Hello,

Been lurking and finally decied to join. Very informational forum. I just have some questions though. I did some searching and couldn't get a clear answer.

So I just bought a 03 CVT mini with 90k miles.
1) when I start off from a dead stop, it starts off like a manual car would? Almost like slipping the clutch on a manual car... is this normal for auto mini? Once it gets going it drives like a normal automatic car.

2) When I am at freeway speeds like 60-70MPH everytime I let off the gas the car shifts to 5th and when I give it some gas it goes back to 6th? Is this normal? It seems like excessive engine breaking?

3) From a dead stop if I give it a lot of gas, I hear hollow rattling comming from the engine bay.. But if I start off at a reasonable gas pressure then there is no noise. It seems like the noise is more present when I have the ac on(not 100% sure)

Thanks for all your help

 

Never driven an auto mini... but it sounds consistent with other Mini CVT stories, but it's not normal for it to operate like that, but a Mini tech will say it's normal. A non Mini tech will say you need a new tranny.

Do a search for "Mini Cooper CVT" on this forum, or google, or any search engine. It won't be pretty, and I hate to say it, but if you had researched this a month ago, you wouldn't have bought the car.

 

Dude that's how a CVT works. They drive funny and you will never get used to it. I've never driven a mini CVT but my mothers Jeep has one. Floor it and you will see the revs just stay at redline and never shift.

Think of how a snow mobile works, that's generally how a CVT transmission works. No gears really. Though in cars they kind of manipulate gears with certain sections of the transmission and the ECU. It's a pulley and belt system that travel left and and right to create different ratios of a front and rear sprocket, or pulley. The technology is pretty cool but just odd to get used to in a car.

 

I too currently got a 2003 Mini Cooper, CVT. Congrats on your buy

The CVT does work like it should, just how it works from stand still, Like a neutral clutch :P(Belt engages and you feel torque pull). I have never had issues with two(#2 you driving in D or other?) or three(#3 could be AC compressor wearing out, and or a cv boot repair is needed). Maybe computer software update for car n transmission is needed if your behind.

But other then that mine works perfect .

 

Are you sure? I've owned 3 automatic cars (none mini's) and that does not sound good. Not even with the AC on, or towing a trailer did they ever do that stuff.

 

...maybe that's what "Continuously Variable" means lol

 

#1 sounds like the correct way a CVT drives or feels when starting from a stop.
#2 When letting off the gas and then resuming the original speed (60-70), do the rpms rev or remain fairly consistent? I ask only because my 05 is presently being tested for failed CTV. Mine. while doing 60, with a slight tap on gas to accelerate, would bring on a huge rpm increase while feeling it kick into a lower gear. Mine felt as tho it had jumped straight up off the highway. Never did it before, untill 1 month ago and I've driven the car for 2 1/2 years. First time I thought cd case had fallen somehow and slipped under the accelerator. Second time had prepared myself for the "If it happens again". 3rd time took it to the mechanic and they've done the proceedures set by BMW. Speed develops quickly in the CTV but silently and should not be jarring.
#3 I've never noticed any rattling noise.

 

I bought a 2003 with the cvt last month,test drove 2 6 speed cooper s models but liked the automatic because i was tired of shifting gears up and down the hills where i live. It has over 117,000 miles and acts the same way you describe yours minus the rattling.my ride to and from work is a joy now and it is super in the curves.

 

I am dating myself for sure, and I know zip about the Mini ( getting my CM today !) but a lot of what seems to be going on transmission wise was the same as the old DAF Dutch car. I think they were the first car company to adapt this type of ( Viscous drive ?) in a passenger car. I am sure I have a lot of data on this somewhere in my stacks ! Anyone remember those little cars ? I know they sold the car division long ago, I think it went to Sweden....

 

Here is what Wiki says about the DAF transmission. I used to work on conveyors with similar vari drives.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variomatic

 

Maybe my memory was not so bad as I thought! I thought Volvo took over