1st Gen R50 Cooper CVT Transmission rebuilder

I'm sure there are others, but the only stuff I recommend is the factory fluid.

 

I wouldn't stray from using the MINI branded fluid. Although it seems to make no difference on the CVT longevity. Dave's buddy should buy a power ball ticket. He's the luckiest person I've ever heard of with a CVT. Good luck with yours. :fingerscrossed:

 

Actually one car has close to 250K miles, and has been tracked a number of times - the other one has just under 200k, both with no problems of any kind. Both get regular transmission oil changes done at the dealer....

One is a 2003 and the other a 2005.

Crashton's pic is of the belt segments, just FYI.....

 

Right -- all the more reason for me to wonder if I should drop the transmission and replace the belt/chain BEFORE it breaks... I could pay $500ish to replace the belt, or multiples of that when the belt fragments and all those little links chew up other parts on their way through the rest of the gearbox.

 

Well, replacing the belt is not far removed from a complete transmission overhaul, but it doesn't exactly wear out, which is why the fluid is key.

Your choice, but getting the trans out of one of these is a MAJOR job, requiring removal of the front end and almost as much as pulling the entire engine.......

 

Hey....

Galactic Alien Space Invaders docking with the mother ship...

Far out man.....:arf:

 

what's rebuild costing on cvts now days? no shortage of broken minis I wouldnt mind flipping a couple, dropping the transmission is pretty easy on these

 

It may take some digging to find repair parts for the CVT.

 

I really don't know of anyone who rebuilds them. I DO know that BMW only offers remanufactured ones now and warrants them for 2 years. I was faced with either going to my other mechanic, but he had to buy one from BMW and could only offer a 1 year warranty, so he suggested that I go to the dealer if I wanted the fix. I WAS costly and I am now driving my R50 like I stole it for the next 2 years, cuz if it breaks again in that 2-year span, MINI will eat the cost.

It hums along like new again..."damn the torpedoes...full speed ahead"!

 

When driving like you stole it..... Be sure to listen for strange transmission grinding noises that show up at 2 years plus 1 day....

May the good luck transmission faeries be on your side Jeff... They are the ones that smoke cigars....

 

Two warranty years is a long time. I bought the car in early '04 second hand and it only had 2500 miles on it. The tranny was replaced at 61k miles and it had been to MOTD numerous times, as well as on the road courses at Putnam Park and Autobahn. It had travelled to Frederick, MD, for MINI Meet East and was my daily driver for years before I decided to drive it mostly to and from BCDs. So, based on miles and usage, I'll probably be on the wrong side of the turf before that tranny decides to go south again.:lol:

 

looks like you can buy all the internal parts still, there are always a few broken mini's for sale, destined for the junkyard due to cvt replacement costs

 

I think if you want to buy a MINI with a broken CVT the most cost effective thing to do would be to swap a manual in. Check with Chad at Detroit Tuned or Eric at Helix & get their thoughts on this.

 

not sure I could make any money doing a trans swap, I was flipping e39 headgasket jobs but they really dropped in price lately

I dont do it for a living or anything, just keeps me busy at night and some nice #racecar money

 

Dave,

Yeah, I watched some videos and it does seem pretty involved. However I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. I've worked with differentials and engine internals before, plus my dad has a killer set of tools, he's a TV repairman....

I'm curious though, I always thought that the belt breaking was the reason so many CVT's died. If I'm wrong, what is it that causes the failure?