my rpm's have been running high and erratcicly between automatic shifts in the cvt transmission.
has been going on for about a week now, and want to be sure that the cvt belt hasn't broken.
car still drives relatively ok. but i don't want to run it hard until it shifts smoother. miles are at 48k. last transmission fluid changed was at 20k.
what are the bad signs to self diagnos?

 

BIG BILL$.

 

If the belt breaks, there will be no doubt that you are big trouble.

YD

 

I would think that if the CVT belt broke, then the car wouldn't move at all.

 

Yep correct! There'd be no drive to the wheels. The only working part would be neutral.

It does sound like you have a problem with your CVT. Get to the dealer & be prepared for some bad news.

 

You probably just need your trans adaptations reset and have your DME brought up to date software wise.

 

I like your thinking.
been reading the heck out of this topic since I noticed the problem last weekend. I'm wanting to think positive.

 

The other thing to look into is your transmission control unit. Mine has been on the fritz and needs to be replaced. RPMs are running high (higher than normal) in sport mode and I have to rev the engine in park when I first start the car up to get it to go in reverse or drive. It's like a $350 part, and DIYable (so I'm told), so it's on my list to get done in the next couple of weeks. Either way, CVT trouble may not necessarily be due to the belt...I'd say go in optimistic but be prepared for bad news just in case.

 

think the toughest thing has been to try and find a shop withen an 8 hour drive that can examine the vehicle to see what is wrong with it. drove the car to a foreign shop yesterday that has previously worked with mini's, but he didn't want to look at anything transmission related. there were however, none of the previous symptoms showing up while i was driving it.

is there a service directory for mini's? a mini dealership is opening in a month or so nearby, but that's a long time to wait for what may be as simple as a transmission flush.

 

so, I get the full story.
about a month ago, coincidentally about the same time she started noticing the rpm problems, she pops the shifter into the manumatic mode accidentally while driving.
forgets it is there until she is starting up at a red light, then she pops it back in regular automatic mode.
she did notice some high rpm's showing up at this time probably due to being in the wrong manual gear.
Would seem to re-enforce the probable fix of resetting of the transmission computer on a transmission flush.
found a BMW dealer who'll take a look at it this week anyway.

 

ended up being a gear shifter needed replacement.
At least it wasn't the CVT.
getting the trans flush and software re-install flash anyway.
auto mode works fine, so may wait and see if I can fix it myself.
Am glad that there is a mini dealer coming to the area. fixing stuff myself is rewarding and less expensive, but things like this can get beyond my ability to fully understand.

 

If your car is hybrid though the electric assist motor will keep the car moving. Very f@!:&$ slow!!