Unusual- this forum is called 1st gear. Something I don't have in my 2003
mini I ordered brand new. Have had car 8 years, 56k miles no major
problems until cvt transmission goes out in less than a mile. Towed home- sits in garage collecting dust (driving old reliable truck). Dealer wants $6500 to put same trans back in. A repair shop found a used one for 4 grand before it even gets there. I would have never bought this thing if I would have known I helped mini by some of their present tv ads. Mini is laying a fat one on consumers. This should be a recall.

 

Sorry to hear about your MINI. From reading these boards it looks like you are certainly not alone in getting shafted with the CVT trans.

 

Sorry to hear, this is pretty common. I may be able to get you a new one a little cheaper, but it's still an expensive job. Let me know if I can help.

 

CVT problems began in the first year of production with some cars.

MINI changed to automatic trans and that was better.

So far the best transmission is any of the manual Getrag transmissions found on MCS and base coopers.

CVT is complex and expensive to fix or replace. The prices are correct.

If you really must keep your MINI then talk to Way about getting a new CVT put in.

Mine is a 2003 MCS with original 6 speed manual and 70+K miles.

 

Nice first post.

I don't like to hear about anyone having car problems (especially "the big one"), but eight years and 56k miles motoring with no major problems means you were past due.

 

Where are you located?

If you are in Cali, try these guys out.

http://www.dosebmw.com/about_us.htm

 

Yep CVTs blow
Yep $7000
Stay away from CVTs, I know advice too late.

 

It's bad news for sure, and I am sorry to hear it, we would have warned you if you found this forum before you had an issue. but just to spread the hate... most enginereed things have a rough start when they first come out.

CVTs are (were) new technology and most every company that used them has its share of complaints and I mean every auto maker. Just remember "new" is often a way of saying "will you please pay us to be a beta tester for our new gizmo?"

I know this post isn't helpful, but it is an expensive lesson to try an learn from. Stick with tried and true technology (anyone have a beta-max VCR or HD dvd player ?[ phased out by blue-ray]). The first group of people can often get hosed out of big bucks...

Good luck with the outcome.

 

Blue ray is being phased out. Watch movies over wireless on demand.

If you really love your MINI and want to save it then now is the time to decide. Once fixed you have, well, a CVT.Not sure how long it will last.
Maybe get a few more years out of it.

 

what years are the cvt?

 

Base Cooper 2002 to 2006 only had the CVT
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...i-cooper-6.htm

Base Cooper also had 5 speed manual transmission (early years had Midlands transmission which had trouble, later replaced with Getrag 5 spd)

Cooper S had 6 speed manual transmission, in 2006 there was an optional automatic transmission.
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...ini-cooper.htm

Base Cooper from 2007 on had automatic transmission

 

Yep we got a 46 in flat screen and Best Buy was trying to sell er push that Blue Ray like nobody's business, I mean a hard sell. Like they had a scripted sales pitch rap. They almost did not want to sell the TV without the Blue Ray, only made me think they were trying to get rid of their old stock. Plus our PS3 plays BluRay (we never rented 1 BluRay) we prefer online Netflix over the PS3. Anyway, sorry for off topic rant, back to subject. The new generation Cooper does not have the same tranny woes, nor does the R53 auto tranny. Get a few more quotes for best price. Fix it, sell it to someone who has not done their research and hope you break even. Then buy a 2006 MCSa.

 

Maybe I missed something, but didn't he say that he bought the CVT new in 2003? When was he supposed to get his warning?
Was the fluid ever changed in the 58K miles? Did the dealer ever say it should be?
This is not experimental technology: I considered a CVT Honda in 1997, so they had been around for some time and in quite a few makes.

 

CVT cars (all of them) have problems, some just more than others, but you will find all of them if you look hard enough.

http://www.google.com/search?q=cvt+problems

His car is 03, not much older than a 97, certainly not old tried and true technology.

 

Happy New Year everyone.
Everytime I read about the CVT transmission being so uselss, according to some, I think of the hundreds of functions and purposes it's served so very well. From farm machinery to big trucks to motorcycles and scooters and for many years. Been tempted to send this small excerpt from Wikipedia many times and figured what the heck, I'll post it today. CVT

"Leonardo da Vinci, in 1490, conceptualized a stepless continuously variable transmission.[8] The first patent for a friction-based belt CVT was filed in Europe[clarification needed] by Daimler and Benz in 1886, and a US Patent for a toroidal CVT was granted in 1935."

 

Excellent info, but I think they have been giving people trouble since 1886, which is why they have not been seen in the mass produced auto market as often as other options.

 

Yeah CVT's have been around for quite a while...nothing new there...however it seems that there may be an inherent problem with the design.

Our 2003 Cooper CVT worked flawlessly and never had any fluid changed but at 74,000 miles we traded for a 2010 Clubman.
Philip

 

I've no doubt that CVT's like many other intricate parts, have their downfalls. My comment was that they have been very useful for many years and have been around for some time.
Another quote:

"Actually, one of the most important manufacturers to really get involved in the development of the CVT was Japanese automaker Nissan when it launched its new Murano crossover available only with a CVT. That was in 2003. Today, Nissan offers the CVT transmission on many of its new products, including the redesigned Murano, the Altima, the Maxima, the Rogue, the Sentra, and the Versa.

CVT transmissions can also be found on some Audi A4 models, on Chrysler’s Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot, on Ford’s Hybrid Escape (and, in the past, on its Five-Hundred and Freestyle), on Mercedes-Benz Class Bs, on certain Honda Civic Hybrids, on Mitsubishi Lancers, and even on some Hybrid Toyota Camrys and Highlanders."

 

And, they will have problems. Just google any car above and there will be issues. There may be more now, but they still represent way less than 1% of all transmissions ever produced. In 2003 they were not offered on many cars. I wouldn't ever buy one, but what others do isn't any concern to me. It is too expensive a part for me to self insure.

 

The CVT-auto-manual topic and discussion will be around for a while, I'm sure of that. Don't know where you got the 1% etc.etc. but if you say so. Not trying to gloss over faulty CVTs' or challenge anyone's preferences, just pointing out that the mechanism has been around and used for many years.
If I wanted to google cars and their faults, I'd be reading till doomsday.