1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: *HELP* Hard Shifting, what to do?

The best way to do it is to use a fluid exchange machine, that replaces the fluid as it pumps the old stuff out, that will get almost all of it replaced in one go.

We have a new machine at school now so I'm going to do it on my 2009 sometime this semester.

 

You won't get a lot of oil out of the pan, most of it stays in the torque converter.

There is a specific procedure to filling and checking the fluid level on an automatic......

6-Speed Automatic Transmission Fluid Change - Library

There is a wonderful feature here on M/A called the library, check it out!

 

I agree with the above post. I had my transmission fluid changed last Winter and was told then that all of it does not drain out. If you are looking to completely change out all the old fluid, it needs to be changed anther 2-3 times and driving it a lot in between changes. I'm about due for another fluid change, but can honestly say that, after the first one at 103k, my S has not shifted so smoothly since it was new in '06!

 

MINI's automatics are not alone in the multiple fluid changes as Saturn Vues with the Honda powertrain are done the same way and they don't have a replaceable filter just an internal screen which is not replaced.