[Atrak]

Hi,

I'm in the process of buying a new Mini Cooper SD.
Can anyone tell me if there are more differences except the paddles and the look?
Can the normal automatic be operated manual too?
Does these gearboxes have double clutches?

Thanks,

Atrak

 

[Hat]

Far as i know the non sport auto can still be operated in sequential mode on the gear lever. I think the programming is different on the non sport as well. They are not dual clutch

 

[2 in the family]

Appart from no paddles and the sequential shifter on standard auto, I think the S has launch control.

 

[siriuszero]

The sport automatic supposedly has programming to shift gears faster? Documentation is pretty sparse on how exactly it differs besides the shift paddles. Definitely programming though as the transmission itself I believe is mechanically the same.

Both auto transmissions have a manual mode and both have a sport shifting mode that will rev higher before changing gears and launch control is standard on the Cooper S and an option on the Coopers.

 

[MCS535]

Sport automatic faster response. So other software i guess. And the peddles. I have the sport automatic. And i love it. Does the work great and some nice pops when you are in sport mode. But since you got want an sd you will not have the pop but a great gearbox. I wanted too go for a mini cooper sd too. Ended up with an s petrol. And i love it. Good luck

 

[humercedes]

One difference that I have read about the "sport automatic" is that it is linked to the GPS (when equipped). It does not specify this on the sport auto but I remember reading on the mini site when the model was still coming soon that you had to order the sport automatic and gps for this to work

http://www.imakenews.com/creviermini/e_article002975644.cfm?x=b11,0,w

"Linking the automatic gearbox to GPS, the MINI can tell where you are on the road and select the appropriate gear with knowledge of what’s ahead."

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-mini-cooper-s-hardtop-automatic-test-review

"It’s also supersmart, knowing, for instance, to avoid an upshift between two curves in an ess bend because the nav-system GPS tells it so, just as it does in the Rolls-Royce Ghost way over at the other end of BMW’s brand spectrum. "


I do not know if I want a car making shifting decisions for me based on the road..

Also, I believe you can get paddles on the non sport automatic if you order the JCW steering wheel..

 

[siriuszero]

The sport automatic is not required for predictive drivetrain. It does have to be a petrol model, it does have to have an auto transmission and it does have to have navigation equipped.

Guidance does not need to be activated for it to work, but if you have a route programmed or if you using your turn signals, it works better. It's designed to shift to the optimal gear whilst going into S-curves, turning on crossroads, highway ramps, and roundabouts.

Works in SPORT and MID and are adapted to those modes, but it is not enabled in GREEN mode and it won't work with cruise control on.

Also, at least in the US, you do not get the paddles with the JCW wheel, though getting the sport auto requires you to get the JCW wheel OR the MINI Yours wheel.

 

[humercedes]

The sport automatic is not required for predictive drivetrain. It does have to be a petrol model, it does have to have an auto transmission and it does have to have navigation equipped.

Guidance does not need to be activated for it to work, but if you have a route programmed or if you using your turn signals, it works better. It's designed to shift to the optimal gear whilst going into S-curves, turning on crossroads, highway ramps, and roundabouts.

Works in SPORT and MID and are adapted to those modes, but it is not enabled in GREEN mode and it won't work with cruise control on.

Also, at least in the US, you do not get the paddles with the JCW wheel, though getting the sport auto requires you to get the JCW wheel OR the MINI Yours wheel.

You are a MINI genius

I wish the LED driving lamps were available here.. Do you know if that is going to happen?

 

[Javert]

The information is indeed very sparse. From what I found out (and what siriuszero and others also posted) this is what you get with the sport automatic:
- Paddle Shifters
- JWC or Mini Yours Wheel
- Launch Control
- Option for full manual control
- According to my sales man the sport auto shifts quicker (and probably harder) by some fractions of a tenth of a second within the first three gears if in sports mode. Gears 4-6 are supposedly identical with both transmissions
- The stick itself might look a little bit different (brushed aluminum vs leather cover), but I'm not sure if that comes with an appearance package (I have the US non-sport auto and mine just has the leather sack covering the stick)

 

[siriuszero]

You are a MINI genius

I wish the LED driving lamps were available here.. Do you know if that is going to happen?

