So i have a 2012 countryman S with 87,000 miles.. she's in good shape.. I'm the 2nd owner and purchased it @ 60,000 miles.. I'm not sure if the previous owner had changed the trans fluid and haven't yet opened her up to see the color/quality of the fluid.. I've read abunch of threads here about fluid change.. I'm a strong advocate of preventative maintenance.. I would really enjoy some feedback on this subject

 

Do it yourself & the cost is low, so what do you have to lose?

 

I had mine changed at a local transmission shop that does a lot of Aisin 09G transmissions. Our MINIs are a little more difficult than the same transmission in VWs as on our MINIs the front subframe is in the way of the transmissions oil pan, making it more difficult to drop it and clean the oil strainer. I asked my dealer if they would do it but they said it wasn't necessary as it has "lifetime fluid" which as we all know is B.S.

 

I done mine a wile ago with 130000km, it needed to be done. Fluid was dark with crud on the magnets.
Not to big a job. I used a torx by hex screwdriver bit ground down on both ends to clear the sub frame.
Drained the fluid, Dropped the pan, replaced the filter and cleaned the magnets, replaced pan and stand pipe, used fluid (Toyota type 4), filled from the bottom with a hand pressurized deck sprayer, 4 liters in, warmed to 30 degrees and ran through the gears, dropped the fill plug and about 50mils came back out, replaced plug, done.

 

Thanks for the feedback.. this will be my 1st mini trans fluid update.. how many liters does it take?

 

Nevermind that last question.. I hit the submit button by mistake.. so after i fill it i just let the car ide for about 10-15 mins to get the fluid upto temperature.. then cycle through each gear in about 2 second intervals, shut the car off.. then release the filler plug for any excess (overflow) fluid?

 

Close, the car has to be left running when you let the excess out.
If not you will you will lose about a liter or more.

 

Lost of info here since it shared the same on with the R56
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...id-change.html

 

a huge thank you for that link.. I had thought it was shared by the R56..