[Pollege]

Hi Everybody, for statistical purposes(
The fully same issues as described.
Milleage 52000 km, Diesel, AWD.
A gearbox replacement is needed🥲
Approx. 13000 euro in total

What car do have?

 

[urfinus]

Mini Clubman F54 (= BMW X1), 2018
2.0 Diesel, 140kw, 4x4

 

[Douji]

I have a 2018 F56 JCW, same issue here with the hard shifts and delay in reverse. Just did an oil change and the oil was super “dirty”. The gear shifting jerks became less frequent and less hard after the oil change but it usually becomes worse after 30 mins drive.

I want to avoid replace/rebuilt the gear box too. There was this mechanic suggested a clean up of gear box valve body. Anyone tried that? Thanks.

 

[urfinus]

Mini Clubman F54 (= BMW X1), 2018
2.0 Diesel, 140kw, 4x4

The gearbox has been replaced finally, manufacturer paid for that because of defective part.

 

[NBCGLX]

I have a 2018 F56 JCW, same issue here with the hard shifts and delay in reverse. Just did an oil change and the oil was super “dirty”. The gear shifting jerks became less frequent and less hard after the oil change but it usually becomes worse after 30 mins drive.

I want to avoid replace/rebuilt the gear box too. There was this mechanic suggested a clean up of gear box valve body. Anyone tried that? Thanks.

Unless I'm mistaken, your car has the 6-speed GA6F21AW. I don't think the U.S. JCW F56 got the 8-speed GA8G45AW until LCI1 hit with March 2018 production (start of U.S. model year 2019). Maybe the same issues as being reported here, but just wanted to point out that it's a different transmission.

 

[Douji]

Unless I'm mistaken, your car has the 6-speed GA6F21AW. I don't think the U.S. JCW F56 got the 8-speed GA8G45AW until LCI1 hit with March 2018 production (start of U.S. model year 2019). Maybe the same issues as being reported here, but just wanted to point out that it's a different transmission.

Though I’m not entirely sure about the model number of my gearbox, It’s an 8 speed through manual gear shifting

 

[leandrosantosfilho]

I have a 2018 F56 JCW, same issue here with the hard shifts and delay in reverse. Just did an oil change and the oil was super “dirty”. The gear shifting jerks became less frequent and less hard after the oil change but it usually becomes worse after 30 mins drive.

I want to avoid replace/rebuilt the gear box too. There was this mechanic suggested a clean up of gear box valve body. Anyone tried that? Thanks.

The EXACT same issue is happening to my 19" jcw. Have you found whether its a problem or just part of owning a mini? lol I also drive a Polo GTS (6-speed AISIN) and it occasionally behaves kinda similar

 

[fdmaxwell]

Well, I have been owning 2020 JCW for 9 months now, mileage is around 41.000, there has been a few kicks, weird cluunks and noises, with sometimes really slow and delayed shifting and sometimes even like 0.5 seconds delay when shifting to reverse. AFAIK there has been only a few units produced that are defective, mainly from 2018-2019. My car was produced in 03/2020, so not sure if I have the bad unit.

I recently did a software update on my MINI to the latest I-Level F056-23-07-xxx, the EGS unit (transmission control) software was also updated, adaptations have been reset. After running a test of 50km riding, the car is shifting very well and without kicks, noises or delays. i have done a few trips now around the country doing something around 500km in total after the update. As I said...the transmission is shifting fast and smooth like a freakin DSG unit!

Apart from the software update, planning an oil change soon at local BMW dealer, yes the change transmission oils and put it in the service history! Surprise from a BMW dealer that they didnt tell me its sealed for life of the transmission.

But if there is a defective bearing or clutches are opening incorrectly, software update and adaptations reset won!T fix the mechanical issue.
Remember to do adaptations reset after every transmission oil change. Possible with ISTA+.

Wishing all you guys with faulty transmission the best so the manufacturer replaces the unit free of charge!