I wish I did... Dealers seem to only have the halogen driving lamps available with no word on the LEDs

The information is indeed very sparse. From what I found out (and what siriuszero and others also posted) this is what you get with the sport automatic:
- Paddle Shifters
- JWC or Mini Yours Wheel
- Launch Control
- Option for full manual control
- According to my sales man the sport auto shifts quicker (and probably harder) by some fractions of a tenth of a second within the first three gears if in sports mode. Gears 4-6 are supposedly identical with both transmissions
- The stick itself might look a little bit different (brushed aluminum vs leather cover), but I'm not sure if that comes with an appearance package (I have the US non-sport auto and mine just has the leather sack covering the stick)

Full manual control is available on the plain automatic, you just shift it from D to M/S and use the stick to shift. The Sport Auto adds the paddle shifters.

The stick looks the same, unless you are doing the JCW thing which changes to red stitching.

 

[Javert]

Full manual control is available on the plain automatic, you just shift it from D to M/S and use the stick to shift. The Sport Auto adds the paddle shifters.

I was aware of that. But even in the manual mode there is automatic up-shifting under certain conditions which can be disabled if you have the sport auto. This is what the User Manual says:

Manual mode M/S: prevent automatic
upshifting
Once maximum engine speed is attained, M/S
manual mode is automatically upshifted as
needed.
For vehicles with Sport automatic transmission,
automatic shift operations are not performed if
one of the following conditions is met:
▷ DSC is deactivated.
▷ TRACTION is activated.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.

 

[siriuszero]

I was aware of that. But even in the manual mode there is automatic up-shifting under certain conditions which can be disabled if you have the sport auto. This is what the User Manual says:

Manual mode M/S: prevent automatic
upshifting
Once maximum engine speed is attained, M/S
manual mode is automatically upshifted as
needed.
For vehicles with Sport automatic transmission,
automatic shift operations are not performed if
one of the following conditions is met:
▷ DSC is deactivated.
▷ TRACTION is activated.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.

The only automatic upshifting I've experienced is when I was testing it out and let it redline for a second before it shifted. For the most part, I was able to let it rev and didn't feel it "nanny-ing" at all. Interesting though...More testing is required when my car finally comes...

 

[Hat]

Ive never experienced mine upshifting in m/s mode. The display in the speedo will indicate its time to upshift but thats all. Ive never taken it to redline however. It does downshift to make sure the car doesnt stall out

 

[Atrak]

Thanks for all your info and advice, but I just signed for a manual F56 Mini Cooper SD.
Can't wait!!

 

[humercedes]

The stick looks the same, unless you are doing the JCW thing which changes to red stitching.

True, but the JCW int also adds the aluminum piece around the shifter on automatic versions (as well as red stitching)

 

[siriuszero]

True, but the JCW int also adds the aluminum piece around the shifter on automatic versions (as well as red stitching)

Ah, you're totally right...don't know how I missed that...

 

[humercedes]

Ah, you're totally right...don't know how I missed that...

The JCW mini (not pkg) now adds that aluminum piece to the manual version as well which is cool.

 

[TheAlterKocker]

Originally Posted by humercedes View Post
You are a MINI genius

I wish the LED driving lamps were available here.. Do you know if that is going to happen?
I wish I did... Dealers seem to only have the halogen driving lamps available with no word on the LEDs

In the states LED's are available. I'm getting them on my S. Don't know if it's part of the JCW aero kit or one of the packages I selected. Also getting JCW interior which includes JCW steering wheel and auto with paddle shifters. My options were shift lever only for $1,250 or shift lever with paddle shifters for $1,500.