I have my mini with a CVT since 2003, still running strong. Does anyone else have a good CVT?

 

Just look a few pages back. I think one is titled "200K, Very Pleased". There are at least 2 members with 200,000 miles on their CVT Minis.

 

As well im doing really well too, im at around 100k and just took it for a 4 hour drive straight I still trust it.

 

Had 109K on my 2006 MC before it was totaled. No issues with my CVT!

 

Mine failed at around 121k miles. I've read of a lot of failures here that happen between 100k and 150k miles, but the majority of those with CVTs running strong don't post, so obviously it's a skewed picture when they're failing.

It was the stepper motor on the valve body that died on my CVT, which is replaceable part, but I opted to put in a more robust 6-speed instead.

My opinion on the CVT is that it is probably just as reliable as a conventional automatic transmission, the only problem with it is no transmission shops are trained to work on them, so instead of repairing a broken one, they have to put in an expensive reman transmission, making the repair an unreasonably expensive one.

 

gknorr:

Could you give more information about your conversion from a CVT to a 6 speed transmission? Is that a 6 speed automatic, or a manual? Who did the work?

 

The transmission is a 6-speed manual from an S. Way Motor Works in Atlanta did the conversion using parts from a wrecked 2006 Cooper S.

Here's the dedicated thread with folks who have done the swap:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...trag-swap.html

 

I have a 2007 R52 cvt with 23,000 miles and am not clear if and when I should flush or change the transmission fluid. I've searched but can't find any definitive info on this. Can anyone clarify for me?
Thanx, laz

 

It's every 45000km or 28000 miles. Got that from an official doc on the transmission:

http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/dept/pse/...F%20040323.pdf

 

I have 90,XXX miles, so far no problems

 

I have 88K on my CVT. About 700 miles back, I experienced extreme RPM variation on the highway. I pulled over and exited on the next exit, a few miles on local road later the car went into EP mode. In my case, EP mode restored transmission to normal shifting and I was able to drive 200 miles to get home.

I took my car to my repair shop, it turned out to be a failing rotational speed sensor on the CVT. They found a used part to repair it and it was back on the road for less than $250. It cured the problem completely.

For CVT owners, I believe the key is regular CVT fluid change. It should be done at every Inspection 1 or 2. Unfortunately, many shops failed to do that at service time, and it created a number of early transmission failure.

 

Mine is 8 years old this month with no problems... but only has 50K miles and hasn't even reached Inspection II.

 

i have 120K presumably on the original transmission. it's not running perfect but it'll last until i can swap to getrag.

 

What are your symptoms?

 

none at the moment, i just had the oil changed and cvt adaptions reset. but i'm still getting engine bog down on acceleration from a stop (someone suggested that i could be the engine not the trans)

 

I'm at 135 but the second CVT first failed @ 96K I replaced the fluid as soon as i bought the car. ~ 10K ago. Fluid was a little dark for my taste and i'll be changing it next spring no matter what the mileage. It's going to be a once a yr thing for me. Change trans fluid and fuel filter. I all my own work so just have to buy parts. Cheap insurance to keep that 5g trans shifting like it should.

 

My niece has a 2003 CVT, no problems

 

I certainly understand changing the CVT fluid every year, but why the fuel filter (unless you're driving 50k-100k miles a year)?

I had to replace the entire fuel filter assembly b/c it had a slow leak somewhere causing fuel line pressure loss when the car sat for a few hours unused. It caused extended crank times when starting. All that to say, I would only mess with that assembly when really necessary - and only use OEM fuel filters to be safe (which cost the same).