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New Transmission at 30K?

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chava007 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chava007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/09 at 3:04am
But it is 50K or 4 Years right? I think I am out by years.. my car is an 05. How much was it to replace the axle?

Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Minihaha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/09 at 3:44am
Sorry, I didn`t realize that your car is an 05. I believe that you are right about the 4 year limit. Was your car originally purchased Aug-Dec 05? You might have NW MINI look at it after checking to see if they would charge you, and then if it needs to be replaced whether it is still covered.
The axle was covered under warranty, so no charge.
I still bet that the noise was caused by tires.
Good luck.
Milt
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chava007 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chava007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/09 at 4:14am
I actually do not know the original purchase date, I only know the manufacture date which is Oct 04. I did replaced the tires.. I put some Potenza tires on it and now the noise is gone... but on a talk with my mechanic he said he could still hear something wrong with the transmission... BTW a sample of transmission fluid came fine.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote valvashon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/09 at 8:23pm
Originally posted by thejones thejones wrote:

G'day. Noticing the thread, I was hoping for more discussion about the actual CVT failures at 30K (although I'm glad the original poster resolved their issue affordably!).

I have as 03 MC with just over 33K on the clock. The wife put the car in gear last week and heard a grinding sound. She turned off the engine, fired it up again and the sound had disappeared but there was now an error code of "EP" after the next service indicator display cleared. The SES light remained on but cleared the following day. I do not have an OBD-II scan tool but will probably purchase one simply to pull data from the computer.

Reading horror stories about the 02/03 CVT transmissions going out after only 30K.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2003/09/10/TheCVTRevisited-AFullReview/#comment-63600

 I can get the fluid changed but according to Fat City, they cannot do an internal inspection as the unit is sealed. So is my only option to drive the thing until it dies? Any thoughts on it being an electronic rather than mechanical issue?

Thanks!



Just to be clear, I do not have the CVT in my car, but have been doing a lot of CVT research as my wife is looking around for a Silk Green 02/03 with a CVT.  I can't point to any sources or links, but here is what I remember reading:

1) CVT's supposedly do not fail any more than any other transmission.  More is heard about the failures as it turns into a 7,000 to 8,000 dollar repair.

2) Many CVT owners swear on changing their CVT fluid (a special fluid of some type) every 25,000 miles.  I do not recall anybody who changed their fluid regularly that also had a failure that could be considered premature.

3) There are lots of high mileage CVT's out there.  I think one of the White Roof Radio guys has almost 200k on his '02 with a CVT.

4) CVT's require a plenty of electricity to operate properly.  I have heard of CVT's that supposedly failed, but were just the result of a weak battery.

5) MINI CVT's also can benefit from a software reset or upgrade.  We found a Silk Green in Pennsylvania in April that had a price too good to be true; an inspection revealed a "bad" CVT.  In late May this car shows up for sale in Cincinnati with 100 more miles on it!  A call to the used car dealer revealed that it had been "reprogrammed" by the local BMW dealer.  As far as we know, it was purchased by somebody and they are now happily motoring.

I can't explain the grinding noise your wife heard.  I would, however, get it to the dealer and have them do a fluid change (supposedly it is a lifetime fluid, but change it anyway) and a software reset.  If NW MINI just wants to replace the CVT, keep looking for a shop that can work on it.  Anybody know of another place that can work on a MINI CVT?

Also, as you have an '03 it could be a battery issue.  Having that load tested would be a good idea also.

Val

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote thejones Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/04/09 at 5:44am
Thanks for the suggestions. Good point about the cost v. failure issue.

I have scheduled an appointment at NW Mini but that's 3 weeks out! Just going to get them to change the fluid. But it's a good idea to ask about a software upgrade.

I recently changed the battery as the old original one finally gave out. I guess 6 years isn't too bad.

In regards to working on the CVT, I have to yet to find anyone who will. They all say it's R&R only. That goes against my grain as a person who owns 2 aging Chevs and a '68 Galaxie but if a fluid change will keep the CVT functioning, that's fine with me.

So any recommendations about a shop who exudes a level of confidence about performing the fluid change? Fat City sounded good, but not cheap.

Cheers.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hapa Haole Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/04/09 at 6:55am
Don't forget:  If you're a PSMINI member, you get a 10% discount on parts and accessories at NW MINI, and there's also discounts at a few shops. Wink
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ktrjones12 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/11 at 7:44pm
Quote Hi,
 
I took my car for a quick checkup because I was hearing a rubbery noise coming from the front left wheel. My car has 30K, so I was not worried about the noise. After an inspection at a local shop I was told that apparently the noise is comming from the transmission and that I need a new one. I was PO'd... I called Mini and as I started to explain the problem she asked...Is it a grinding noise? No....  Does the noise goes away as soon as you start going faster? Yes....  Do you have Goodyear Tires? Yes.... Are they low on thread?  Em... Yes....   And she tells me that most likely its not the transmission but my tires, as they tend to make that noise... What do you guys think about this? Could you recommend me a good place to get a second opinion? I do not want to make my current place sound bad as they have been very good before and I think several ppl on this forum go to them.
 
Thanks!
Sal.


Not heard of a complete replacement for an automatic needed by anyone that I recall. I know of a couple that had loose/missing torque converter bolts, that's about it. Sounds like a fluke to me but you can buy cheap transmission easily.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CORNERS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/11 at 7:55pm
Quick diagnostic check -- Change the wheels and tires, see if the noise is still there or not. Many of us in the club would be happy to help you do this and provide you with a set of wheels/tires to quickly try out. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hapa Haole Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/11 at 8:03pm
A follow up almost 2 years after my original post...

My August 2006 MCS/R53 ended up having transmission failure at 49,870-ish miles in September of 2009. Thankfully the transmission was covered under warranty at the time. However, the warranty will expire this coming September. I hope the replacement lasts much longer than the original because $7,000+ seems like a rip off for a rebuilt/replacement tranny.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote johnf36 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/11 at 8:07pm
Someone else here had noise from the tires?
If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hapa Haole Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/11 at 8:45pm
Originally posted by johnf36 johnf36 wrote:

Someone else here had noise from the tires?

I had noisy tires, but I never thought it was the tranny... I thought it was the wheel bearings. It ended up being the tires like everyone suggested. We have such smart people here on the forum.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KnottyMan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/11 at 9:39pm
Had GY F1's, Discount Tire comp'd a switch to GY GT's since the F1s were discontinued but it actually turned out to be wheel bearings (mostly front left) for me.  No tranny issues.  Nice and chunky engagement.  Switched to RedLine MTL @ 60k
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote onramp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/11 at 9:45pm
Jo's car had bad CV joints.  I know what bad CV joints sound like.  Same noise on a Corvette, Triumph, Porsche, some military vehicles.  I knew that Jo's Mini had a bad CV joint.  But nope - tires.

Pat
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote firehawk618 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/27/11 at 11:55am
Way to resurrect a dead thread!  lol good info on tires here though.

*SOLD* 05MCS, added too much to list. 193k miles
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