One of the easiest tasks to perform on your MINI is to change the transmission fluid. It’s very important to make sure that the fluid in your transmission is at the proper level, otherwise your transmission will experience significant wear. The synchro rings and sliders all depend on a slick surface in order to match speeds when shifting. If your transmission is low on oil, the wear on these components will accelerate significantly. In addition, shifting the car will be more difficult. One of the first things that you should check on a MINI that is having problems shifting is the level of the transmission oil. In addition, keeping the differential and all of its associated gears well lubricated should also help increase your fuel mileage.

The MINI Cooper and Cooper S specifies the use of 'lifetime' fluid. This means that the fluid is designed to never be replaced. We’re not a believer of lifetime fluids in general and we believe the transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles or about once every two years. This number is a rough estimate, and may vary depending upon your use of your MINI (track vs. street). There are many moving parts in the transmission, and they have a tendency to drop small microscopic metal particles into the oil. Specifically, the synchro rings wear down slowly over time, each time you shift. While the transmission bearings are not as sensitive as the engine bearings, they can still exhibit wear from these particles in the oil.

If you’re planning to change the transmission fluid in your Cooper or Cooper S, we offer Red Line MTL which is designed for use in BMW manual transmissions.

Click here to shop for Red Line Manual Transmission Lubricant for your MINI!

Follow these easy instructions for completing this project in no time:
Manual Transmission Fluid Change

Mark/Pelican Parts