mini cooper s auto transmission issue. - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

jkr · 06-04-2014, 12:49 AM

the other day I was riding in my friend's auto 06 mini cooper s with around 60k miles and I noticed every time the car shifted it shuddered, my immediate thought was the fluid probably has to be changed... So she took it to the dealer and they said that she needed a completely new transmission (for 10k !). Anyways I was wondering if it's worth it to just go ahead and change the fluid/filter just to see if it would help or trust the dealer.
I'm usually not one to go to the dealer if I don't have a warranty issue... but I've never worked with BMW/mini dealerships...

f0rge · 06-04-2014, 11:14 AM

The dealer probably said it needed a new tranny because most dealers don't service parts anymore, they just replace them.

BMW wouldn't service the tranny on my old M3 beyond fluids, if something broke they wanted to replace the whole thing. Doesn't surprise me Mini does the same thing

Take it to a smaller mechanic and get a second opinion. Could be she just needs new fluid, could be a larger issue. I had a car that did super jerky shifts because one of the solenoids in the transmission was clogged with clutch material.

jebuwh · 06-04-2014, 12:52 PM

Don't let the dealer do it!!!! They are ridiculous. The auto mini trans sucks. They almost always have issues. Call around to some different trans shops. You can usually find someone to do it fairly reasonable with a rebuilt or low mile used trans.

BlueDubbinTDI · 06-04-2014, 01:05 PM

Seeing as how you could probably find another used 06 mini s for around that same price that's pretty rediculous. ..

King Tut · 06-04-2014, 03:07 PM

Drive it till it breaks. I believe that model has "Lifetime Fluid". I doubt a fluid swap will fix it so the cost of the fluids and effort to swap it might not be worth it. Here is a nice Pelican Parts (great place for BMW/Porsche info/parts) article:

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

Here is a nice law suit over the Minis and the "Lifelong Fluid":

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/mini-...ry?id=20579484

06-04-2014, 03:07 PM	#5
King Tut NASA SpecE30 Racer Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2006 Honda S2000 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 7,279 Thanks: 607 Thanked 5,759 Times in 3,055 Posts Mentioned: 274 Post(s) Tagged: 10 Thread(s)	Drive it till it breaks. I believe that model has "Lifetime Fluid". I doubt a fluid swap will fix it so the cost of the fluids and effort to swap it might not be worth it. Here is a nice Pelican Parts (great place for BMW/Porsche info/parts) article: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...uid_Change.htm Here is a nice law suit over the Minis and the "Lifelong Fluid": http://abcnews.go.com/Business/mini-...ry?id=20579484 __________________ - King Tut Street/Track Car: 2006 Honda S2000 TT3 \|\| Race Car: 1987 BMW 325is SpecE30 \|\| Tow Vehicle: 2014 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Sold Cars: 2012 BMW M3 \|\| 2013 Subaru BRZ \|\| 2012 Porsche Cayman R \|\| 2009 Chevrolet Z06 \|\| 2009 BMW M3 \|\| 2004 BMW M3 \|\| 2004 Nissan 350Z

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06-04-2014, 12:52 PM	#3
jebuwh Village Idiot Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: '13 FR-S Ultramarine Manual Location: Irvine Posts: 402 Thanks: 230 Thanked 222 Times in 111 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Don't let the dealer do it!!!! They are ridiculous. The auto mini trans sucks. They almost always have issues. Call around to some different trans shops. You can usually find someone to do it fairly reasonable with a rebuilt or low mile used trans.

06-04-2014, 01:05 PM	#4
BlueDubbinTDI Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, 2012 MCS Location: Jax, FL Posts: 1,975 Thanks: 943 Thanked 570 Times in 356 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Seeing as how you could probably find another used 06 mini s for around that same price that's pretty rediculous. ..

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