I have read many posts in other forums about people having to replace their mini transmissions. Is this a problem only with the older models or do the recent vehicles have similar, major issues? I am only interested in a manual, not the supposedly disaster prone CVT transmission.

If there are known issues, what are the workarounds? tranny cooler or filters?

 

Unfortunately, Consumer Reports reliability data does not distinguish between manuals and automatics, but their data show the MCS has had more major tranny (and other) problems than the MC. Their data show greater than average major tranny problems only for the '04 MC, and for the '05 through '07 MCS. The '08s and '09s (last data point) of both have been very reliable, however.

So the data across years '04 through '09 seem to reflect one of the following: the newer trannys are more reliable, tranny problems increase with age/use, or some of both of those. That data is from their 2010 annual report (April issue every year).

I haven't seen convincing evidence that the CVTs were less reliable than other automatics, but keep reading that once they break, the only fix is a complete replacement, so that's the disaster part.

 

Forget Consumer Reports, just reading here you'll realize that the 6 speed Getrag used on all the MCS cars and still used now has had virtually no problems. So no worries there...

The CVT was only used on Justa Coopers, and was changed to the well regarded fairly bullet proof Aisin 6 speed fully automatic transmission in the 2nd gen cars starting with the 2007 models. The MCS only has had the 6 speed Aisin as an automatic.

If you're buying an MCS stick, no worries....
If you're buying a 2nd gen car, again no transmission worries.
The early Justa Cooper had a 5 speed Midlands transmission, those were/are not as strong as a Getrag, and parts are difficult to impossible to find. Bottom line, if you're worried about tranmission expenses, buy an MCS, or a 2007 and newer Justa cooper. Same advice applies to the Auto trans...

That's the problem with reading a forum tho, sometimes it's hard to ferret out exactly what the info applies to...

 

well, keep reading, because these forums (esp. first gen) are rife with reports of CVT failure. That is but one reason BMW dropped the CVT for the Aisin 6-speed, which is a paragon of reliability in comparison. Note: back in 05 I had my S shop queen in for something, and I got a CVT MC with 16K as a loaner. The tranny failed on me the same day. Too many neutral drops I guess

Oh and MINI drivetrain reliability, or lack of, usually revolves around the spotty oem clutches and dual mass flywheels, not the trannies.

 

My wife has owned her R57 for 15 days ( 650 miles ) and it's been in the dealers service 5 days and is still there. Hope it is not an indication of things to come.

 

4 MINIs so far, driven spiritedly and not any problems at all. If I start having problems and MINI continues with their super bowl type marketing, I'm out of here! MAKE them make you happy.

 

Haven't heard of manual tranny problems, but there are a lot of threads about premature clutch failure, and Mini trying to blame the customer. Not saying it's a huge problem, but they seem to have a bit of a quality control issue.