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How to replace transmission fluid

Tiny
NASER NASER
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 MINI COOPER S
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 112,000 MILES
The car listed above is a convertible. It is the R52, not the CVT transmission. I also would like to clear the transmission adaptation as well.
Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 6:45 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
You have the transmission with the shift paddles behind the steering wheel? This would be the Agitronic transmission which is a fill for life transmission. Mini says you do not change the fluid unless you go into the unit and replace something or rebuild it.

Many people think they got this wrong so I am sure you can find some websites out there that will take you through how to change it but I would suggest sticking to what the manufacturer says to do. They know the vehicle better than others and if they say it is fill for life, that unless there is an issue, I would not mess with it.

Is there a reason you want to change the fluid?
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
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Well, most BMW's have erratic shifting or not so smooth and I always change them and it smooths things out. Sealer for life as they claim does not really make sense, if the fluid looks good at 112,000 then I would agree but when its black at such miles in most BMW's then definitely, the viscosity has gone down hill. My take on it is that it is for life so they can fail and people end up going to the dealer. I never replaced fluid on any car and ended up with anything other than a smoother shifting. Others have different views. If there is a shudder in Benz or Toyota for example it always gets rid of that. I had a BMW that wouldn't move at all, replaced the fluid and the car flew after that, this Mini Cooper has erratic shifting as most do, but that's the first thing I do, if it was a CVT I wouldn't even bother. I also clear the adaptations and sometimes get software updates if none worked. If none have solved the issue then it's most likely a mechatronic unit. No my Cooper doesn't have paddle shifters on the steering.
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 6:02 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
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Okay. Then you have the Aisin transmission. Here is an article that walks you through it.

This is not something constructed by this website so clearly we have not vetted it but it appears to be accurate.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/28-TRANS-Automatic_Transmission_Fluid_Change/28-TRANS-Automatic_Transmission_Fluid_Change.htm
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 7:23 PM
Tiny
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Ya I have seen that one, is there any instructions on how to reset the adaptation on this one?
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Thursday, January 9th, 2020 AT 12:01 PM
Tiny
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Yes. See the "Important" section on the attachment. You can do it but it is only done with the scan tool capable of performing this task. The manual doesn't give specific steps on how to do it but I imagine it is just like other OEMs that when the scan tool is hooked up and you go into the the control module it is an option to reset adaptive values.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help on this specific issue.
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Thursday, January 9th, 2020 AT 6:37 PM

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