When did Mini Clubman S transmissions start coming from Japan? Is there a reason that the German manual transmissions are not being used in the Clubman S. Any experience with the new transmissions?

 

Where are you getting your info? My 09 MCCS came with the Getrag manual transmission. It is the automatic transmission that is made in Japan by AISIN (solid product I've heard).

 

All MCS's(coupe,cabrio) with the auto tranny have had the Aisin since 2005. All second gen MINI autos have the Aisin.

 

Holy tales from the Crypt !

Not to revive an old thread.....but anyone here have any insight on how recent events in Japan will effect the exports of our transmissions, if any ? ? ? ? ?

It is my understanding this trend continued into the new Countryman line as well.

 

No effect on the automatic transmissions in the immediate future:

Aisin Seiki Co. supplies transmissions to the Shreveport pickup plant GM shut down because of a parts shortage. Chuck Sanders, assistant vice president of Aisin's U.S. unit, said Aisin's transmissions were not part of the shortages.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...#ixzz1I2TY0PTR

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...NEWS/110329996

 

Or folks could buy the Getrag 6sp manual...

 

For now it looks like the transmission plant in Anjyo, Aichi is about 200+ miles from the hot zone....

 

Just heard they are scaling back production of the Countryman......going to be slim pickens soon.

 

My dealer told me that MINI's with auto trans are going to be delayed.

 

The situation in Japan will end up effecting more than just automobile industry.
Electric power has now been reduced by over 10%.
There are 2 other reactors that are shut down beside the six in the "hot spot".
Summer is approaching in Japan.
All industries have been requested to reduce power useage.
They expect to reduce production of all products by at least 30%.
Car sales are expected to fall by 25%.
Will be at least 5 years before electrical power will be at it's normal level.

 

Mini is truly a "Universal" car.
I have found parts made in the following countries.
Austria, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, England, Frace, Germany, Brazil, Japan, China,

 

Given that Counrtyman sales are a larger part of the total MINI sales increase, that doesn't make sense UNLESS they shorted one of the other models...

 

In response to a recent posting. I do not know the status of the parts situation from Japan except for the Yamaha Super Tenere motorcycle I have on order. I have been informed by Yamaha that there will be an approximately 2 month delay due to losses suffered by suppliers.

 

Sit back and relax, more marketing genius by BMW aimed to keep the prices high by finding a way to limit availability of the product that people want. When the MINI was first introduced, the number of units was limited to keep demand and prices high, now there is something to blame it on.

 

Yes and no. I think it doesn't do you any good to fall into a situation where your product begins to look more like a commodity. That puts you into a very bad pricing situation very quickly. You don't want to keep demand artificially high because it looks REALLY bad when the artificial situation ends. However, you also don't want to do anything that would lower the demand of your product.

Also, don't forget about the idea of exclusivity. While this was not true for the Mini (but maybe for the Riley and the Wolseley), MINI and BMW do trade a bit on the concept. They want to make sure that their products continue to be desirable. They are not interested in having one of their cars in every driveway in suburbia. In that case, they may as well be selling Chevys...

 

I talked to a sales person at MINI of STL and they told me that after next month you will not be able to order a new MINI with an AUTOMATIC transmission for the time being due to the Japan stuff. They said production of the MANUAL transmissions bill be unaffected.

 

Actually a total of 12 units down in Japan, 6 at Fukushima Daiichi, 4 more at Fukushima Daini and 2 at Hamaoka. Saw a presentation last week from a fellow who visited Daini. Almost as bad there as At Daiichi. This is going to affect Japan for a long time..

 

Be that as it may....production was scaled back and it's slim pickens at the dealer now.

 

What I find strange about all this, is that it's only the R56 Window sticker which states the Transmission is made in JAPAN.

When I looked at the Countryman's with Automatics, they stated the Auto Transmissions were made in BELGIUM.

So I am wondering, maybe it's actually the rear differentials which are made in JAPAN ?

 

All of the automatic transmissions are made in Japan. MINI will not be building any MINIS with auto transmissions next month due to lack of supply.
MINI will not be building countryman in July.