had to apply a little more gas than expected to catch back up! During a stop, the owner asked me what mods I did to my Cooper. You should have seen his look when I told him that not only did I *not* have any performance mods, but it was an automatic!


-Paul!

 

Haha cool story Paul!
Is there an easy way to reprogram it to learn your styles? Or do you just drive it hard?

 

Just drive it like you stole it!

And remember, it *will* take a bit of practice before you really learn to adapt to the CVT. It really feels different than most automatic transmissions.

Once you really get used to it though (and give it a few thousand miles), you'll be able to get the most power from it.

And there's also some 'tricks' that you could learn. For example, to get the quickest start from a light, there's the "1st-D-SD" method where you start in manual mode in 1st, press the gass up to the resistance point, let the engine rev to about 5800 RPM, then flick the shifter to D for a split second onger than a split second, then back to SD. If done properly, you'll get some pretty decent acceleration from a stop!

And as much as I love the on-tap power of my new JCW (and I do!), I do still kinda miss the CVT. If I could have kept them both, I would have!


-Paul!

 

I've said this on other threads- the CVT fails just like other transmissions{see Midlands and 07 6-speeds} however the rate of failure is open to much debate. Alot of opinions-No facts. Mine runs great at 50,000 miles. And it's very responsive above 3000rpm in manual mode. The good Doctor loves the 3-4-5 shift sequence. Mini mechanics have chimed in on these threads stating that they replace only 1-2 CVTs per year at their dealerships, yet people insist that these technicians are mistaken. Go figure.

 

I just checked... the CVTs were replaced in 1-06, so some early 05's still have the CVT...

 

So its possible its not a CVT? What did it change to in '06?

 

My '05 MCS has Steptronic transmission. Works just like the CVT.

As stated before, the 06 Coopers have CVT. That's what you have, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzxxxxxxx.

 

Well my 06 MC with CVT is a 2/06 you are correct.


Art

 

Not sure where you're getting your information, but what I stated above is absolutely correct. The CVT was used in the base Cooper's through the 2006 model year, and still are being used in the 2007-2008 Cooper Convertible model years. You can verify through the MINI USA configurator if you wish.

Starting in model year 2007, the new Coopers have the Aisin automatic vice the CVT.

So if he gets a 2006 MINI Cooper automatic, it *will* have the CVT!


-Paul!

 

My MA, who has confided in me that he doesn't like the CVT, stated that he was surprised at the *lack* of CVT failures that he seen. He was especially surprised that mine didn't implode, considering how I drove it!

Granted, he could have been giving me a line, but I couldn't see why he would. At that point, I had already put down $ for my new '06.

I would still consider an extended warranty that covers the CVT though (after the MINI warranty ends, of course). As you said, the failure rate is open to much debate. But if you're one of the unlucky ones, you're out $6000 - $8000 (+?) if it dies outside of warranty.


-Paul!

 

Are 2003 MC with CVT has been Flawless in all aspects. We took delivery on 03/01/03 & it has been 4 plus years of Happy Motoring.

 

Mine has not had any problems either. I'm looking forward to many more happy miles.
I think as some others have said, some of the CVTs do apparently have a problem, but it appears to affect only a smaller number. According to what a few have said here on the website, some of the mechanics have only seen a few with problems over the years.

 

From what I have read up on the 02 and 03 mini's that had CVT's were the ones prone to failure. From what I can find it was mainly due to bmw accidentally using standard ATF in the CVT instead of the correct fluid. This was corrected in mid to late 03. The mini dealership here has told me they have only replaced one CVT and it was out of a 02 model.