1st Gen R52 Cooper Convertible Most liked posts in thread: Automatic Transmission Problem

DIY Valve Body Swap

I had the same problems in my '06 Mini Cooper S convertible as in the first post. My issues came up after driving the car for a while and getting up to running temperature. The transmission would slip between 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear. I tried 5 fluid changes which seemed to help very little. I finally came upon a post where someone changed out their valve body which fixed the problem. I did the same and wrote up a DIY pictorial which I hope helps others in this situation. I'm not sure if I can post a link to another site here but if you google search

Aisin 6 Speed AUTOMATIC, failed at 80K?

you'll find my write up starting at post #223. Good luck to others that have tried the transmission fluid change that didn't help and need to try a valve body swap.

 

Hi Mike,

I wish I could give you a definite answer but I'm not too familiar with the 07 + years and if they used the same transmission. The one thing that seems different with the Mini you are looking at is that "it won't go into 5th or 6th gear".

With my valve body problem it wasn't that it wouldn't go into those gears but it would start slipping and slamming into them when the fluid and valve body got up to operating temperature. If you can test drive it and it drives fine for the first 20 minutes or so then starts slipping and slamming into 3rd, 4th and above gears then it is likely just a valve body issue. If it won't go into 5th or 6th gear at all from the get go it may likely be something other than just the valve body.

 

Help Replacing Valve Body - SJ, CA

Anyone have a good mechanic referral that knows about the 2006 Mini Cooper S (Aisin 6-spd Automatic Transmission) Valve body, and how to correctly remove, replace and repair? BMW licensed shops are quoting me $3000 for the job.

Located near San Jose, CA?

Thanks... Steve
[email protected]

 

Hi Steve,

You're probably looking for something a bit closer than the Sacramento area, but just in case you're looking for more options:

Schatz & Krum
8460 Belvedere Ave
Sacramento, CA 95826
(916) 381-3144
"Servicing Porsche, BMW & MINI since 1985" | contact us (916) 381-3144

Ryan Gangemi Motorworks
555 Wall St
Auburn, CA 95603
(530) 305-2499
Ryan G. Motorworks | Auburn Auto Repair

I'm not sure if either of them specifically have the experience you're looking for but it may not hurt to call them. I've heard good things about Schatz & Krum although I don't have any personal experience with them. I have gone to Ryan though and have been very happy (and he is extremely responsive via email: [email protected]).

Good luck!

 

What year is the MINI please?

If it an S the Automatic Transmission is not a CVT. Only the justa Cooper has the CVT.

 

Your avatar pic has a hood scoop... so it's an MCS. And has an Aisin 6 speed automatic, NOT a CVT.

 

To help rule out software issues you might to have all the adaptations cleared. I'm not 100% sure the tranny adapts to ones driving style but it could be an easy and inexpensive start to troubleshooting the problem.

I know there is the "lifetime fill" aspect of the fluid but I'd be a little suspect there as well. A fluid change might not be a bad idea as well. Although you'll need am independent shop or a dealer that's sees beyond being a parts changer.

 

ostcount But, the first thing your friend should do is join M/A:wink:

Mark

 

Would be interesting to know mileage, how hard it's been driven, how much manual mode has been used, etc.

My tranny started having peculiar shifting habits around 60,000 miles... and those were crazy hard miles with me driving in manual mode, power downshifting, etc. like a lunatic.

When I drained the fluid at about 80,000 miles, it was like BURNED COFFEE. It instantly returned to better-than-new shifting with a triple drain/fill service (about 80% new fluid).

Now I do a double drain/fill every 20,000 miles, and will for as long as I own the car. "Lifetime fluid" my azzzzzz.

 

Same as Blimey here. Had the same issue. Only did one drain and fill and have no had any issues since...

 

Blimey where have you been? I've got 37k on mine with no problems with the tranny.

 

Been Workin' :biggrin5:

Hate to say it... but you *will* have problems with your mods and track time, if you don't do fluid changes. By the time you see 60,000 miles. Maybe sooner with your mods. I'd bet money on it.

If I were you, I'd do a fluid change soon, and make it routine maintenance.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll see about having it done. I having Jan tune it again this weekend and after that I'll get it done.

 

Detailed DIY instructions on this thread:
Sewing Site Auto Tranny Fluid Change Instructions

The dealer won't do it this way... if you can get them to do it at all, they'll drop the pan, etc. and charge a ton of $$. It really is a pretty easy job, as long as you can access the fill plug from the top and get it loose (super tight from the factory).

I recently did a friend's R56 and it works the same way... just a little harder to access the fill plug.

 

I'll look it up, but I'm old and have at least 3 shops I deal with to take care of all my problems. HA HA. Thanks

 

I'm curious to know what the solution was to the OP question, did the service resolve his issue and identify what the problem was.

I have a 2006 S automatic, tuned by RMW, pulley, exhaust.. the whole packaged and I'm @ 71k miles and have been experiencing hard shifting for a few hundred miles now. I don't drive it hard but I do tend to drive more in steptronic, so the adaptations are probably set to that method of driving.

Even today driving into work on the 405 freeway, I was in steptronic and shifted from 3rd-4th and the car seemed to drop a gear as if I was in a lower gear and it was red lining, I had to pull over turn the car off and start it back up to clear the issue. I couldn't drive faster than 40mph and it was red lining. When I did start the car back up and put it in Drive, the car jerked pretty hard and continued driving to work in Drive and it's been fine... so something is off somewhere.

Looks to be time for a transmission service, I've never had the service done and I been talking to the gents @ miniworx in Redondo Beach and the first thing they suggested was clearing the adaptations on the transmission and then scanning it for any issues, possibly a flush. Either way these guys know what they are talking about I called a shop in Irvine and the dude tried to tell me you can't service them and drive it till it fails. Amazing.

 

I am having somewhat similar issues but I can't get over third gear at all. Strangely, I had no issues at all until I had my brakes done - as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot I realized it was REALLY screwed up!! The shop sent it to a Mini dealer and they say I need a whole new tranny ($9k!!). So 2 questions:

1) will clearing adaptations and changing fluid possibly fix this?
2) is there any way doing the brake work could have caused a transmission issue? Electrical maybe?

One more thing - when I asked the Mini dealer what codes they got when they did the scan they say there were none how can they suggest any repairs with no codes??

Thanks for any advice!!
Julie

 

I highly doubt the shop doing the brakes did anything to cause this problem. I sure would try the simple stuff first. Maybe a drain & refill of the fluid. What year is your MINI Julie?

Good luck & let us know if you find the cause of the problem.

Welcome to M/A!