[slaybalj]

Duno if anyone still reads this thread.

Final mileage on my CVT was around 74,000. As of Monday morning.

Cost for fixing: 7000 dollars.

It was one of the Minis that was part of the December 2002 recall for transmission fluid.

I have a discussion in the owner's lounge and NorthAmericanMotoring and now this one as well. (Sorry, I"m not allowed to link to them, but my username is the same for all three groups)


I am heartbroken.... and searching for anyone who can tell me it's a freak occurance, rather than the normal lifespan of the transmission.

[yellowminijim]

It looks like this thread might be getting active again, so I thought that I'd let everyone know that my 02 is at 50,000 miles. No CVT problems, but I've noticed several other threads that raise my suspicions about what might happen over about the next 20,000 miles... Stay tuned.

[ontheroadagain]

'04 with 46,500 and no serious problems - knock on virtual wood. At 42,162 left tie rod was replaced and car was aligned - while under warranty. It's in the shop today for a very faint thwump thwump coming from that same left side and I'm hoping it's another warranty fix.

Love my MINI but am thinking about trading it in now for an '06. Now where are the threads I should be reading that yellowminijim's referring to - I'd better read up.

[cafemoc]

I have now 62,000 miles on 03 CVT.
Mine doesn't run smooth in the morning, but otherwise ok so far.
I am thinking to trade it in for 07/08 Estate wagon if avail....

I really don't know how much longer I can enjoy driving CVT Cooper though,

[Sejanus]

Quote: Originally Posted by cafemoc

I have now 62,000 miles on 03 CVT.
Mine doesn't run smooth in the morning, but otherwise ok so far.
I am thinking to trade it in for 07/08 Estate wagon if avail....

I really don't know how much longer I can enjoy driving CVT Cooper though,

If you don't mind me asking, why? And is it just the cvt or the car overall? Not running smoothly in the mornings doesn't sound like a transmission problem after all.

[NoNo]

Can't believe I haven't posted in this thread. 03 CVT (built fall 02) 67K of hassle-filled miles. Really, I wasn't having any troubles until the misfire, but MINI can't figure what the heck that's about. So it's been a year of running to dealerships and having it sit in garages for weeks at a time. Then in January the transmission started to go. I also have the cold-start "shudder". If there's a next MINI, it most certainly will not be an automatic.

[yellowminijim]

I've been thinking about the question of what to do when it's time to buy a new MINI. Since the CVT won't be around, and since my test drive of the "S" automatic was very impressive (and because the regular automatic doesn't seem to have the problems that some posters have encountered with the CVT), I'm thinking of whatever is available in the automatic. Steptronic feels so similar to a standard transmission and gives a lot of the flexibility of a standard, so I guess I'm not convinced that the 5-speed would be that much better feel and performance wise.

[nonsequitur]

I haven't participated here since 2004! We're at just under 50,000 miles, with no problems, really no problems, after the initial and honestly difficult software issues in 2002. Those were resolved with the new releases that everyone now has installed.

We are now driving longer distances in a business support role. Cruise control delivers consistantly excellent mileage because of the CVT. The motor takes a set and the transmissionn does the adjustments needed. I easily reach 36mpg+ on the computer at 70mph, and working at it delivers above 41mpg. Best ever for 50 miles, 48.5mpg.

There are some posts here, the ones that Sejanus asked about, appearing to poke at the CVT. Have people just tired of the current MINI? Is there some still-resident issues with the CVT? Are other issues being laid on the CVT?

He asked the very best question: "Why?" I'd like to undersand as well.

[ontheroadagain]

I've never had any problems with mine...and if I do trade her in for an '06 it will be because I like the CVT. Turns out the thwump, thrwump issue I had was discovered to be a "cupping" of my original runflat...which has now been moved from the front to the back.

As it's been suggested, we often do tend to hear about the problems - rather than the regular old everyday good stuff.

