[Mountie]

Yes 02 fanatic it's got so much grip , the auto I think is to slow as unlike my BMW that you feel big difference in change speed in different setting, I know no the the mini auto in F56 does Not alter the speed of change in the different modes and that one massive point disappoints me for auto buyers because BMW 8 speed sport auto is fantastic , I know size and ratios a big problem but in a JCW would need far quicker changes in sport, and I suspect the 0-60 times that are quicker launch control could have been used but hey I could be wrong.
But hey the Auto still suits the car but just not for us in second car.

And 100% on the sound I think it's spot on

Hmmm, I also drove the M135i (on German Autobahns). There is a fundamental, technical difference between the M135i's and the JCW's auto transmission. The M135i, like the M3 or M4, is a full dual clutch transmission with lightning fast shifts, as the next gear is already enganged before shifting, whereas the Mini JCW auto is a traditional automatic transmission, no dual-clutch. They are nowhere close in comparison. The M135i's Dual Clutch is amazing and due to it being a dual clutch ways faster in shifting than a traditional automatic transmission.
If the new 2015/16 JCW had a dual clutch option, it would be the way to go for me, although I am a manual transmission fan. The dual clutch combines best of both worlds, but I assume that size and weight of the dual clutch transmission were prohibitive for it to be used in the JCW.

 

[Mountie]

I have the same box as in the M135i the 8 speed sport box and it ain't dual cluth like the M4 & M3 they are 7 speed boxes as have driven it and M5 but the 8 speed sport box as i had confirmed is far quicker than mini auto i test drove for sure.

Oh, you are right when it comes to the M3 and M4 The M3 and M4 are both 7-speed dual-clutch transmissions (drove the M4 last week through Germany ). And I was wrong with the M135i being a 8-speed dual-clutch! It is just one of the best 8-speed automatics! But coming back to the F56 JCW, no dual-clutch option there , so let's rock the manual!