I just picked up my 2008 Cabrio this week. I have been reading everything I can find on Mini - - - now I'm confused. I have a "six speed automatic". But I keep reading about conventional transmissions and CVT transmissions. Do I have a conventional transmission with gears and torque converter or do I have a CVT??? I picked this car off the dealer's lot - and because of my ignorance, at the time, thought my only choice was auto or manual. Thanks.

 

Is your 2008 MINI Cabrio a Cooper or Cooper S? Big difference there.

If it is a Cooper (115HP normally aspirated 1.6L engine) = CVT transmission or Getrag 5 speed manual

if it is a Cooper S (168HP Supercharged 1.6L engine) = 6-speed automatic AISIN transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel or 6 speed Getrag manual transmission.


Two different animals.

 

CVT is an automatic transmission driven by a steel belt system and doesn't have a torque converter or planetary gears, It is no longer offered in the MINI and was originally supplied by ZF in Belgium.

The 6 speed automatic in the 1st gen Cooper S models and all new second gen MINIs is supplied by AISIN in Japan (This company is owned about 60% by Toyota). This is a conventional 6 speed slushbox with planetary gears and a torque converter, but it is a damn good transmission. One of the best automatics in the market today. AISIN equipped MINIs have paddle shifters mounted in the steering wheel.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought a "slushbox" is British slang for manual transmission.

 

No, slushbox is slang for an atomic transmission (rubber bands and torque converter)

 

Thanks.....I have the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, so I have the "regular" trans with gears. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

 

No... if you have the paddle shifters on the steering wheel and the shifter in the normal location of where a Manual transmission lever would be says P, R, N, D and the ability to push that lever over and go into "manual mode) and 6 spedd then you have the Aisin automatic transmission.

However... it would be more accurate to call it a "Semi Automatic" Transmission

Not a Manual though.

But you can shift it "SORT OF" like a manual by electronic impulses through the paddles to select the shift points of the "Semi Automatic" transmission.

here is a fairly good explanation how it works... Through clutch packs and such. Its really neither a true Gear box (as we know it) or a Automatic really... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-Shift_Gearbox

 

My 08 MCc non-S has paddle shifters and a CVT. The engine determines the type of auto tranny (CVT vs. std. Auto).

 

I don't think a 6 speed CVT was available in the 2008... at all. And I thought the CVT was a 5 speed although I don't know now Continuous could really have "speeds". That one I never understood. But was it? I thought the only 6 speed "Auto" option then was the Aisin. If not then I stand corrected... but...

What exactly would the Paddles do for you in a CVT? Isn't it continuous. I am curious how that works. I don't see how they would work as designed in that tranny. Because it doesn't really shift at all. School me on how they do that and how it shifts.

 

The 2008 MCc (non-S) Auto is a CVT with paddle and floor shifter (+/-).

It has infinately variable shift points based on load, pedal position, etc. in auto mode. When you put it in manu-matic it initially downshifts to bring the revs to approximately 3K. From there you can up/down shift from 1 - 6 "gears." What I find interesting is that when in manu-matic mode and in "6th" gear and you put the system back into full auto, it will upshift! As in there is a 7th "gear".

It has a protection mode so you don't redline the engine. It also will downshift for you if you drop too much below 1800 RPM in the wrong gear (anything but 1st).

 

Thats interesting. I wonder how it choses a point. Sort of defies all logic of CVT in a way. That being no particular shift point but "infinite" variable...

So I guess your saying it then electronically is set to go from one point to another. Kind of neat really.

 

It is interesting indeed. I had a MINI CVT for 6 years and it was a fun car. But the low torque of the standard Cooper engine didn't take full advantage of it. In sport mode, the CVT would hold RPMs at 3K and above for better response and in steptronic mode, the computer would simulate six manual forward gear points.

 

I might add that Cooper CVTs sold in Canada, Europe and other world markets did offer the steering wheel mounted paddles. For some reason, these were removed from the spec sheet in US bound R50 and R52 Coopers equipped with the ZF CVT.

 

I guess the BMW engineers just chose the six points, they could've made it a seven, eight, 21, or 100 speed transmission in manual mode just as easily.

 

Ah... that explains some of my confusion. Keep forgetting that international flair we have going here. I guess we need to establish the location of the OP on this one.

 

That would be cool if you could actually program that yourself!

 

I think the OP is in the USA.

 

Then its safe to assume he has a Aisin? Unless it was a grey market or something like that?

 

I am not the OP, but I have a USA spec'd/purchased/driven 2008 MCc with the paddle shifters. Not sure of the origen of the CVT. My CVT in manu-matic mode does not "hold" 3000 RPM in any gear when accelorating/decelorating.

 

Please post pics of your 2008 MC CVT with paddle shifters

Try sport mode (Push the lever to the right) but do not engage in manual shifting. The CVT programming should hold RPMs in the 3K RPM ball park.