 

[cookies_n_cream]

Well, I have been owning 2020 JCW for 9 months now, mileage is around 41.000, there has been a few kicks, weird cluunks and noises, with sometimes really slow and delayed shifting and sometimes even like 0.5 seconds delay when shifting to reverse. AFAIK there has been only a few units produced that are defective, mainly from 2018-2019.

Resurrecting whether anyone had repeated issues? Is there a source confirming there was a defective batch from 2018-2019?

 

[malospelos]

Resurrecting whether anyone had repeated issues? Is there a source confirming there was a defective batch from 2018-2019?

Mine is from January 2018 and has 25k miles. Recently it started to fail when shifting from 2 to 3 at low rpms and when shifting to reverse.

I would also like to know what you are asking if AISIN has corrected the problem and it was only in the first units or the design flaw persists today

But above all, what I would like to know is if when I take it to the workshop for repair, they are going to install the same part that caused the problem or if the supplier is supplying an improved part to prevent the problem from happening again.

Gebox (workshop with a lot of prestige in Spain) has several videos on YouTube talking about these boxes and says that they are breaking incredibly fast that the fault is the suction pump filter that gets clogged and causes the pump to overheat. The only solution it provides is to change the ATF every 35k miles or annually and always with dialysis which represents a tremendous expense.

all the best

 

[Stingy1075]

Mine is from June 2019, 99'200km. Rough changes and kicks between 2nd and 3rd (sometimes even on other gears), kicks and stutter on downshifting, especially from 3rd to 2nd gear. My JCW is scheduled for a big service next week, and I requested ATF change and software update. If everything fails, I have warranty (Switzerland's Quality1 warranty) and I will get a new tranny.

 

[evkar1988]

HI guys.

The cars on the MINI platform such as X1, X2, MINI made between 2018-2019 can have a defective gearbox.

My story.

Bought a used X2 2018 20I XDrive in August 2023 (milliage at the moment of buy was 30000 KM) . The gearbox is 8AT Aisin. Noticed the kicks on 3, 5 and rear gear with delay up to 10 seconds and kick from time to time.

I had come to official BMW and they told me it's out of warranty, as the car was almost 5 years, just proposed me to replace that for about 10K Euro. I told it's nonsense, milliage is low and no gearbox in the world must be broken on this milliage. They told me just "sorry".

This year in July the car started kicking all the time and I had come to officials again. I already had another case with my friend who bought the same car (same model, year etc) and he successfully replaced the gearbox by warranty. So I insisted that they must manage my case as warranty as milliage is too low for a gearbox to be broken (the milliage was around 40K at that moment)

A person managing my case helped me a lot. He made diagnostic and wrote in the BMW headquarter. They approved replacement by warranty both: labour and the part. Only one thing I covered from my pocket were two broken engine mounts, as due to kicks they had torn.

So, who has the same problem and low milliage even if the car is out of warranty, insist on the free replacement. +

 

[Mikan]

Reading this one day before collecting a MY2020 JCW Clubman with the 8-speed Auto, built in December 2019.

I mostly read about 2018 cars, and some 2019s, do we know if the MY2020 gearboxes are a newer/revised version indeed? Was something changed after 2019 regarding the gearbox? In other words, does it make sense to look specifically for 2020+ model years or not?

 

[tmarshall57]

I have a 2018 BMW X1 F48 in Spain with the same gearbox and same symptoms. Luckily the car has 2 year certificated used warranty (I bought it in October 2024 with 70,000 kilometres). I documented the problem and booked it in at the local dealer who have managed to replicate it. They are consulting with BMW corporate as to the next steps. On realoem.com there are a large number of part number changes for this gearbox from November 2018.

Update: 14/7/25 - Collected the car today with paperwork showing new/exchange gearbox fitted. Work done at Benigar BMW, Saint Joan D'Alacant - great service and very quick turnaround.