You drop the subframe. I think some people have done it by partially dropping it, but you can't get to the last bolt with it completely in place.

 

I'm sure its not the 'approved' method, but I drilled a hole in the crossmember and got an extended torx bit to remove the last bolt.


Mike

 

Hi to everyone. I had read the procedure for changing the fluid, however I kind of f'd up by accident. I just replaced the oil pan gasket and oil, filter on my ex's 2010 mini. I also purchased a new filter and gasket for the transmission, however after looking at it there are no leaks so I am going to just change the fluid. Here is where I mucked it up.

I was paying attention to the fluid coming out of the tranny pan, however the drain pan is one that has a lid on it and I didn't pay attention to see if there was any oil in it. So now I have tranny fluid and possibly oil mixed together so I don't know how much actually came from the transmission. After it stopped and I realized the problem I swapped over to a standard drain pan and removed the plastic plug to allow the rest of the fluid to drain out. Now I am ready to reinstall the fluid, but don't know the actual amount to install.

Does anyone know how I can tell when the tranny is full so I can do the other drain and fills? I have the car on jack stands and level, so will just do a fill, run the engine until it gets warm and then shut it down to cool off. I will rinse, lather and repeat the 3-4 times everyone is recommending. I just need to know at what point the trans is full. Please help. My fiance is driving my car and I like mine a bit better than the Mini. Sorry.

This is the most idiotic vehicle I have ever worked on in my many years of building, repairing, maintaining, and racing cars. And I thought BMW knew what they were doing... I sit by my computer with a case of really cheap beers waiting for someones to answers me's questionesns. Oops. I szpelled that one wronged again. Thanks to everybody.

 

a P.S. to the previous post.

I have sent posts on other Mini forums and have had no response at all to my questions. One site seems to not answer most peoples questions, so I ditched them. Thanks for all of the help. It is much appreciated. Does anyone also know how long I should run the car prior to doing another drain? I assume just letting the fluid get hot and then let it cool down should be sufficient.

 

When you drain the trans fluid, there should be a removable stand pipe in the drain hole. Unscrew this to drain the fluid. When refilling, reinstall the stand pipe and add fluid to the transmission from the fill hole. Excess fluid should start dripping out of the transmission when the fluid exceeds the top of the stand pipe. To get the proper amount of fluid, the fluid is supposed to be 100 degrees and the car level.

Not sure how long to run the car, but maybe 5-10 miles?? Just need to get the old and new fluids mixed together. 3 drains/fills should and up at about 80%+ new fluid.

 

Hi RB-Mini,

Thanks for the quick reply. I removed the stand pipe last night after I allowed the initial amount drain from the removal of the first drain plug. Thing is I didn't realize there was other oil in the drain container so I am not sure how much came out. I assumed it wasn't much, but just not exactly sure. So when I removed the stand pipe there was a lot more that came out of course.

I reinstalled the plug and let it set overnight and when I removed it more came out, which is good, but again just not sure of the total amount that has drained out.

So now I am slowly refilling the tranny with the stand pipe installed. When fluid begins to trickle out I assume I install the main drain plug and run the car until it gets hot? I am going to just run the car on the jack stands as I don't have the time to take it down, drive it, come back jack it again, and do that three times. Not at this point anyway.

So my main question is how do I know I am even close to having the transmission to the proper level if I reinstall everything and run it to 100 degrees? If I open the drain plug to check more fluid comes out and I'm back to not knowing where I am. Sounds stupid but I mucked it up when I didn't check the drain pan. Sorry for the many questions, but this car has always been trouble to my ex, and I wish she had something else. I am the one who works on it, but this is the first time I've had a problem like this. Thank you sir.

Howie

 

Hi Howie,

Manual or auto?

-ian

 

Howdy favino1006,

Its an auto. R56 type 2010. I did install the stand pipe and slowly pumped in fluid until it came out of the drain hole. I then installed the outer plug. I was just thinking and since the temp has to be around 100 degrees-if it's too hot then obviously there isn't enough fluid, and if it's too cool then it's overfilled. I haven't put any fluid in since I installed the outer plug as I wanted to give it time to settle.

I am going to run the car on the jack stands. I have two floor jacks underneath just in case-one on each side, but I've never had a car fall off stands as long as I don't run the thing like I'm in a race.

So maybe put another quart into the tranny and then do a run for 10 to 15 minutes I guess. I have an OBD diagnostic tool that will take live readings, so I hope it has a way to read the transmission temp. I never really looked for it before so will see if it does.

