Hi,

I'm new here. I just picked up a 2012 Cooper S automatic with 80,000 mi. Love the car. I also own a 2003 Cooper S stickshift. I wanted a second one that would be easier to drive in stop and go traffic. Here's my question regarding the automatic.

I've noticed that keeping the car in sports mode keeps the temperatures anywhere from 15 to 30° lower, even while at a dead stop. I like that this will theoretically improve the health of the engine over the long term, but have one concern about keeping sports mode on at all times - especially in stop and go traffic.

The downshifts seem a little rough from third to second and from secone to first gear. I'm worried about the effect this will have on the transmission, as I've heard these auto transmissions are a bit of a weak spot in these cars. What do you guys think? Is it risky keeping sport mode on in stop and go traffic at all times? It's not that the car overheats with sport mode off, but it does run dramatically higher temperature, to the point it makes me uncomfortable. In sport mode on the thing runs cool as hell at all times.

So I'm not sure whether to try to conserve the engine internals or the transmission, or if there even is an increased risk to the transmission in sport mode. It's just the low gears seem to be rough, when coming to a stop. While accelerating the upshifts are smooth and crisp.
crisp.

Thanks for the help and for all the great resources here.

 

It does shift faster by design in sport mode. No idea if it causes more wear, but honestly I probably wouldn't worry about it - just drive it the way you like.

If you want the transmission to last, probably the best thing to do is replace the fluid. Mini claims "lifetime", but experience with this Aisin transmission on the Mini and other cars suggests that's a bad idea (I went with 60k, YMMV). There's a lot of info out there about this if you search: proper fluids, procedures, etc. If you're going to DIY it I'd recommend getting a pressure fill tool and doing it all from the bottom, I posted a writeup of this somewhere on the site a while back.

The other thing that can make shifting rough is if the motor mounts are shot, especially the lower mount. The lower mount is relatively easy to change if that's your problem. Powerflex also sells polyurethane inserts to stiffen the lower mount (also a relatively easy job to install) but I found that even the softest red one added more vibration at idle than I liked with the A/C on. Again, YMMV.

 

Thanks, I'll get the fluid changed. The downshifts aren't rough every time, only occasionally during awkward decelerations. I'll have my guy take a look at the motor mounts as well - just had those replaced on my 03 actually as well. We'll see if new tranny oil tightens things up. Cheers.

 

Here's my babies for anyone interested:



Running nice and cool in sport mode:


and the inspiration.. no clue what was done to it (dealer couldn't tell me much), it seems to have an aftermarket intake manifold, cold air filter, bigger radiator, lowering springs, sway bars, and I think a pretty aggressive pulley. Drives great other than slightly lacking low end power. Rev her and she goes. 80K on both, almost identical mileage.

 

Is that spice orange, looks like my car!

 

Yep! 👍 Lovely color. The wheels and runflats are the only things I'm not fond of on this car

 

Get Neuspeed RSE05's they hot hot hot

 

Those do look great. Love the idea of saving 1.5lbs unsprung weight too. Those with some non runflats must really transform the car huh?

 

100%, my ride is not great though right now cuz my stock struts/shocks are trash and probs not working anymore. I want to put koni fsds on

 

Going to non-runflats and installing the Koni FSDs are two of the best upgrades I made to the Mini. Each one made a very significant improvement in the ride quality.

It still rides and handles like a sports car, I just don’t feel like I’m gonna lose my teeth.