Hi all, I'm looking for help diagnosing a CVT issue on wife's '05 R50.w/100k miles

Symptom: When car is first started, the trans does not keep up with the engine speed - like a belt slipping (yup, i know CVT is belt driven). After driving car slowly for about 1/2 - 1 mile, the symptom disappears and operation is acceptable, although I did not push the acceleration.

Disclaimer: 1. I know the CVT's have their detractors and I hope not to evoke a general discussion of how bad/good/indifferent they are, but I support the 1st amendment. This is a gearhead query- diagnosis and repair. 2. I know the first thing to do is check the trans fluid level, but I had elbow surgery last week and my arm is immobilized, so this has to be a cerebral enterprise.

Incidental Observations:
1. There was a coolant leak at the thermostat gasket. When I pressurized the cooling system with a hand pump, a pool of pink fluid dripped on the floor under the hoses that feed the trans cooler. No pink stuff without pressure and none since thermo gasket repaired.

2. The left side of the trans cooler fins (closer to left fender) are blackened and look a little clogged.

3. There is a sound that accompanies the tranny slip until it warms up some - sounds like a twang from a mouth harp. It could be a loose heat shield - lost the bolt to hold it onto the oil filter stand the day before surgery - but I doubt it. There is no sound when engine is revved w/tranny in park, but appears when slight gas given to engine while in drive and standing on the brake.

Any experiences, suggestions, diagnostic advice would be greatly appreciated. I plan to have car taken to a local, unproven, indie garage on Monday to have trans fluid replaced, but would like a leg up on the situation.

 

Good luck with a non dealer garage for a CVT.....

Seen one garage do a CVT replacement in a MINI once....then would not even drive having to be brought to the dealer by flat bed truck. The CVT transmission is computer controlled and requires programming, even after a fluid change.

If your time is worth anything, better off just taking this matter up with a dealer.

 

Any update?

 

UPDATE: Scrubbed the garage floor so I could see leaks. Parked car overnight and found CVT fluid on the floor. Removed plastic chassis shield and CVT oil was everywhere, obviously being sprayed and not just dripping. Source of leak was a hairline fracture in the bent metal pipe at the bottom of the CVT oil cooler (that connects to a hydraulic flexible line) where the pipe is pressed into the cooler body. Took part to my local metal fabricator who welded it in about a minute for $15. The CVT takes 4.8 quarts of oil. I drained out only 2.8 quarts. Refilled the CVT with fresh fluid (Valvoline), performed the bleeding process per Bentley's and it runs like a brand new Mini. I don't know from where people get the notion that the ECU has to be reprogrammed after a fluid change. I can't find it in any literature and it was obviously not necessary in this particular case. Checked on the car this morning and there were CVT oil drips under the car. Fortunately they were pink and the Valvoline fluid is yellow, so this appears to be old oil still running off the engine, chassis, etc.

 

Wow! Good for you on finding the CVT problem.