We have an 03 MCS 6 speed manual we love and I am looking for one my wife and I can both drive. Today I drove a paddle shifting 2007 MC base. This car had 27K miles and clean as a pin. But when I pulled away from a stop sign, the engine spooled up before catching first gear and driving away. Did not do this in other gears. Did not go away as it warmed up.

Last week I drove an 05 MCS with the paddle shifter 6 speed auto and it revved in between shifts all over the place. It had 76K miles and was at a Mini dealer in Chicago.

Does this type of behavior mean the automatic trans is ready to blow?

Many thanks, Jim Schrager
South Bend, IN

 

Was the 2007 MINI not moving when you hit the gas or just slow off the start? The car should roll after a stop without hitting the gas.

The 2005 MAY have issues there's a thread out recently with a few 2005-2006 Auto owners that had issues with the solenoids in the tranny. They had about the same mileage as this car.

Hard to give a solid answer....maybe have an independent mechanic take a look.

 

As long as the car is in D a gear is always selected, which is why the car crowls forward. So the engine cannot rev without the car moving. Only if you had N selected and later engaged D, while also pressing the accelerator can the engine rev freely. It takes a couple of seconds to shift from N into D. It shifts much faster in between gears at speed and very fast when the Sports button is engaged (assuming the Justa has this).

 

The 07 MC justa was moving away from a stop light slightly, and as you gave it gas, it spooled up and the revs went up quite a bit, as if something in the trans was slipping. When I hit the button for "Sport" mode, it seemed to go away. Sport mode indeed is very different than standard, much more responsive.

The 05 MCS would allow the engine to rev in between shifts of different gears. Is it expensive to replace the solenoid in the transmission?

Many thanks, I am not new to Minis but new to the forum.

Best, Jim Schrager
South Bend, IN

 

I would not buy an automatic MINI will 76,000 miles on it. That one is not operating correctly.

The transmission is very expensive to replace.

I had an 06 S with an automatic and traded it in before it got out of warranty.

I have read about numerous auto failures at 70,000 - 80,000 miles, some sooner.

BTW, I not talking about the CVT which is even worse. A class action lawsuit has been files over the CVT.

 

Yes, if you are sitting at a light, and give it gas and the trans slips for a bit before engaging, that is a sign the trans is hurt. You are having to raise the pressure of the fluid in the trans to get it to pull. This is usually the first sign it is failing. If you OWNED the car, my advice would be to swap fluid, as about 33% of the time that will fix it/buy you more life. My opinion, never "power flush" an auto tranny, as that usually just breaks stuff loose and kills the trans. I don't buy automatic cars for me, but my wife drives them, and on her cars I swap tranny fluid around 50,000 miles and every 30,000 after that. Fluid is cheap, trannys are not. If it dies, they are not hard to swap out in your home garage considering the amount of money you will save. Good luck.