I have been thinking about purchasing a used Mini Cooper (not sure whether
I'd go with the basic or S model), but my Saab is giving me more trouble than it's worth, so I need to get another car within the next
couple of weeks. I do know I will definitely go with a manual transmission.

Last night a friend told me that it wouldn't be a good idea to get a Mini (she
has a BMW) because she's heard that if 1 gear goes the entire transmission
needs to be replaced at a very high cost.

Before posting I did a lot of reading on these forums and, as far as the transmissions go, it seems that the automatic transmissions are especially
problematic. I really didn't find much about manual transmission problems.

So, what do you all think? Should I start to look at other makes/models?
Are there other Mini problems that I need to be made aware of? I'm giving
up the Saab because one thing after another keeps going wrong, I certainly don't want to be in the same situation with a Mini.

If you say to stick with a Mini, which years are best and what would
be mileage recommendations? My budget is $18000-$20000.

 

Automatics had some issues. Manual transmissions are fine. That is as long as it has not been beaten and abused.
02-04 would be less expensive, but 05-06 are better cars.

 

I've heard nothing but trouble for 1st generation Automatics... they are CVTs and those are shifty (no pun intended.. please!) at best.

You should have no problems with a manual MINI. They're reliable, and you shouldn't worry about them failing. I've driven several very old vehicles with their original transmissions, and while they were all junk, the transmissions were the LAST thing I was thinking about. The MINI is a very solid car. You won't find too many positive things about them in the Stock Problems/Issues boards, because that is what they are for: Problems.

 

she is right. bmw nolonger sells the individual parts to repair the transmission. you end up with a remanufactured transmission. but it's pretty rare for a gear to die on a transmission.

 

There is not many if any problems with the manual transmissions. A lot of people do not like the CVT transmission because of the gearing and how it shifts. The automatic Cooper S, in my opinion, is the best one to get if they have it in your price range. The car has tons of power! Just make sure to rotate your tires often as people tend to wear front tires quickly with the automatic S

 

Stay away from the older auto's it could be costly!

 

it's not the manual trannies that are the problem, it's the crappy Luk clutches--with their plastic TO bearings--and the DM flywheels. I had soooo many clutch and flywheel issues with Rodney (see sig) that I will never own another manual MINI (or BMW) ever again.

 

Let's be accurate with this. The CVT transmission in the MC has been known to be problematic. The MCS got a six speed automatic in '05 and I haven't seen issues with this transmission. My wife's '05 has the 6-speed auto and it has been trouble free (30K miles, mostly around town driving).

 

Hi all,

Just took my Beautiful 03 Manual 46000 miles Mini Cooper Baby to my mechanic with a fast flutter/hum when I shift and he told me he thinks it is the transmission going.
No shifting problems, no missing in gear etc and no loud noise. I can only hear it when I shift 1-2-3- with the AC off and windows up.

Could it be something else?????

Maybe Clutch or???

Mini said it would be around $5000 to fix. My Mechanic can do it including the clutch ( since they have to take it out anyway might as well replace the tranny for $2100. )

IDEAS --

Thanks

john

 

Stay away from the CVT!!! I have 2004 mini cooper that has been nothing but problems - and problems that the dealer have said "oh that's just the way the car drives" but now my trans is blown and I only have 40,000 miles on the car. I'm no crazy driver and the car has shifted weird from the first day I bought it. These cars are not built to last.

 

I'd say let the mechanic do it... MINI probably quoted such a high price because they don't want to do the work, and know that price will scare you away.

Dealers like to do that on jobs like those.... they'd rather do the $100 oil changes... a quick and easy buck.

 

We got the same story with my husband's 2004 manual MCS. Early on he thought it sounded funny, but the dealer said "thats just the way they all sound." Then as soon as the warranty ran out, the clutch and flywheel died. But the transmission itself was OK as far as I know. Don't know if the clutch and flywheel are any better on the 2007 and newer.

As for automatics, you've already got the best advice - the CVTs can be questionable, the 6 spd autos are good. That's why I went with a 2nd gen, to get the more reliable auto tranny in a justacooper. If I had bought used, I would have looked for an auto '05-'06 MCS.

 

In college, I had a Volvo PV544 and blew the clutch.

AAA towed it to their favorite shop who said "New Transmission"

Lucky the transmission was sitting on the floor, ran it through the gears while rotating shaft and it was fine.

Told them to just put a clutch in it, which they did and it ran forever.

 

My damn car which is brand new is in the shop and they are replacing the transmission already (automatic) Its a 2008 mini sidewalk with 1500 miles on it Unreal and the worst part about it is that they are putting in a refurbished transmission. I am so down on MINI right now. My 94 mercedes never gave me any problems.