I am a long time Mini owner, now on my second Mini. I have an 09 Cooper S with the automatic steptronic transmission. My original Mini S was a manual transmission. I love the car but the automatic is frustrating me. When slowing for a stop the car surges forward as it tries to downshift. This happens at less than 10 mph. My foot is on the brake, the gas is at idle. It is like it won't let go of second gear then abruptly shifts causing a momentary surge.

When coasting at about 5-10mph, then adding gas the transmission takes a second or two to engage, then the car lurches forward. It is over sensitive, to the point it might be slightly dangerous for my young daughter to drive being a new driver.

The dealer said there is no problem, I think he is blowing smoke. Does anybody else know what I am talking about? Is this a common problem?

Thanks

 

mine feels the same way
ive just gotten used to it
it sounds like its lurching more than it is physically
it really freaks my co pilot out and she constantly trying to hit the passenger brake.
its really not an issue when the sport button isnt engaged tho

 

+1 it is normal just takes getting use to it.

 

Yep, normal... Grows very tiresome when driving in crowded city streets, you have to concentrate too much. Isn't that why we got the auto, so we wouldn't have have to worry about shifting and stuff...

It does feel better when in manual mode without the sport button depressed. The lurch is must less noticeable and the way it starts off in second gear makes take-offs less jerky.

 

Drive with SPORT-ON + manual mode@ that kind of speed.

 

I really appreciate the input. I do agree that after awhile you get used to it and work around it. Just doesn't seem right... I have used manual, started out in 2nd and it is much smoother. I hardly ever use Sport because it does seem worse. Looks like it is time for me to accept it and move on, especially that many others experience the same thing..

Thanks

 

It's quite OK, just use manual mode.

(quite frankly, the only time Ive driven my JCW auto in full-auto "D" was at the track doing my 1/4 mile runs. When I shifted in manual the times were about 1-2/10 sec slower.)

 

Because I'm such a newbie and was considering getting an automatic, could anybody explain how the MINI autobox works? AFAIK it's paddles, that's about it. I've searched all over the internet for some sort of video, but nobody seems to have posted anything about it. Just curious. Thanks in advance. Flame on.

/end newb mode

 

This is only a little off-topic, so - It is a six speed automatic transmission made by Aisin. It works like any other auto. There are various inputs to the controller that make it change gears differently. Inputs include the Sport button (harder shifts and will not automatically shift to 6th), both paddles (push for temporary downshift, pull for temporary upshift), and the gear shift selector itself (which has a manual position for shifting with the gear selector itself or the paddles - not temporary in manual mode). The transmission will not let you do anything foolish with gearing and will always shift to protect itself and the engine.

 

P
R
N
D(Pull to the left side for DS or Manual Shift Mode M/S + -)

This is a 6 speed automatic gearbox.

On a MCS automatic:
Sport Button Off:
Laggy throttle
Lighter steering @low speed
Smooth but slow shift

In D:
"D" in gear indicator
Full automatic mode (2nd to 6th)
Smoothest/slowest shift, upshift @ ~2500rpm.
Manual override with paddles last 30 secs, then back to automatic.
Starts from 2nd gear.

In DS:
"DS" in gear indicator
Full automatic mode (1st to 5th)
Smoothest/slowest shift, upshift @ ~3000rpm, hold rev for longer period
Manual override with paddles last 30 secs, then back to automatic.
Starts from 1st gear.

In M/S +/-:
"M" in gear indicator
Full manual mode (M1 to M6)
Won't upshift until redline.
Won't downshift until <1100rpm
Starts from 2nd gear (M2).

Sport Button On:
Responsive throttle
Heavier steering@low speed(more feel?)
FAST but slightly jerky shift on 1-2 and 2-3

In D:
"DS" in gear indicator
Full automatic mode (1st to 5th)
Hold rev @ ~3000-3500rpm, upshift@5000rpm to redline?
Manual override with paddles last 30 secs, then back to DS.
Starts from 1st gear.

In DS:
"DS" in gear indicator
Same as D with SPORT BUTTON ON.
Starts from 1st gear.

In M/S +/-:
"M" in gear indicator
Full manual mode (M1 to M6)
Won't upshift until redline.
Won't downshift until <1100rpm
Starts from 2nd gear (M2).

Manual Overide with paddles:
Slower than shift lever but only requires one hand on steering
Easier to jump gear (e.g. M1 to M3 upshift, or M6 to M4 downshift)
Pull the paddle for upshift/push the paddle for downshift
No difference between left/right paddle so it's very handy during hard corning

Shift Lever:
Fastest 1-gear up/downshift speed
Optimize for sequential upshift/downshift, it's hard to jump gear.
You need one extra hand to operate

Downshift with this box does provide some real extra braking capacity, it helps me escape from a number of seriously dangerous situations:D.

This automatic will analyze your driving habbit in D and adjust shift point accordingly (not dramatically, but there is difference). Information is stored in the key.

