Hello all,

This is my first posting. My new Mini "Gary" is having a brain transplant.
I had him for exactly two weeks (500 miles) and now he needs a new transmission.
He's an automatic Cooper.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Once the transplant is over and the drs release him will he be OK?

Would love to hear about this problem from other Mini owners.

 

Hi viewmasterlady,

Wow. That's a shame about your CVT Cooper. I know there was a recall on a batch of CVT Coopers a few months ago because the transmissions were installed with the wrong viscosity tranny fluid -- but I have not heard of a complete CVT transmission failure before. Especially so soon -- two weeks!

Please explain the signs and symptoms of your car before the transmission failed. What happened as you drove it? Or did it just stop working one day?

Once they get the new CVT tranny installed in your MINI, I bet your car will be perfect!

Please keep us updated as to what transpires, and how your MINI is after the new transmission.

Thanks and Motor On,

-Joe

 

Hi viewmasterlady,

Wow. That's a shame about your CVT Cooper. I know there was a recall on a batch of CVT Coopers a few months ago because the transmissions were installed with the wrong viscosity tranny fluid -- but I have not heard of a complete CVT transmission failure before. Especially so soon -- two weeks!

Please explain the signs and symptoms of your car before the transmission failed. What happened as you drove it? Or did it just stop working one day?

Once they get the new CVT tranny installed in your MINI, I bet your car will be perfect!

Please keep us updated as to what transpires, and how your MINI is after the new transmission.

Thanks and Motor On,

-Joe

 

>>
>>Please explain the signs and symptoms of your car before the transmission failed. What happened as you drove it? Or did it just stop working one day?
>>

He stalls out in reverse. This happened the first week I had him and three times in the second week. Took him to the dealer on his two-week anniversary and it stalled out on them too. It was also going at least 5 mph in reverse when it did not stall.

So they did a full digital diagnostic and decided to completely replace the tranny.

Hopefully this will fix him up for good.


>>Once they get the new CVT tranny installed in your MINI, I bet your car will be perfect!

I hope this is the case - I love driving him. I just got through a lemon law suit with my last car! (A Ford Taurus) so I need Gary to be all that he is supposed to be and more for many years to come!

>>
>>Please keep us updated as to what transpires, and how your MINI is after the new transmission.

Will do.

Happy Mini Motoring

Mary Ann

 

THat a shame! A beautiful MINI though!

 

7,400+ troublefree miles in our 2002 Cooper CVT (August 2002 build).

No recalls whatsoever. Just has software update version 32.2 downloaded to the car yesterday morning.

 

I will pray for Gary's brain transplant to go smoothly and for everything to be as good as new when he recovers.
I wonder if he will remember you?
Did you get a loaner?

 

Got a loaner BMW. Not a cute mini like Gary. And I'm gonna miss a whole weeks worth of that "new car smell". Rats. Someone even smoked in this loner beemer.

Mary Ann :evil:

 

Is that a Cincinnati MINI front tag? I've delt with them, and consider the dealership to be first rate. Hope they make "Gary" as good as new.

 

Actually you are lucky and this is not bad news. I would put money down that the job the dealer does on the transmission install is much better than the factory could ever do. This has been well documented in trade journals and our local car show and Car & Driver columnist Ed Wallace has often commntd on this..

 

Try PM'img someone from this thread:

transmission falure! Just a warning! or Antsmini (who blew his CVT tranny a long time ago).

You guys need to lay off the neutral drops! J/K!

 

Yep, it is Cincinnati Mini and, except for the loaner BMW smelling of smoke, they've been pretty good. I know they will make it right - one way or the other. Gary's new 'brain' will work right or they will give me a Gary "clone".

My husband owns an aftermarket imported parts stores and deals with the dealership regularly and that makes for good partners as well.

He's due back on Wednesday in plenty of time to be driven to the local premier of The Italian Job

Wish us luck

Mary Ann

 

Well Gary is back home and running swell. I gave back the free loaner car (they never even recorded millage in or out or fuel level).

They replaced the tranny and the alternator because the battery lite came on and blinked a couple of times during wet weather (we've had a LOT of rain lately).

Overall the dealership was great. I was a little disappointed that I had to call back a couple of times for status reports but that was the only problem. I'm the type that would rather be called 10 times with a "update" rather than have to call once myself.

With Gary gone for 8 days and a BMW loaner I can't tell you how glad I am I own a Mini. I didn't like the feel fo the BMW at all even though I could have bought 2 mini's for the price of the beemer.

Of course I will keep an eye on him and make sure he continued to perform like the A-1 vehicle that he is:-)

I'm so happy Gary is all better - hopefully I've have years of hassle free Mini Motoring from now on...

Regards to all..

Zoom zoom

Mary Ann

 

The BMW 3 series are fantastic cars. I fail to understand what you didn't like about it. They are in a different league from the MINI.

Glad you got your car back.

 

The BMW seemed difficult to get in and out of and I didn't like the inside layout for design of dash, etc. The fact there was only a viewable owners video rather than a readable owner's manual (at least in the one I had) was also a problem as the controls were different than the mini.

Yes it is in a different class than the Mini. I have had sport cars and sedans as well as SUV's, vans, and a variety of other vehicles .. did not care for the loaner.

For the $$ I'd definately take the Mini over the beemer. The only + I saw with it was the smooth ride - I was not impressed.



Mary Ann

 

I did a recent post about this topic, but with manual transmissions. To go directly there:

CLICK HERE

good luck!

=Danny=

 

glad gary is better :smile:

can i ask what model of bmw you got as aloaner?

 

Hey How are you doing? Well I have had my F16 Mini since April and I was just told that the tranny is leaking tranny fluid out of the out-put shaft were the shfiter linkage is and Now I have to have a Brand New Transmission put in. I'm also scared hoping that that car will be better after this.
Have you had any more problems after you got it fixed??

_________________
Danny

 

No, have put about 700 miles on it since the fix and it's purring like a Kitten!

Hopefully, you will have the same luck

Happy Motoring!

Mary Ann

 

Something in the "3" series - not sure which model exactly.

Mary Ann