Okay.. Here is what I would do. Like others have said is to do a fluid change. Do a few of them. You will never get all the fluid out at one time so it requires multiple changes. From what you are describing with your shifts is a result from not changing the fluid. Even though MINI claims 100k before needing service is completely wrong. Any good transmission shop will tell you that you should change the fluid at every 35k give or take a bit. Once the fluid starts to break down in your transmission damage can ocure to your valve body or clutch packs. So my first step would be to change the fluid a few times. After all of that has been done and the transmission still is doing the same then I would look at the valve body. But my advice to you is when you buy ATF use a synthetic type that meets the specs to your transmission. Synthetic seems to hold up much better.. Good luck..

 

Zippy, Yesti - ok... I'll try the flush first. Thanks!

 

Good luck! Hope it goes well for you!

 

Hope that does it for you! Keep us updated

 

Has anyone had any luck with changing the valve body or what kind of mileage have he/she gotten out of said change.

I have the same problem on my 06 MCSa with 92,XXX miles on it. Looks like the transmission had been changed, there is orange gasket maker between the motor block and the transmission housing. So I'm not sure what exactly has been done. The previous owner was a little shady, which should have threw up red flags but I was too excited about the deal.

I have performed a flush, used Lucas Semi-Synthetic Multi-Vehicle trans fluid. Says on the back that it meets the JWS 3309 requirements.

Worked great for about 30 miles and then back to same thing.

I'm going to perform another flush with same fluid and change the filter and gasket. Only have been able to put maybe 200 miles on it since last flush due to the slipping.

Have been looking at the possibility of changing the valve body, but since I live in Wyoming I have limit resources on getting one.

I'm going to have to order one online, can anyone suggest a good online retailer or do I trust eBay.

 

I would do a few more flushes and go from there. It takes several to get most of the old fluid out. If that doesn't work then look at the valve body. Are you saying that this maybe the first service at 92k?

 

I wouldn't think so, I would think that since it looks like someone put a different transmission in, it wouldn't be the original fluid. The fluid I got out the of the first flush was pretty dark, maybe a little burnt but I could have done that when I tried to get home from Denver, CO (400 miles away). Only made it 30 miles from where I got it.

I didn't see any metal in the fluid. Put it through a paint strainer. I really can't afford a new/rebuilt transmission right now, so I'm looking and hoping for a cheaper easier fix, even if it doesn't last forever.

 

Has this happened to anyone after the valve body replacement?

My car is 2005 MCS Auto and did not change the trans fluid until 100K.

My car started having issues with 3rd gear slip/rough shift only when the trans got hot after some driving. I ordered a refurbished valve body via RevMaxx and swapped it out this weekend. While I was changing out the valve body, I ran into a slight problem. As you could see from the pictures, the second solenoid from the left of the valve body (near the oil filter) electric connector was positioned differently than the OEM. Because of this, it prevented oil filter from sitting flushed to the valve body. I used a magnet to remove the locking-pin that holds the solenoid in place and replaced it with the solenoid from my old valve body for now. I am not having anymore issues with the 3rd gear slippage (cold or hot), but having rough gear/slight slippage change from 1st-2nd (Significantly improved after putting some miles on the car), rough getting into "D"rive and "R"everse mode. And my "Service Engine Lights" came on throwing "Transmission Control Module (Mil Request) and Torque Converter Circuit Performance/Stuck Off codes after driving for 50 miles. I cleared the light but it returned after another 40 miles of driving.

 

Excellent photos!

So because of the lifetime transmission, cars serviced by Mini Dealers will usually never be serviced until 100k ?

 

MINI has stated that no service is needed till 100k. But to be honest that's a pipe dream! lol. Another pipe dream is the term lifetime!

 

By that time it's for replacement at thousands of dollars....plus labor. Drain/fill every 15k miles is very highly recommended.

 

+1

 

Well I performed another flush. Drove my car 15 miles and lost all gears but 5th and kind of 2nd. From a stop, it goes straight to 2nd and slips like crazy then it shifts to 5th and stays.

I'm might be just totally frustrated but I don't see how another flush could fix it.

The "local" transmission shop will not touch it, so how hard is it to change the valve body?

 

There's no point a valve body won't fix it sounds like game over sorry.

 

I had non-mini auto transmission rebuilt in Northern California with excellent results.

A true independant transmission shop may do rebuilds, not just buy a rebuilt and install it.

