R56 auto trans problem
 

We just went to an independent Mini service center with a great reputation. The transmission will infrequently bang or jerk into gear. They said they know this well and while it only affects 10% of the cars ours is one of them. They told us it would $6500 to replace it with a factory reconditioned unit.

I looked through here and can't find any mention of auto trans problems. Its a 2007 with only 31K miles on it.

Anyone heard of this?

Honestly I think yours could be the first I have seen. I watch very closely for auto tranny problems. And at that low of mileage, I can't say "You should have changed your fluid" (But I do recommend doing the pan swaps at 30k intervals). These are Aisin transmission that are used in Volkswagens, and Aisins are made for Toyota and many other brands.

Come to think of it, since there would be no harm in trying...Make sure there is fluid in the pan, drain and replace the fluid in the pan and make sure you refill to the proper level. You could be out of fluid or low on fluid or it has become burnt somehow. Do three or four swaps of the pan fluid (buy Toyota Type IV fluid [that meets JWS309 specs]).

And then get the shop to reset the tranny computer (EGS module) adaptation values. Do these two things before you replace the unit.

Ask your Mini Dealer if there is a software update for it. He will know with your VIN over the phone.

I asked the shop if the fluid could be low and they said it was sealed. With such low mileage I am shocked. Especially hearing the 10% of trannies. I had though these were very well made. I can't even find anything that says replace the fluids. I'll go ahead and do the suggestions above. $6500 is an incredible sum for this.

I think you need to find a new mechanic.

The transmissions most definitely are not "sealed" there is a fill plug and a drain plug (that can also fill the pan with an adapter). BMW claims it is lifetime fluid but my MINI service manual has a 100k service interval stated for the fluid. Another member here stated this exact transmission used in a VW has a 40k mile fluid change interval.

I had an issue with my auto tranny. :cry: Car is a MCS 2008, close to the 45k mark. I bought this one second hand, and I tried to got everything replaced: every single fluid in the car, new oil, new filters, new BBK, new lines, new brake fluid, new pads, everything BUT the tranny fluid - Because I read this was a sealed box. One day my wife went to work and the car did not shift gears, no notice, nothing wrong, just suddenly it will be all the time in 5fth. Took the car to the dealer and they said the box is gone and you have to pay circa 8K to replace it with a new one, plus 5 days of work....:eek2:

I say, thank you very much your are one of your kind, took the car to a small shop to try o fix it. They managed to fix the tranny for 1.8k and it feels great.

Only problem is when I really push the car or take it to the track, I got the yellow gear in the dash board -Transmission overheated-. Already talked to the shop about this and they said they want to replace all the fluid. Im not sure this will help or if they left something not right. :confused:

Where can you get that adapter to fill from the bottom?
_____
You do need a new mechanic.
If it turns out you actually do need a new transmission I think
you could get a used low milage one for a lot less than that.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...76-post53.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...in-fill-3.html

www.car-part.com shows 1700 to 3000 for complete
autotrans.

I have a 2005 Cooper S automatic, shifting problems 2-3 when warmed up, and after warmed up stopping the car and going revers causes hard shifts and you can hear clanking noises.

Car just hit 100K km, very dissapointed in this so card bullet proof transmission. Don't know wether to let the dealer inspect the wiring harness or take straight to a transmission shop, from what I've read the valve bodies are problematic and do not last long.

All the new minis also use the same garbage transmission, until they change it to something better I will not go near another mini again, I've invested way too much money in maintaining this car to date, did all the service and I get rewarded with a transmission starting to fail?

This is an interesting link relating to the same problems with this transmission that is in VW/Audi

http://forums.subdriven.com/showthre...G-Transmission...

The transmission in the first generation had a lot more issues than the second. But is not bullet proof...:sad:

May as well join in on this thread.

I recently bought a 2009 MCS w/auto and 85k KMs. This is my first mini with an auto tranny. I find it to be jerky from a standing start. There is a brief delay between when the throttle is depressed and the tranny engaging. Once underway shifting is good.

Is this characteristic of this transmission or should I be looking into a possible problem?

Thanks!

I think what you may be feeling is the hill holder feature releasing. Even the automatics have this feature and I can feel it in my relatively new MINI as well.

This could be a result of the throttle delay, which doesn't allow the car to accelerrate at 100% throttle even if the throttle is fully depressed until you reach a certain speed, so you get a 1-2 second delay before acceleration, but I'm not sure if this is what you are experiencing.

This is what i have, if its like this could be as easy as wiring harness or as expensive as a valve body.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ght=valve+body


Just FYI for all the auto owners

Thanks! Was reading a similar thread in the 1st Gen section about the Aisin transmissions on the R53.

Will first try a fluid change and check the connector.

If it is the valve body on a R53 it can be swapped out with the tranny still in the car. Do you know if this is doable on a R56?

I hava a 2010 MCS and my transmission will also jerk or bang into gear but only sometimes. The problem goes away for months and then comes back, so I´m attributing it to my driving more than the car.

Also, the "problem" that I do know that I have after the last trackday is that it will not shift up from second to third gear until the redline. So I´m guessing that the problem is electrical??

Note: I have a GIAC tune and its a european car.

For the most part its the same process, a few things have to come out or be moved but Yes.