1st Gen 2008 "S" Convertible, automatic transmission, 56,000 miles.

Having a problem with it shifting out of gear to neutral at slow speeds, 40 mph or less. Sometimes reving the engine will cause it reengage with a big clunk tossing you back in the seat. Other times, have to pull over to a stop, shift to neutral then back to drive to get it to reengage. This last time, it reengaged, but even flooring the gas pedal, the RPMs never lifted above idle. No check engine faults lights.

We're light on the transmission, no rabbit starts, rarely drive above the speed limit. At 40,000 miles I had Mini do a transmission fluid service as I don't trust "lifetime fluid."

Can't check the fluid level because of no dip stick, but no obvious signs of leaks.

Any ideas? Any known problems? Anyone have a similar problem and if yes, what was the problem/solution?

Thanks all.

 

Check the trans fluid first. There isn't a dipstick but you can check for oil from the filler plug which should be right above the drain plug (I have a '04 S). Could be the clutch, the system also uses the brake fluid and old fluid could case the clutch to malfunction. The clutch should be bled along with the brakes if they haven't already been done.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm

 

The r52 auto is a different beast...and it is NOT a stick....a few folks have has issues with the ASSIN auto tranny on the GEN1 S, but it by no means supper common....being an auto, not much that a individual can do....i believe there was info floating around about a valvebody issue...that VW/audi did as a recall on basicly the same tranny....so be sure to check with MINI, and show the proof of the tranny service if it was done by mini...they might discount/goodwill the repair.

 

They are going to look to see if they can find any computer codes. They thought it strange that no warning lights lit. They are going to look at wiping the memory and remapping the transmission. If it is something else, they say that Mini doesn't provide parts, that they change the whole transmission to a cost of $7000. I'll report back when I know more, but that cost for me is a trash the car price even if the car has only 56,000 miles on it. If that is the case, we wouldn't be able to trade it at Mini since they would know the problem and hence give us squat for the car in trade...so we'd move to another brand...we've been looking at the VW Jetta turbo diesel.

 

There is a known issue with the Asin TF-60 transmissions that causes problems like what you are experiencing. A steel sleeve inside the transmission rotates (it isn't supposed to) and cuts off the fluid to the K2 clutch pack, thereby eliminating 4th, 5th, and 6th gear. The only way to fix it is to tear into the transmission and replace it. We had that done about a year ago and it set us back $3800. Our primary issue was with the valve body but that sleeve was replaced as well.

You may want to check the transmission in that VW Jetta prior to purchase. The TF-60 transmission was built by Asin for VW in the late 1990s, early 2000s and VW still uses it in a number of their vehicles. Although VW suffered a class action lawsuit and now requires regular fluid changes on the transmission.

 

They didn't find anything wrong with the transmission. No fault codes. Couldn't replicate while driving. Fluid levels okay. No leaks. So they remapped the transmission's computer. After a week of driving it now, I've not experienced anymore problems. Keeping my fingers crossed...