 

Good for you?

The Aisin Warner transmissions in these cars arent easy to get parts for not to mention rebuilding them is difficult. Most local shops and some commercial chains want nothing to do with these transmissions just because of the fear of it may come back to them.

 

GreenR53 and gchin, thanks for the help on this. Now it is time to pinch pennies and get it changed. Just disappointed that I haven't been able to drive it since I bought it.

 

Well Im sorry to hear about your current situation Its certainly not a cheap fix. What are the details with the car? year ? mileage? do you have a loan on it?

The reason I ask is Aisin's are not cheap neither is the labor to install them. I recommend OEM re-manufactured with a professional install to get a warranty on the work

And I strongly strongly discourage just getting any salvage yard transmission as it could put you right back in the same position.

If your serious about getting it fixed I would contact Way Motor Works in Atlanta to source an either rebuilt or a good salvage transmission from Way.

 

Are You sure you got the fluid level correct? I understand that the level is critical on these transmissions.

Dave

 

Good point on the proper level.. If the level of the transmission is wrong it will shift wrong/erratic. Good point Dave!

 

How in the hell do you check the fluid level accurately? I had the car up on jack stands, ran it up to temp and ran through the gears. It made more of a mess then anything. Someone mentioned using a OBD connection to check the levels, but I have not found one that mentions trans temp and mine doesn't.

This just isn't making any since. It drives perfect when cold but then it gets warmed up; slips, misses, slams and causes utter chaos. Just doesn't act like any other transmission going out that I have driven, and I have had quite a few go out on me.

 

Car has to be level ground, not Jack stands (unless you're on a lift I suppose).

 

Like yesti has said make sure your on level ground. By the sound of what your describing your level of your ATF is incorrect. Either its to full or to low. Your ATF has to be at the correct level or it will shift like what you have described.. Good luck!

 

My Mini is now fixed!

Initial symptom - flaring/slip shifting into 3rd gear once trans got hot.
1st attempt to fix the problem - replaced trans fluid
Result - better, but the flaring/slip was still there.

2nd attempt to fix the problem - Replaced the old valve body (VB) with the VB I purchased from RevMaxx and filled the trans using Royal Purple ATF
Result - 3rd gear slip/flaring was gone, but noticed hard shift (Clunk)/delay going from 1st to 2nd, and from 2nd to 1st gear COLD or HOT. When the trans was really cold however, car wouldnt even go into the 1st gear. Additionally, "Check Engine Sign" appeared while test driving the car after the VB install. (Car was driving really rough, hard shift, clunking..etc )
My initial reaction - 'Fuq!'

3rd attempt to fix the problem - Took the car to a local Mini dealer to get the TCM reset and to check the trans fluid level. I was really concerned witht the proper fluid level because my driveway is not completely surfaced
Result - resetting the TCM alone made no difference. My car was still acting crazy. When the Mini technician checked my fluid level however, he confirmed that it was VERY low! He refilled the trans/ then reset the TCM...and the car is now running smooth as ever!!

Three things -
1 - Replacing the VB is really not that difficult to do it at home.
2 - Get your VB from RevMaxx
3 - PROPER trans level is VERY important!!! Spend some time getting it right. (Fill it until the trans fluid emerges out of the drain hole. Put the drain bolt back on and warm up the car. Turn off the car and remove the drain bolt. Add more fluid until it emerges out of the hole) If you remove the drain plug and nothing comes out, that mean you are low on trans fluid.

 

Just registered here because my 2006 R53 49000 miles is experiencing the same problems. Given the issues with this trans and issues I had on another trans on a different car, I think I am going to be leaning towards manual trannies in the future.

Interestingly, this was a minor problem, but became much worse when I did a flush. I flushed at 30k, and just did a second flush at 49k. The problem got much worse after this latest flush.

Anyway, I'll be ordering a reman VB from RevMax and installing it shortly. Hopefully I caught it early enough that I can still get some good life out of the rest of the trans.

BTW, here's how you do a proper flush and fill. Good write up here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...uid_Change.htm

I also recommend that you replace those damn torx bolts on the trans pan with some standard hex head bolts. The first time I dropped my pan I had to hacksaw the torx bolt off because it was frozen in place (over torqued?), stripped (by me), and impossible to get leverage on (even after moving the subframe). Take the torx bolt with you to Home Depot and you should find an exact match.