It is not difficult to change out the manual tranny fluid. There is one drain plug and one fill plug. http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/foru...read.php?t=474
That's for 1 gen MINI but similar.
Oil is cheap at less than 2 quarts probably. You should change the oil as often as you like. I usually change mine yearly.


Edit: I have a pump that attach to the oil bottle.

 

You really need to check with the service folks.......many have had problems using something other than stock fluid. And the stock fluid is a long life product like the Amsoil tranny fluid was.

 

Yep easy & cheap.

Tip***** Remove FILL plug first. If you drain & can't get the fill plug out you are so screwed.

 

I agree Scott. What you put in should be compatible with what MINI recommends. If you have a factory installed LSD, I would use MINI's fluid.

 

Does the differential in FWD use the fluid that is in the transmission?

 

I believe the differential sits inside the transmission. So yes, it's all the same gear oil. Here's a question, if the car has an LSD, is a friction modifier required to be added to the gear oil?

 

On most cars yes. That includes the MINI.

I do not know if a friction modifier is used. It's a clutch type or rather a cone type. I'd think that the fluid used in a non LSD equipped car would be different.

 

OK so I am scratching my head. I cannot locate a dipstick for the Auto Trans on my 07 MC. I found the rather hard to read oil one but no tranny. Is it just a sealed system that gets its 90K service? Is there a way to check fluid level?

 

No dipstick in 21st C. BMW's. Auto tranny fluid is probably temp sensitive. Not as simple as Manual tranny fluid change.

 

 

If yor car has a LSD I would diffinately change the trans fluid. As the clutches in the LSD wear the particles have go somewhere (in the oil).

 

Yes I am very surprised that MINI would call the diff fluid in an LSD equippped tranny lifetime.

 

So, when should it be changed?

 

Well for me it's at 30,000 miles. Non scientific, just what feels right to me. 2 quarts of lube is pretty cheap insurance.

 

For me, it would probably be every two years regardless of mileage.

 

Thanks.