I've got a '07 two door, non-turbo with the 6 speed manual transmission.

at about 20K miles, the transmission's synco's went out. the local deal replaced the tranny.

2 years later, I am changing the tranny fluid. (yes, I know that Mini calls it a lifetime fill)

I open the top fill plug and out comes a significant amount of fluid. maybe 1/2 a pint.

I'll refill it, but wonder if I should lift the passenger side so that I can put a bit more fluid in the tranny.

perhaps at the factory, they overfill the tranny slightly ?? maybe there is a benefit to slightly overhiffing the unit ??

I've also got an '08 clubbie and have changed the tranny fluid on it with no issues, filling to the fill plug level.

anybody with experience here ?

thanks,
steve

 

Put in the required amount of transmission fluid; no good reason to need to overfill.

- Erik

 

Was the car level when you checked? (on a lift? Jack stands? Just the front raised?) It should be just full. Slightly overflowing from the fill hole.

The transmission is shipped dry. The tech fills it after installing it.

 

Transmission fluid (same with the rear axle fluids) should be as richardspearry said, at the hole and no more. When filling, the transmission should be as level as possible (bubble level, not to the ground). Overfilling can cause foaming which will reduce the lubrication in the gears, the cooling ability, and over pressure which can lead to degraded performance to damaging the unit.

 

thanks ... I'll check the level ...

steve

 

I figured out the hard way on my Hondas that having one end or the other of the car in the air can lead to over- or under-filling. On the 80s-90s Civic (and derivatives), the fill hole is near the back of the transmission. So if the nose of the car is up in the air, and you fill until the fluid starts to come out the fill hole, there won't be enough fluid in the transmission.

Input shaft bearings in Honda transmissions don't like it when there isn't enough fluid. :(

 

There is no benefit to overfilling the transmission. You'll have more parasitic power loss from the increased volume of oil in the transmission case. As others said, a slight drip from the fill plug is all that's required.

 

HI, I think I want to chage my fluid, I am at 57K, and do not know if mine has ever been changed, since I just bought it. I want to put the best fluid in and was wondering what everyone suggest as the best. I have a R50 2006 Cooper with 5 speed manual. Has any one used Royal purple? Which fulid is right, and how much would I need to purchase?
Thanks for the info.

 

I like the royal purple product, and have had good luck with the amsoil products. I've heard good things about the Redline products too. then, there's the factory fluid.

I'd be hard pressed to say which is best and I'd bet that none are a bad choice, so long as it's a MTL compatible product.

Be sure you can get off the top (fill) plug before you open the bottom !!

steve

 

Royal Purple,Redline,Amsoil are all good.
You probly wont notice any difference compared to conventional gear lube except in your wallet.

 

It's fairly simple. Drain the transmission via the bottom drain plug. Reinstall the drain plug and fill via the top-side fill hole. When fluid starts running out it's full.

 

It's usually best to open the fill plug first. Just to make sure you can; it kinda sucks to dump all the fluid and then find out you can't put any fluid back in.

 

Don't know if it makes any difference, but the Bently manual says to run the engine a bit to warm things up, THEN check it as everyone else has suggested. This "warm-up" might distribute the fluid, causing the level to drop when being checked.