*edit* Now that my thread has been moved to the proper section, maybe I'll get some replies! Thanks admin!

Hi. I'm new to the Mini Cooper world, but have had several and still have one BMW in the past. I am a huge fan of BMW engineering and the overall driving experience of our BMWs. I figured that since BMW owns Mini, we should take a look at the Cooper. After my wife's 3 series was totalled, we bought a 2005 Mini Cooper (non-S) with the CVT transmission. The car has about 20k miles, is in excellent condition, and is very fun to drive. That being said, here is my issue.

The transmission is very difficult to drive smoothly at low speeds, through a parking lot for instance. I get whiplash every time I drive around looking for a parking spot. I think that the behavior of the transmission is related to the high idle when coasting at slow speeds. The car idles at about 1000 rpm in or out of drive, even when up to operating temperature. I've never had a car idle that high before, and it concerns me. My wife just spoke with the dealer and they said it was completely normal. I am very skeptical.

I understand that these cars came from the factory with 3 years free maintenance, yet our car has no dealer maintenance history. This probably means that the original owner lived nowhere near a dealership and it was a hassle to go in for "free maintenance". Is there anything that this car could have done with the transmission software or engine control system that would improve the driveability? Apparently the dealership just told my wife that you have to drive it differently than any other car. Basically, give it full throttle any time you press the accelerator. Wierd....

I did read some other threads where people complained about the transmission, but if it is really supposed to be like that, I would consider selling the car. It's that annoying.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

-Matthew

 

The bucking in my '03 MC CVT was driving me crazy, so I had Waylen install a TSW engine damper...seems to have worked, since that aspect has pretty much been eliminated. I don't use the auto much, except on trips...use the "stick", instead, so am not really bothered by the hi revs.

 

A reputable MINI dealer should be able to fix you up. Some times it is just a program update. It might not hurt to get the fluid changed. It is not cheap (around $250) but its 30K maintenance. Even though yours has much less mileage.

 

I took the car to the dealer here in Charlotte, NC and they said that a software upgrade was not the solution. I'm not sure I believe them. Anyway, they reset the transmission and told me that it has "adaptive learning" and it should be much smoother.

I pulled out of the dealership to a stoplight, and the car was idling under 1000 rpm for the very first time since we've had the car. As soon as I pulled up to the next light, it was back up to idling around 1050 rpm or so.

The only difference we have noticed since they reset the transmission is that it goes into gear much faster. Before we took it in, there was a few second delay from the time you put it into drive until the trans would actually go into gear.

I plan on changing the fluid in the next couple of weeks, the clock just ticked over 30k.

 

I just bought an 05 Mini Cooper base. I am having the same idle and rpm issues and the whiplash at stop and go. Was you able to determine what was wrong with yours? If this can't be fix I will be getting rid of it.

 

My daughter has a 2004 R50 with a CVT transmission. It was behaving exactly as you describe. Resetting the transmission adaptations corrected the issue. It now behaves like one would expect.