Mini Cooper automatic transmission woes

Nash

Nash

Nash

Associate
Joined
17 Oct 2006
Posts
1,173
Location
Bristol
Hey there,

My car is a 2001 model Mini Cooper with an automatic gearbox and it's broken down.

I was driving home, the engine and gearbox were warm as I'd been driving for about 20 minutes and was doing about 10/15mph. Suddenly the car started to judder three or four times then there was a loud noise and it felt like the car fell out of gear into neutral. The engine would still rev but the wheels were getting no power so I just rolled to stop.

I towed it to a local garage and they said they had to phone some technical people because they don't usually deal with automatics there. They recommended some place nearby and gave an estimate of £1,600 to fix. The guy on the phone said it was something to do with a chain snapping in the automatic gearbox and that it was quite a big job.

I thought that sounded expensive so my friend and I looked on eBay and for example found this which is just £1,200 - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Cooper-A...CarParts_SM&hash=item5197614d70#ht_1098wt_828

Has anyone ever had this happen to them? Does the price they quoted seem reasonable?

Thanks in advance for your help
 
Nash said:
I thought that sounded expensive so my friend and I looked on eBay and for example found this which is just £1,200 - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Cooper-A...CarParts_SM&hash=item5197614d70#ht_1098wt_828
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That'll be the base price as long as they can re use all the main bits from yours, if yours has broken anything bar the serviceable items the cost for the new parts will be added to that. Wholly depends what's happened to yours though.

Auto boxes when they go wrong are very expensive to fix, have you thought of a s/hand breakers one then flogging the car?
 
I had my 3ltr Accord Coupe auto box repaired for £800 plus labour plus VAT to fit, they refused to offer a warranty because I wasn't prepared to spend an extra £800 having a load more work done on it, sold it straight away.

This is why I've got a warranty on the Volvo
 
That place i just suggested do a decent warranty, for a fair price, they been at it a lot of years i'd never use anyone else.
 
Well I could have towed it in drive, park or reverse seeing as no matter what it was in it was rolling down the hill but I put it in neutral with the engine on.

maccapacca said:
That'll be the base price as long as they can re use all the main bits from yours, if yours has broken anything bar the serviceable items the cost for the new parts will be added to that. Wholly depends what's happened to yours though.

Auto boxes when they go wrong are very expensive to fix, have you thought of a s/hand breakers one then flogging the car?
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Oh right, hmm. So if I bought one from a breakers I'd have to get someone to fit it for me, right?

DiamondMark said:
If your in London, use these http://www.automatic-gearbox.co.uk/

Proper people doing a proper job.
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Unforutnately I don't live in London but Bedfordshire so it'd cost quite a lot to transport it there I think.
 
Nash said:
Unforutnately I don't live in London but Bedfordshire so it'd cost quite a lot to transport it there I think.
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Ring and get a quote for recovery.

Think about it, better to spend an extra 100 quid and get a good job than skimp and get a rubbish one.

That firm have done everything from an Arnage Bentley to a Renault Safrane for me, well worth a trip.

You can talk to them too, ask them to recover it free if they get the job.
 
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