BMW Mini 06 model - CVT Transmission Problem - reving kangaroo 20-30mph

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Fri 16 Jan 2015 07:49
BMW Mini 06 model - CVT Transmission Problem - reving kangaroo 20-30mph - Scarlettmini

I'm in a dilemma on what to do next....
My 06 CVT Mini had what started as an intermittent problem with being driven between 20-30 mph in auto mode. It reved high to 4 on the gauge and jumped like a learner driver putting it in the wrong gear. 0-20mph no problem and 30mph and up no problem, it's main issue seems to be when its down shifting in this mph zone.
Mini garages were booked up befor Xmas so I took it to a German car specialist he put it on his autologic diagnostics and came back with:
DME 3 faults: 1787 gearbox ratio acurator open circuit, 1698 gearbox control unit - control error, 1656 EWS incorrect code
Electrical transmission management - no communications

This technician advised I had the EGS replaced

Decided to wait and get opinion from Mini Dealer, they said it's very rare and highly unlikely for this module to fail and advised I have their recomended CVT specialist give me his opinion, which was similar so advised I first have an authorised mini garage wipe and re code the unit as a non mini diagnostic unit may not be compatable.
Mini Stratford tried this.... However their diagnostics said: 1 fault found code 1611 communication conection, gearbox control unit.
So they advised the electrician checks the wires first before the unit just because even though it's the obvious answer to replace unit they still state it's highly unlikely for that unit to fail.
Electrician alongside the CVT specialist checked yesterday all wiring and found nothing so I am back to the first diagnostics recomendation replace the unit or now a choice of another more costly possibility being the clutch pressure control solenoid. However he said he and the electrician are 90% certain it's the transmission control module that needs replacing because he did various tests including reversing at speed finding that it did the same jumping, and it's a bit better behaved when in manual mode.
I went back to mini today to book in for module replacement but ended up leaving with car again because mini didn't give me a great deal of confidence it was the right diagnosis with their apprehension about a module change as obvious as it is answer wise to everything it may not be right because of the rareity of it failing at 54,000.

I welcome any advise with regards to this as I have got to the point of wanting to declare the vehicle off the road and taking a time out with it all as much as I love my mini
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Fri 16 Jan 2015 19:32
BMW Mini 06 model - CVT Transmission Problem - reving kangaroo 20-30mph - gordonbennet

No help i'm afraid, i just searched for a couple of minutes with suitable key words and many hits were returned, not many of them it must be said make good reading, it appears you are far from alone, suggest you spend several hours online to find out what other owners have been doing.

Take no notice at all of the waffle from Pinocchio behind the service counter about how unusual this is, he'll be telling you they've never had a timing chain issue next.

Edited by gordonbennet on 16/01/2015 at 19:33

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