Here's a little story for all.

I bought my mini cooper exactly a a year ago. The car was one of the first 1,000 in the US, and one of the first off the lot at Towson Mini in Baltimore. The Mini became my second car immediatly, so I never drove it much (The oddness was the check engine light had come on twice in a span of 8 months, but all taken care of). About a month ago, with around 4200 miles on the odometer, I was driving up Conneticut Ave. here in DC, and I couldn't hit a gear, at all! Out of the blue, I just could not hit a gear. The engine was running fine, but the transmission was not. After pushing the mini 1,000 or so feet in rush hour traffic (easier than i thought too), I got into a parking lot. I called Mini Roadside Assistance, and they sent a tow truck. This was friday rush hour in DC, so it took 2 hours. The flatbed loaded the car, and dropped it off at Mini of sterling in Virginia. The Mini Roadside Assistant assured me that the dealership would contact me the next day with the problem, and would take care of it immediately. I ended up calling saturday, leaving a message. After repeated calls, I finally got a call Monday afternoon (!!!). The diagnosis, FAILED TRANSMISSION. The trans just failed, or so they say. Under warranty, they replaced the entire transmission on tuesday, and I picked the car up tuesday.

I find it odd that my Mini just gave up like that... any opinions???

=Danny=



'02 mini - many mods

 

What actually failed? The transmission linkage cable (There was a recall for it) or the entire transmission unit? I assume you have a 5 speed Cooper since you don't mention which transmission type your car has.

 

Well, I feel ya....

I had the shift linkage problem.... recall solved it.... that was last summer.

bought our mini about one year ago plus 2 weeks.

Last Tuesday...

I broke down....
The shift hit the gear position... but it would not engage...
I ran the gears... no engagements..
So I roll off the side of the Glendale 2 and 134 transition.... the Giant Loop....
Called Mini Service... got the flatbed.... towed to century West BMW for service...
Mind you this was at 9pm... so I only assumed it was the shift linkage AGAIN, which would qualify my mini as a LEMON. Called the Service Dept the next Morning... was told to come get my loaner... (I hate Mustangs... and I'm given a MUSTANG :evil:

He said that we can expect it to be finished Thursday eve. I call this afternoon, and they don't even have a transmission in to replace mine.... but they expect one in the morning! and then I can get my car Fri evening. It better be ready... otherwise I break my duties as a MINI judge because MY mini is Broken! :evil:
I have my finger's crossed!


Feel My PAIN!

-Doug

 

CoopinginDC,

I just had a similar experience recently with my transmission. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got stuck one evening when I was only 5 mile from home. Needless to say, I had to get towed. I was told that it was my clutch. I thought that was weird because I only had 7500 miles and I do not have a heavy foot. They did replace it for free. Two days later, when I left my house for work, the car made a horrible noise with a rattle. It sounded and felt like I was in a very old car. The sound went away went I got onto the highway. However, during lunch, I went to drive the car to see if the noise and rattle still appeared and if so, I would stop by the dealer on my way home from work. The sound and rattle happened again. In fact, I couldn't get into 1st gear. The car was towed again. Two days later they called and indicated that they were going to replace the transmission because the car went into some sort of "fail safe" mode whereby you couldn't shift into gear. I was told that if there was a transmission problem, this sensor would kick in so the person driving wouldn't do any serious damage. (note that they said that mine was fine) They then put in a new transmission, but I was told that the problem didn't go away and it was because the new transmission they ordered was defective. hey then ordered another transmission. I have had the car back for about a week and I am crossing my fingers that my MC will not get sick again!

 

Just for the record folks, if you're going to post problems like this then you really need to be SPECIFIC IN YOUR POST as to type of car (MC/MCS), type of transmission (5sp, CVT, 6sp S), and production date of your car. Otherwise, it's very frustrating to both those of us who want to offer advice AND those readers who stumble across the thread while trying to ascertain the prevalence of problems.

 

>>Just for the record folks, if you're going to post problems like this then you really need to be SPECIFIC IN YOUR POST as to type of car (MC/MCS), type of transmission (5sp, CVT, 6sp S), and production date of your car. Otherwise, it's very frustrating to both those of us who want to offer advice AND those readers who stumble across the thread while trying to ascertain the prevalence of problems. >>>

Yes, more detail needed! Please!

 

Sorry, but I din't have my coffee before posting. I have a 5 speed MC. I do not know the production date, but it was purchased on 7/18/02.

 

>>
>>Sorry, but I din't have my coffee before posting. I have a 5 speed MC. I do not know the production date, but it was purchased on 7/18/02.

You can find the build date of your car in 2 ways:

1) Locate the manufacturer's sticker plate inside the lower driver's side door jamb. The sticker will give you the Month/Year manufacturing dates.

2) Call MINIUSA 1-866-ASK-MINI and with your serial number (Or last six digits of the VIN Number) they can tell you exactly the Month, day and year your car was made.

Again, what failed in your transmission???

 

cooper4us,

I was advised that the transmission was fine and that it was the sensor that was the problem. Thats why I was surprised when they told me that they were going to replace the transmission since I figured that they can change the sensor.

 

I know why you had the problem. All the emblems on your grill caused the transmission undo strain.

 

Hey, I like his emblems...and I'll be each has its own story

 

hey Mini Bill,
thats a pretty nasty comment. We're trying to diagnose a problem, not be smart asses. thank you.

So, someone mentioned the rattling. My car began to do that, but it gradually went away as the day went on. It finally disappeared. I stop to get a soda, and started the car, it was ok, but then i had the same problem, no gears. Te recall for the shifter clip WAS in fact done way before all of this happened.