So if you have any other suggestions please let me know and I will follow them. I am just kind of waiting around for answers from folks who are in the know like yourself and RB-Mini. Thanks for the assist. Now I will shut up.

 

Put in 3 quarts with the plug in place. Warm it up, then pull the drain plug while the engine is idling. When the fluid slows to a trickle, put the plug back in. If nothing comes out, add 1/2 quart more, warm it up, and pull the plug again. Stand pipe in place for all of this. Make sense?

Have fun,
Mike

 

With the fluid between 95-113 degrees remove the drain plug. If over filled, fluid will drain. Let it drain until it starts to drip then re-install the plug. The fluid expands and contracts with temperature so you need to make sure the fluid is in the temp range. Not sure if you can use a diagnostic tool to check the trans temp on a 2nd gen MINI through the OBD port, or get a readout on one of the gauge displays in testing mode.

 

Ok, so if the temp is in that range and I pull the plug and fluid comes out, just let it go until it stops? So that would mean I have the proper amount of fluid installed and then I can run it for I dunno maybe 20 minutes or so and then rodo the whole procedure again? I only purchased 5 quarts of this fluid, but it was $13 each. I had to order it as well. Will I need more than that to complete three drain and fills?

Also thanks to RB-Mini, mbwicz, and favino1006 for being such stand up guys. I really appreciate it. To mbwicz, I would do the three quarts as you suggest, but then I wouldn't have enough to do the other drain and fills. I have right now almost put in 2 quarts. Yep it's slow going but I attached a pump to the bottle so it isn't all that bad. I just take a big gulp of MD2020 between pumps. Hell to the yeah.

 

As long as the fluid is within the temp range, when it slows down to a drip the level should be good. Drive it around to mix up the fluids and change the fluid again. 3 changes should be good.

If you're confident with the level after the first refill, you probably can measure the drained fluid and add the same amount of fluid back in the trans for the other changes. Just make sure the drained and new fluid are at the same temp when matching amounts.

 

Well alright. I will take these tips to the garage and see what happens. Thanks again. I will update and drink a beer to you good folks. Cheers.

 

Ok. Here's a quick update. I don't get a trans sensor temp reading with the OBD tester. Second, it only takes a couple of minutes for the fluid to reach the temp range you stated. I put the digital thermometer on the plug itself and it was around 108 degrees. When I opened the drain plug it went to around 121. It was slowing, but still climbing ever so slightly.

So my question now is when I am doing the fill and drain, I assume I am removing the stand pipe as well and draining everything out? This would mean I will need about 7-8 quarts of fresh fluid in total because if everytime I drain 2 plus quarts comes out then I will need to replace it with 2 plus fresh quarts. I wish I would have found you guys earlier then I would have known to get more fluid. I will only be able to do one more fill and drain before I am out of fresh fluid. Oh well. You live and you learn. OK thanks guys.


Cheers

 

These guys are all giving sound advice. For whatever reason, the stand pipe system never would work for me though. I followed the instructions to the T. Too much fluid always came out. Went over it several times with a Mini tech, he said, "yeah, you're doing right, no idea why so much fluid is still coming out." His solution: try putting in 2 quarts through the fill hole on top, seal it up and go for a slow drive. Keep your RPM's and speed low. shift through a few gears. If it's slipping, put some more in; a half a quart at a time. Seal it up and go for another drive. You will eventually get enough in there and the shifting will feel normal. If you overfill a LITTLE, no worries. From that Mini tech's lips to my ears; "the tranny is vented and is capable of burping excess fluid." Of course, I wouldn't recommend massively overfilling it and running the risk of blowing out a seal, hence the half quart at a time recommendation.

Removing the stand pipe as well, I usually get just under 3 quarts out each time I drain mine (2 quarts, 28 oz. I believe last time).

Hope this helps. Sorry for that delay. Dinner break.

 

No worries. I appreciate the monitoring. So as I mentioned before, I ran it for a few minutes and got it just above the 113 degrees. I removed the drain plug and let it drain out. A fair amount came out, however I assume it was due to the temperature.

I then closed it up and ran it on the stand for about ten minutes. I did go through the gears with the brake on, then put it in gear and just let it turn at idle. You do get the ABS and traction control lamps, but that makes sense as there is no traction. I assume the temps are quite high right now so will let it cool for a bit.

