It is no longer an Aisin Agitronic...according to my window sticker and the online production order, it is a Steptronic (by BMW) made in France.

Anyone know if this is a change for the good?

 

man i wish I had an 09 now

 

somethingnew71, that old post is incorrect. The MCS automatic is still made by Aisin.

 

Yes, as I recall, someone explained that the transmission is the Aisin (made at their factory in France) and the paddle shifting mechanism is the BMW Steptronic.

 

It wouldn't be the first time the window sticker was incorrect either.

 

oh....dang well I still want a DSG or DSG type tranny

 

Yeah, Steptronic is just what BMW calls the "Flappy-paddle" system in their traditional automatics. If they have a transmission sourced from GM, they aren't going to call it "GM XXXX." They will call it BMW Steptronic Whatever.

MINI needs to get on the ball with DSG. I've heard the performance is phenomenal.

 

1/10th of a second it shifts. I drove my friends 2009 GTI its like heaven. you dont even know youre shifting and you get this sick burp when it shifts.

 

Somethingnew71,

"I drove my friend's 2009 GTI; it's like heaven...and you get this sick burp when it shifts."

I don't think you and I share the same image of "heaven"...

 

I believe the window sticker on my 09 MCS says the transmission is from Japan. I'll double check when I get home tonight.

 

I have two copies of the window sticker, each printed on 9/26/2008 (bottom right of sticker). They both indicate the country of origin of the transmission is France and that France is the second major source of foreign parts content (25%), after the United Kingdom (30%). On the left side of the sticker, under "Options and Additional Charges", is listed "STEPTRONIC automatic trans." for $1,250.

Side note: folks on this forum keep talking about how they feel cheated if they have a problem with their "$30,000" MINI. According to my window sticker, the MSRP on my 2009 MCS is $21,950...all the rest are gimcracks and gewgaws that we buyers have chosen to add, or profit items like "destination charge" and "administrative fees". Those of us with an MCS are driving a $22,000 car, with options.

 

As it's been noted on this forum a bizillion times, Aisin International has tranny and transaxle plants all over the world, inc. France. Plus, a high percentage (60% I think) of Aisin is owned by Toyota.

Re the DSG: both Aisin and Getrag have double-clutch 7-speed automatic FWD setups that will more than likely find their way into the next gen cars, inc the JCW. After all, if Porsche can dump thier Tiptronic slushbox for their new, highly sophisticated PDK system in the 911s, Im sure BMW will find a way to do so for the MINI.