Hi,
I looking to buy my Daughter a Mini as she has always wanted one, but only has an automatic licence.
When looking at Mini there seem to a lot with automatic gearbox problems.
What is best automatic gearbox (year / model) and are the automatic gearbox problems fixable?
Any Auto is fixable but it comes down to how often its serviced and how deep your pockets are if you cant or are unable to DIY, then of course your going to need a manual and specific tools and a press. Far easier to teach her how to drive a manual, that way she has more options and less restrictions. The issue with an Auto is finding someone who will work on it, most dealerships will charge an arm and a leg plus your first born or prefer you buy another car. If you do buy an Auto, check the colour of the ATF before you agree on anything, if its red, that's good, if its brownish, it needs a flush and new fluid, if its dark and has a burnt smell the trans needs a rebuild, if its slipping the clutch pack is worn out and your looking at a rebuild. Even with a manual, your looking at an oil change every 50,000km and as a lot of Mini owners follow the BMW Filled for life policy, if you buy a SH Mini and its a manual, change the gearbox oil as soon as you get the car regardless, that way you have a yard stick as to when to change it next. If your daughter has just got her licence, buy her a post 2004 Cooper (R50, Gen 1). More robust engine and a more forgiving gearbox than the pre 2004 models or the Gen 2 R56's, I would steer away from an S as they are not really a car for inexperienced drivers and you cant put an old head on young shoulders.
First generation Mini's had a CVT auto transmission that can have problems. I have no experience of this auto. Generation two's (R56) and three's (F56/F55) use an Aisin automatic box that are conventional auto's and very reliable and probably the least likely part of the car to go wrong. The Aisin are also smooth, don't hunt and can be quick when needed so feel just like a big brother BMW auto.
Just to add to this the late R53 2005-2006 Auto should also have the latter Aisin gearbox,
From Wikiwhatsit
"The Mini One and Mini Cooper & S were available with a ZF VT1F continuously variable transmission or with a conventional Midlands (Rover R65) five-speed manual transmission (model years 2002–2004); the latter was replaced with a Getrag 52BG five-speed unit for the remainder of the Mk I production (2005–2006). The Cooper S came with a six-speed Getrag G285 manual or an Aisin F21 fully automatic transmission with paddle shifters.[18] The gear ratios of the six-speed Getrag manual transmission were changed from July, 2004 production and onwards"
I think the easy spot is the paddle shifters on the steering wheel..
Happy Hunting..
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