So from what you are saying I need to remove the drain plug and let the fluid empty. Then I remove the stand pipe and let everything come out. I then reinstall the stand pipe and begin filling again? Once fluid starts coming out put the drain plug on and continue to fill until I have put in the same amount that came out. Then do the procedure all over again? I have three unopened quarts of fluid and I am pretty sure I will use that tonight on the second fill and drain. I will have to buy two or three more tomorrow, maybe four so I can do it one more time and then fill it for the last time.

The only thing that worries me is that I really only get a true temp reading from the fluid itself. If I remove the drain plug and it is too hot or too cold then I'm going to be off on the amount I have to refill correct? I already hate Minis... Thanks.

 

From my experience, if you let the car cool enough to let you work on it without burning yourself (fluid almost to ambient temp) you should get about 2.5 quarts out the bottom total with the standpipe removed. If you let it sit longer fluid will drain out of the torque converter slowly which you have witnessed. So do as the others have said with this in mind. And I hope you're using synthetic fluid, I use royal purple, 3 drain/fills so far every 10k miles and all is well. The stock fluid is not synthetic.

Also, it seems like if you drain with the standpipe in place you end up a little underfilled. Maybe the fluid expands rather quickly?

 

Hi Yesti,

I did it the long way this second time and tried to get the 95-113 degrees. if you touch the digital thermometer to the pan you get about 15 plus degrees poler than if you touch the drain plug itself. So what I did was in screw the drain plug just enough Soni could get a stream. at first it was over 121 degrees. so after several attempts and not getting much cooler I waited over two hours and the fluid was still around 116 degrees. At that point I got a total of just overy 1 1/2 quarts, which really doesn't make much sense. I placed a couple of fluid bottles in hot water and when it was around 104 plus I began the slow process of refilling.

It's been a long g day so tomorrow I will drive it for a little while and come back and let it cool down a bit. I'll do another drain and fill and decide if I want to do another.

Thanks for the assist especially at this late hour. Have a good one.

Cheers

 

Hey guys,

One more question as I am doing the last drain and fill now. When I remove the first drain plug, is that fluid counted in the total amount drained when I remove the stand pipe when at temperature? That is my only hic cup right now. I am at around 113 degrees and letting it drain. I am heating up the new fluid to the same temperature range.

Thanks. I should be done but just making sure.

 

I would say if the fluid level was correct before draining, you could just match the total of what ever comes out as long as the new fluid is at the same temp as the drained fluid. To be the safest, use the stand pipe drip method at the proper temp range for the last fill.

 

Guys,

I am draining at around 112 degrees and with the initial amount that comes out with the stand pipe still installed, and then with the stand pipe removed I am only getting 1 1/2 quarts out in total. So how much should I put back in on this final fill? She wants her car and doesn't understand this is not a rush job.

In total I am only getting 1 1/2 quarts. Remember when I first began I did not measure the the drain pan I was using and I found out there was some oil from a previous drain inside. So there could have been 2 or more quarts in, but I don't know for sure. So I just need to know if I leave the stand pipe installed and begin filling from the fill hole, do I stop when it starts to trickle from out the drain hole and leave it at that? This being with the fluid at temperature. That's my confusion at this point. Sorry to be such a dummy.

 

Yes, as long as the fluid is in the correct temp range. The new fluid should also be preheated to avoid cooling the fluid down inside the trans and affecting the measurement.

 

Hi RB-Mini,

That is where my problem is. Since I didn't get an accurate reading at the very beginning of all of this I am not sure what the amount was that came out. At present it is 1 1/2 quarts at 112 degrees.

I am now heating up new fluid in the sink and when it gets to 100 or so I will refill it. So with the stand pipe installed, do I fill until fluid starts to trickle out of the drain hole or do I put the outer drain plug in and fill above that? I am at a loss now since I never got an accurate beginning reading. Sorry to keep bothering you guys, but like Princess Lea once said "Your'e my only hope". Or was that OJ when he hired the dodgy attorney? I forget...

 

OK RB,

I just got your last message after I just sent my last one. OK. It just seems odd that I am only getting 1 1/2 quarts out when everyone else is getting twice that, or close to it.

 

OK. So I'm refilling with new fluid temp at around 102-103 degrees. Remember I got one and a half quarts out earlier at around 112 degrees. So now I'm just short of a full quart and already fluid is coming out of the pan. WTF? Any ideas?