[Richo001]

Look for a hood scoop (and a supercharger).

Can't go wrong with this method unless someone swapped hoods on a
normally aspirated model to make it look like a Cooper S.

All the auto R50 MINI Coopers have the CVT, (and the non-supercharged
1st gen R52 MINI Cooper convertibles).

All the auto R53 MINI Cooper S have the Aisin (as well as
the supercharged 1st gen R52 MINI Cooper S convertibles).

The car I'm looking at is a 2005 standard Mini, not the S. So that makes it an R53 right ?

Also, according to a PDF on BMW planet (can't post a link here til I've made 15 posts) It says from Jan 2005 the Cooper S will have the Aisin but the standard S will continue with the CVT. But other stuff I've read says from 2006 onwards all Mini's have the Aisin.

May be safer to stick with the R55 & R56.

 

[Richo001]

An automatic transmission wasn't available in the 1st Gen Cooper S until January 2005 builds. The automatic used in all 1st Gen Cooper (and European One) Hatchback and Convertible models was a CVT.

If you're looking to buy a Cooper with an automatic you'll want a 2nd Gen MINI (R55 - R59).

Why say I'll want a second gen when an Aisin was available from 2006 in the 1st gen .. R53 ?

 

[Richo001]

Because I thought you were looking for a normally aspirated (standard) MINI.

If you buy a 1st Gen MINI with a CVT and the transmission goes, it will cost you more to replace than the car is worth.

Thanks for your help Caveman, I understand everything now!

Test drove a 2008 Clubman, non S automatic and thought it was great with the paddle shifts. For a 1.6 normally aspirated it zipped along very nicely.