I'm in the process of having my '07MCS stick bought back by MINI after the 3rd clutch/flywheel fix, and still the 3-2 grind returned. I'm very disappointed, but am considering getting into an automatic. How are the automatic transmissions holding up on the R56 MCS? Any reported mechanical woes?
*NOTE: NOT asking about preference in stick vs automatic, JUST reported mechanical problems. Thanks.

 

I am an aggressive driver coming from a manual 2005 Steeda Mustang GT. I have a JCW Suspension light wheels and auto. I have never owned an auto before this but short of an exotic car the auto in this car is great. Toyota uses this company for auto trans and the history of Aisin is great for reliability.

 

Mine has been great. Always drove a standard before the R56 and have no regrets as the manual mode is a option. If I tracked the car I would have chosen the six speed, but do not be fooled into thinking it lacks giddy-up!

 

10,500 miles or so and no problems what so ever. Maybe not as fun as a stick but still a blast to drive and if you drive in a lot of bumber to bumper traffic like in Socal, an auto is a must for me.

 

Almost 22,000 miles on mine and it's great.
I also had a MT R56 that kept doing the 3-2 squeal; got rid of it in late July and am very happy about it.

 

My auto is sweet and smooth.

 

I've driven manual for almost 30 years and this is my first auto. 7500 and I'm liking it a lot. Especially with all the variations of how I can use it.

 

Zero issues, i have noticed a little hard shift from 1st to second, but I think its my driving.

I have driven a manual all my life, and really love the auto, i put it in sport mode when i need that little bit off the line for the civic jerks with the big exhausts, or a guy in a stock mustang who thinks he is cool.

The manual mode is nice when you want some fun, but I also tend to use the paddle shifters to down and up shift.

 

I've had my 05 MCSa for just over 3 years now, 2 of them being lightly modded (pulley/intake), and have had no issues - and I am constantly in manual mode, downshifting for turns, etc. I haven't taken it to track, but I certainly don't baby it.

It's not an R56, but I believe the transmission is the same between R53/R56.

 

Mine seems to hang on to the gears a little, ie not wanting to upshift, but it could just be me, other than that no problems at all

 

Personally, I'm glad to hear this as I'm awaiting my MINI and I purchased the auto. Loved how it downshifts for engine breaking when I test drove it.

So for maximum take off is there a way to get the turbo spooled up prior to launching or is wheel spin too much to do that? Are there those that do neutral drops from 4500 rpm or is that too hard on the tranny?

 

here is a bit of good news for you. i have raced both my minis against eachother, both r56's one manual one auto, and the auto has very little tire spin..unlike the manual. we have taken off in second gear (we both have the same mods) and its pretty even but from take off our auto mini kicks butt. ill have to see how that changes when i get my alta ecu back but its probably still going to be the same way. so with that said......the auto mini is faster at take off because there is ALOT LESS if any tire spin(as long as both minis are equally modded, even though ours werent when we raced)

 

Newby question regarding auto trannys. If I understand correctly, the auto in the S is made by Getrag (Germany), while the non-S tranny is all new for 2nd gen, made by Aisin (Japan). Correct?

 

On R56, Auto in S and non S is Aisin,(japan) Mech in S and non s is Getrag.

 

Toyota owns 60% of Aisin transmission. I really dig this slushbox in our Clubman S!

(Sorry but the OEM clutches used in manual MINIs are caca)

 

Well, I could see how starting in second would give no tire spin. Is this with starting in neutral, reving to some high rpm, then dropping it into drive? I'm just curious as to how to get the best launch in an automatic. Is there a way to do a neutral drop into 1st gear since placing the transmission into D puts you into 2nd?

In my old manual, I had a special ecu mod that allowed me to floor the gas pedal putting me into a rev limiter mode at a preset rpm, in my case at 6000 rpm which was ideal for my setup. At the launch I would just slip off the clutch pedal. This allowed for some initial boost to be created giving me some pretty good 60 foot times of 1.7 sec. But this was with an AWD which really helped with 60 foot times. I have to relearn how to launch with FWD and an automatic. Oh well, I didn't buy this car to drag race, I'm just curious as to what the best method would be.

 

Well my Auto transmission mini spin crazy till 3rd gear. I test drove both manual and auto and picked auto, I deffinetely love it. By the way i havent had a single problem with transmission. I mostly use my mini in manual mode and rarely drive on D.

 

lol i didnt buy it for that either but what the heck right? i dont leave it in D i put it on the M/S thing and then put the sport button on, turn off the DSC and then rev my engine to about 2000 rpm. i down shift to 1st myself and my mini starts there. like i said before the wheel spin on my auto mini is ALOT less than the one on the manual transmission and even when i had a bad reaction time compared to my opponent (lol my husband) my 60ft time killed his and i won!

 

Oh, so you just put your foot on the brake as you raise the engine rpm to 2000 and just released the brake to start. I was hoping there was a way to have a high rpm in neutral then drop to 1st gear. Doesn't appear there is.

 

Last Friday I purchased a 6 speed manual MINI Cooper S having test driven it with the Saleswoman for a little while.On the drive home the amount of constant shifting in stop and go driving became such a hassle for me that I drove back the next day and they backed me out of the original deal from the day before and put me in an automatic.

Let's just say I don't miss shifting one bit and I can easily manually shift it with the steering wheel paddle shifters should I ever want to.

 

I was looking for an auto from the outset because of my commute here in Houston. I drove the manual and thought it a lot more fun, but knew I'd get to hate it on the daily clutch-bump.

The auto has plenty to keep you busy. Sport Mode, two manual modes, etc.

Mine has performed very well for the first 10k miles. I'm glad I got it now, particularly after hearing some of the clutch/flywheel stories.

I drove mostly in D, but I find the paddle shifters real handy for gearing down for a turn or a pass!

 

I have driven my automatic now a little over 13,000 miles without any problems.Every now and then i am surprised when i accidently have engaged the sport button.Q

 

Nope - I do the same thing - launch at 2000-2500RPM with brake depressed - release brake quickly and you're flying... This seems preferable to me over "popping" it into gear from neutral... tranny is pre-engaged, torque converter is making torque, just waiting for you to release the hounds...

Dropping from N into gear with an auto at high RPMs sounds like a good way to kill auto trannies...

 

Great thread...I come from BMW Auto...and BMW claims lifetime fluid for their auto transmissions NOT!

What about Aisins? Is there a transmission flush?

 

BMW used GM autos in recent years. But regardless, it is always a good idea to change the transmission fluid.