 

Fantastic replies, thank you all very much. Only slightly off topic, I thought it might help others at the same time.

Now to the more relevant questions -- since it's related to the topic, what would cause the surging? A longer gear 1st to 2nd gear? The computer causing lag?

 

ya know I have no idea what the OP is talking about as far as surges in low speeds. I tried it on mine yesterday (a rare non-track motor in D) and I could feel no surge at all below 10 mph.

Myabe there's a software bug or a Steptronic interface issue?

 

Wow. that is one impressive laundry list! I might add with the JCW kit the shifts with the paddles are a little more responsive, and the shift points in "D" are MUCH more performance oriented.

 

it really is more of a sound thing than a surge
when the tranny is down shifting the higher revs create the surge sound if thats what ya want to call it

 

I think nickminir56's post answers the question posted in a separate thread, "Is the MINI an example of German over-engineering?"

 

It is actually a slight surge or acceleration that I experience. It happens when coming to a stop. Just before stopping the auto transmission downshifts to 1st, when it does that it feels like it doesn't want to let go of the gear it is in. When it finally let's go there is a very noticeable surge or slight acceleration. It only does this when decelerating directly to a full stop. When decelerating slowly to a stop the downshift is not nearly as pronounced. Not sure how else to describe it. The effect can be lessened when you predict when it is going to happen, reduce the braking until the transmission downshifts, then continue with the braking.

 

I would then prob insist to your dealer that a tech take it for a drive, with you sitting shotgun, explaining the issue. these auto transmissions are proven bulletproof dependable, rarely do U get a defective unit (Aisin, after all, is majority owned by Toyota.) If there is a problem, it's usually in the Steptronic's interface with the ECU/transmission. Easily fixed. Do not let your dealer blow smoke back at you. You perceive a possible problem, and it should be investigated.

Oh and has anyone ever driven in R with Sport mode on? Quite fun actually!

 

After driving around in a 2009 Z4 today, it's going to be quite difficult dealing with the MINI auto box. Sport+ is awesome. Hopefully I'll get to test drive soon when I can get out of the office for a bit and see how much more difficult.

Okay maybe difficult is a bad word.

 

Ours in an Auto and we did not test a manual before purchase. I have not experiences this issue nor a sound--the closest I can think of is when coasting downhill there does seem to be a way to get the MINI to downshift and let the transmission slow you rather than breaking.
We have not had a surge at all when braking. Our driving styles are more defensive (More than two second rule), so I don't know if we aren't slamming on the brakes as hard/frequently as drivers who have experienced this.

 

Could this be a MCSa issue? My MCa has never shown any of the symptoms described in this thread.

Also, in non-sport mode, it starts in first gear and then quickly (and smoothly) shifts into second (unless your 'foot' is down hard).

I am glad that they were still installing the 'paddles' on MCa's in 2008.

For downhill engine braking, you could downshift with paddle, but would need to move the shift lever over to manual to 'hold' the gear.

 

My MCSa also starts out in 1st when not in sport mode and in D. You might not feel the jerking or surge we feel because of the higher torque in the S and that's why you don't feel it in the normal MC.

 

On a daily basis . But make sure Sport mode is off for Valet parking.

 

So the "Second-Gear Start" is reserved for "Sport-Mode"

Wonder if that idea is to better control wheel-spin?

The best 'early' ('40-50's) Automatic was the GM Hydramatic, this was a Four-Speed with a quite low ratio First Gear and under normal acceleration, (in 'D') it would shift to Second Gear by 6 MPH.

If you placed the Selector in 'L' you were locked in Second Gear and the idea was for better traction in slippery conditions.

Wonder if this is why sequence said:GreyMini did not say if this were happening in 'Sport-Mode' or not.
The above just does not seem right, high-torque 'S' or not.Auto downshift to first does not look like 'Sport-Mode' but all shifts are 'firmer' in 'Sport-' and at higher RPM as well.
So, could GreyMini be seeing this in In M/S +/-:

Some Chrysler Automatics "Learned from their driver" and the effect could be dramatic. (For a 'soft' driver following a 'hard' driver.)

The 'quick-fix' was to disconnect the battery (-) connection for an hour and then the Transmission would begin to learn again.

(I'm sure mine has 'learned' that I prefer a first gear start in 'D' and have a 'heavy' foot )

 

Someone posted how to make your auto transmission relearn your driving, if you do a search you might find it. I think I even tried it because it seemed the surge was abnormal and it did seem to help a bit if I remember correctly... Or I just got use to it that way.

 

I drove an automatic S when my baby was at the dealership for a week getting his decals put on. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about and it drove me CRAZY. I hated how it was just rolling until it jerked when you started from a stop and it seemed to just HATE to slow down.
I enjoyed the speed but I definitely prefer my manual justacooper. MAY consider an auto justacooper (I don't mind how they drive -- I've driven... four of them?) but never again an S, if only just for that lurching... haha.