I'm writing here because I am at the end of the road and need some advice and thought what better to ask but the internets.

I bought a 2006 Automatic Cooper S (apparently the automatic Cooper S transmission is different than the regular automatic Cooper engine) and was supposed to be better. engine? transmission? i don't know. i'm just a girl who fell in love with MINI's and just had to have one.

mistake 1 - i didn't have it looked at by a mechanic before buying from the original owner. paid $1200 in repairs the first week.

after that the transmission has been wonky and by that i mean that it will rev really high and then slam into gear. also when i'm coming down from higher gears, it shifts really hard into the lower gears.

so apparently no one rebuilds MINI transmissions? it's considered a part? the dealer says it's an $8k fix but i still owe almost the entire car debt and just got married...and now don't have $8k lying around for a car repair.

I'm sorry this isn't written very well. I'm just hoping some people on here who know what they're talking about could help me out with some possible options besides trading the car in for way less than it's worth and going into even more debt for a new MINI or avoiding paying the $8k to fix it :(

I'm so appreciative for any help/advice/ideas/options....

 

The mini S tranny....the auto 6 speed is a conventioal transmission....(unlike the cvt on the justa-cooper).
You might need to look around, but an independant shop might have a local scource that rebuilds trannys as needed or can get you from a wreck that works with a warrenty...good luck...not many S auto tranys have failed by most accounts...you are lucky you do not have the base cooper's cvt ....that IS A NIGHTMARE....

 

thanks! do you know of any shops in southern california that might be able to help me out with the rebuild idea?