Mini Roadster Automatic Transmission Issue

So my 2012 Mini Roadster diesel is giving me some serious grief. It's got about 116000 km on it, and the automatic transmission seems to think it's not in park when it actually is. The engine won't start, the check engine light is blazing, and the gearbox feels like it's slipping or shifting really rough. I had it scanned, and it's showing an error in the memory, possibly a defective control unit. The shop is quoting around 1000€ for the transmission repair. Anyone else run into this? Is it likely the control unit, or could it be something else with the gear shifter or the neutral position sensor? It almost feels like the shift lock is permanently engaged.

4 comment(s)

I had a similar issue with my Mini Roadster a while back. The symptoms sound very familiar. Does it happen intermittently, or is it constant? Have you checked the gear linkage for any obvious signs of damage or wear? Also, when you say it won't start, does it crank at all, or is it completely dead?

Based on your description and the error code, it does indeed sound like the control unit is the most probable cause. Given that the engine won't crank, it's likely preventing the starter from engaging as a safety measure. At this point, I would recommend taking it to a reputable workshop specializing in automatic transmissions for a proper diagnosis and repair.

Thanks for the quick reply! It's pretty constant now, not intermittent like it was at first. I haven't checked the gear linkage myself, not really sure what I'm looking for. As for starting, the engine doesn't crank at all. Just silence, but the check engine light is on.

Thanks a bunch for the info! I took it to a transmission repair specialist, and you were spot on. It was the control unit. Cost me about 1000€, but at least my Mini Roadster is back on the road and shifting smoothly. Appreciate the help!

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