[AprilWhine]

I loved my MC-CVT, but between the two I prefer my MCSCa. IMO, going to the same transmission for the Cooper is an improvement.

[ecylai]

Mine didnt have much major problems besides the ECU playing up with the ratios. But its all fixed now.

i've travelled 57000Km on mine and its a DEC'01 built.

[yellowminijim]

It sounds like Nonsequitor is getting fantastic mileage! How does actual fill-up mileage compare, though, with the MINI's computer? Mine doesn't have the computer, so I don't have any experience in that area, but my wife's Civic Hybrid does have a mileage computer and it always shows higher gas mileage than manually calculations. In fact, that's been a constant complaint on the Honda hybrid boards on the Internet. Cheers!

[ontheroadagain]

Wonder what the greatest number of miles have ever been driven? On a MC CVT, that is.

[yellowminijim]

The highest I've seen is Slaybalj's 74k miles, but I remember seeing several others in the 60s and 70s on another thread. I'm at 51k and have had no transmission problems.

[AprilWhine]

I think Willy posted that he has over 100k on his CVT.

[Vanwall]

Just went over 80k at AMVIV. Suffered a coil problem in Vegas, and altho Desert MINI replaced it, still have bit of rough running and a flat spot around 3,000 RPM - I think a re-map is in order. The CVT is still going strong, tho, and the road trip was a blast - regardless of traffic, there was a mode that made it easier.

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

[ontheroadagain]

Good for you Vanwall! You may be the 2nd place "winner" of the most miles here on MINI2!

[strz0001]

I purchased a 02 CVT with 110k miles on it. Thats how far it went before CVT failure. According to the previous owner, it was the 3rd MINI to hit the 100k mark in the US, and the first female owner to hit 100k in the US. Now it has a factory reman CVT installed - going on about 2k miles. I'm getting better at predicting the behavior of the CVT and it's an absolute joy to drive.

[Sejanus]

So just as a point of comparison does anyone know what is the normal average lifespan for an automatic transmission? Or even for a manual? At what point does mileage failure just become a possibility for any transmission type and at what earlier point do we have reason to suspect that CVT's have a longevity issue?

[Jim Ray]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sejanus

So just as a point of comparison does anyone know what is the normal average lifespan for an automatic transmission? Or even for a manual? At what point does mileage failure just become a possibility for any transmission type and at what earlier point do we have reason to suspect that CVT's have a longevity issue?

Good question, and I have been following this thread. In a previous life I was a mechanic, a service adviser, and a automotive claims adjuster.

Under normal to severe usage, including towing or motor home use, it was a real abnormality to see a failure at less than 100,000 miles. I have an automatic transmission in my 30,000 lb antique motor coach, with mileage in excess of 110,000 miles, original transmission.

As a claims adjuster, I had 1 claim for an automatic transmission failure in the 6 months I had the job.

I have owned manual transmission vehicles that did not have a failure from the time I bought them until I junked them. I had a Toyota sedan with a manual that I gave away at 160,000 miles, original tranny, original clutch. I abused a manual on a Nissan truck for over 190,000 miles, including racing it in the Anza Borrego desert, and towing trailers with it. Same transmission, same clutch.

We would normally do two engine replacments to one automatic transmission replacement in Motor coaches that spent their entire life overloaded and climbing in and out of the desert through the mountain passes. I personally had a automatic transmission overheat through abuse until the fluid caught fire. I put out the fire, let it cool down, topped off the fluid, and drove the rest of the way home. Never worked on the tranny for the rest of the time I owned the bus, and I continued driving it to the desert every weekend.
I have never had a failure of a transmission in a vehicle that I have owned, and I have had some real junkers. However, I must say that I drove these vehicles like I owned them, not like I stole them.

These are facts, not opinions.

I fully expect to have the MCSa for well over 100,000 miles with no transmission failures of any kind, and I am going to tow a trailer with mine.

I owned a MC with a CVT, and loved it. I am still a fan of the CVT, however I do not believe it is as robust as the engine in the MINI.