Mini of sterling dropped a refurbished trans in my coop, hence the second trans one of you recieved was faulty. My mini is a 5 speed, and was made in sept. 2002.

I think that this is a fairly common problem, maybe with the early cars??? any input?

haha, my check engine light came on again the other day! everything runs fine though.

=D=

funny you mention the badges, as they DO have a story, each of them. I was a Vespa scooter nut for years, and decided to transfer my badges to my mini. thanks for the consideration. :smile:

 

>>funny you mention the badges, as they DO have a story, each of them. I was a Vespa scooter nut for years, and decided to transfer my badges to my mini. thanks for the consideration. :smile:

Blocking the airflow to the engine...not a good idea.

 

I saw a MINI in the North Side of Chicagoland and She had already called for Assistance. But the exact same senario. Diving allong and then NOTHING. Wierd too it was one of the first in Chicago. Other than that the driver said she had nothing wrong with it.

 

Re: ... and dropped it off at Mini of sterling in Virginia. The Mini Roadside Assistant assured me that the dealership would contact me the next day with the problem, and would take care of it immediately. I ended up calling saturday, leaving a message. After repeated calls, I finally got a call Monday afternoon (!!!).

Hi,

I'm not wise about car stuff so I can't comment on the transmission problem. I just wanted to thank you for writing that you called Mini of Sterling and they NEVER returned your calls either.

Me too! So don't feel bad. My 30-day dealer tags end on Thursday and no one has called me back (after leaving a couple of messges) about the status of the title to my car so I can go to the DMV, etc. Otherwise I drive illegally? ::roll eyes::

I think they are very lame about returning phone calls from customers. I thought it was just me? Now I know not to take it personally. BTW, I haven't filled out a dealer rating yet on them either.

Hope your Mini now works great and you don't get stranded...esp. in D.C. and in "Rush Hour Hades." :???:

 

meant to say sept. 2001 on my buillt date

 

>>meant to say sept. 2001 on my buillt date

That's interesting... I know you said that your car was one of the early ones imported, but it still seems strange that they would have built the car 8 months (!!) before you bought it. Plus, I thought that the first US cars were sold in March, 2002.

Best of luck with the transmission problem though. Any word yet from the dealer?

 

AHHHHH...

As I stated earlier, I had a problem with my 02 MC 5speed, which was diagnosed by the Mini Service Tech as a transmission failure....

Well the story has changed, and it seems to have been a burnt out clutch.... YIKES!

It was most likely burnt out when the shift cable disconnected.
So it was covered by warranty... otherwise... $2100

$2100 = $210 Clutch.... 12-15hrs (quoted) labor @ $95 per hour....

Transmission Replacement = $1500 Parts, 15+ hours $05 per hour Labor

IF any of you experience a failed transmission, pray they don't have a Mini Factory Rep examine it and deem it OUTSIDE INFLUENCE.....

Outside Influence = Empty Your Pockets!

Good Luck!

 

12 - 15 hours labor for a clutch

I think we also ought to all be praying that our clutches die while under warranty! This is what I keep saying about the possible high expense of owning a MINI outside of warranty...

 

12 hours for a clutch is ridiculous.

 

>>12 hours for a clutch is ridiculous.

Sure seems like it... but that was the qoute. They have to remove the entire engine... remember, front wheel drive's are more of a pain to work on, from a mechanics perspective... but at $95 an hour, they feel well compensated... I'm sure it breaks down to $25 per hour for the mech and the rest is for the dealership.

All that "Dragon taming" and hard canyon carving can slowly wear and tear your little clutch to shreds....especially if you "think" you are a race car driver....

And the POST warranty issues have me a bit concerned... this is some expensive crap to deal with post warranty expirations!

Our problem was due to the shift cable disconnecting. Bad Bad situation. When we had the cable fixed, they did not check all the other parts... like the clutch... which they should have, and now I sit without a mini for over a week.

 

i have a feeling they didnt check the rest of my car when they had the recall. It took less than a half hour, which is EXTREMELY fast for Mini of Towson (Baltimore, MD).

oh well...

=D=

 

I just got a new 2003 Mini last week with CVT and after 263 miles have an EP light on which designates a transmission malfunction. Dealer advises they have to replace 2 modules per BMW and they do not know what the problem is, whether there will be any mechanical problems continuing to drive it until fixed, or of any recurring problem.

Does anyone out there know any more about this problem?

 

02 Cooper, 5 spd, brought home in April of '02, so it is an early build date. Car is on the flatbed to the dealer, so can't give you exact date. Currently 11,000 pampered miles.

Last week starting having weird noises when accelerating out of 1st or 2nd. Clutch would be fully engaged, and it you accelerated hard, you'd hear a grinding sound from up front somewhere, almost like ABS engaging.

This has gotten worse and worse in the last week, finally can't drive it without the noise happening all the time. Called MINI RSA and had them flatbed it to the dealer (200 miles away). As the driver put it on the flatbed, it finally wouldn't engage in 1st (fail-safe mode previously mentioned?).

I'm guessing it is the same failure that others have experienced -- either clutch or transmission (or both).

Car has been a blast, otherwise.

Greg

 

Just got the car back tonite. The receipt says that a remanufactured transmission was installed, along with transmission fluid. All at no cost. They didn't even charge for the return flatbed shipping cost (nearest dealer is over 200 miles away).

Car seems to work great. Lets hope this is the only time we ever have to change the transmission.