We have a 2009 Cooper S with an automatic transmission with just under 5,000 miles on it. Two weeks ago (8/9/09) I was sitting at a red light on a slight incline. At the green I moved from the brake to the gas and started rolling backwards! Both Drive and Reverse were actually neutral and when shifting into Park, there was an aweful grinding noise and that too was effectively Neutral. So we pushed it into the nearby gas station and waited 99 minutes for Mini Roadside to come pick the thing up and drop it off at the dealer.

The report back from the service manager was that "the transmission had become disconnected from the axle on the right side". They "put it right back together", took it for a test drive, and called it fixed. They weren't able to find any damaged or missing parts and believed that it had been an error in assembly. There was no indication that this might happen again. I guess foolishly, I accepted this answer and retrieved the vehicle.

Saturday evening (8/22/09) we missed a turn and stopped off in a driveway to turn around. The driveway was also on a slight incline. Once again the transmission cut loose immediately on the initial acceleration. Again, Drive and Reverse remained Neutral and Park produced the grinding noise. This time it took Mini Roadside 4 hours (well past their promised "within 100 minutes") to pick up the car. Needless to say we were not happy.

I'm waiting to hear back from the Service Manager, and am pretty interested in their findings. Has anyone experienced anything similar with an automatic transmission? Anyone have any ideas what the heck might be going on here?

 

Remember to save all documentation of this for the "lemon law" option. In most states, they have 3 tries to fix it or you get a new vehicle (you'll need to research the specifics in your state).

 

one doesnt find many automatic tranny problem threads because since the Aisin slushbox was introduced in 2005 it's proven to be a sound, dependable d/t component. software bugs early, but since then problems have been very few and far between.

could be a software fix. keep us autoheads posted.

 

hopefully the dealer will just replace it with a new unit if the 2nd fix fails. A mechanically defective Aisin is rare. usually the problems are in the steptronics, the paddles and stick, communicating with the car.

 

No issues here... That's very strange!

 

OK, I picked it up this morning from the dealer and spoke with the mechanic that performed the repair. He indicated that the snap ring in the connection between the transmission and the axle did not have enough tension. Under the heavy torque it snapped and broke the left axle. They replaced the axle and the "output shaft left" (from the repair report).

Hopefully we just experienced a faulty component that has now been replaced and will never surface again.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll update if necessary (but hopefully it won't be)!

 

This is the first time I've heard of a problem with the Steptronic tranny in 16 months of reading posts here.

 

But it wasnt the tranny-- it was a part the tranny was connected to. All the posts Ive read concerning problems with the automatic have never been with the tranny proper, it was always drivetrain parts connected to the tranny, or software/mechanical issues with the paddles or stick.

And to clarify: "Steptronic" refers to BMW's proprietary technology for how the paddles and stick communicate with the ECU and tranny. Aisin International manufactures the tranny; it is majority owned by Toyota, which can explain its durability and reliability.

OP im glad it was resolved, now go out and motor!

 

I purchased it from an auction. It started and ran perfect I know it was sitting for a while so I took some back roads for about an hour everything seems ok shifting perfectly smooth as silk So I got on the interstate and drove a while with a few stops to speak with my friend following me to make sure all looks good. And no problems. So I drive on about 90 miles total trip. Suddenly while driving about 70 I let off just a little and it downshifts to 5 th gear I slow down and exit once again and at the bottom of the exit ramp at the light is doesn’t want to go it’s still in 5 th gear I manually shift in to first and it hesitates then jumps into gear I limp to a safe place. And have not been able to move the car since. The next day I go to the car thinking it will move and it does fine in reverse and jumps into first and that’s about it. I don’t know what fluid to put in it but all I have come up with is Jws 3309 or equivalent. I will try to add some fluid and hope that will get it home. Anyone have a posative comment on what the problem may be. I know taking it to the dealer is a big price tag and not within my ability to pay. Any help would be most appreciated please

 

You've probably found by now with no transmission dip stick, adding trans fluid is not as easy it should be. I've had the left drive axle break at the snap ring groove and mistakenly thought it was the transmission failing. Hope yours was just low on fluid. I've gone to full synthetic trans fluid and do a drain and fill at 30K miles. I did two changes a week apart initially to get most of the old fluid out. There was a tag on trans stating fluid was lifetime, I think smart people find that absurd. If you stick with original fluid, I'd do a drain and fill every 40K to 50K as cheap insurance, trans filter ever third change ( it's a screen, not a filter ). Throw some rare earth
magnets on trans pan to keep fine metal wear from recirculating in fluid. This all may be overkill.for the everyday driver but I tend to abuse the right pedal to bring out the fun of owning a Mini.