Thanks again, drmini I have saved the details of mini specialist and have found some one locally. He is probably on here somewhere! I called the man with mini with auto probs and let him know that after getting advice (thanks again all) that he should take the best offer he had - I was quoted between $3600 and $5000 to fix the transmission). He had MS and had had to give up his license so I wasn't going to haggle. I did feel a little silly about the window comment. Of course I know all minis have windows that open, I meant wind down windows! I have taken your advice and worked out the profile thing. This is my first ever time on any type of forum and I am feeling very welcome. Thank you and I hope to share more silly questions soon??

I would contact Greig Malaure at Mini Classic in Hope St , Ermington, Sydney. phone (02) 9874 7211.

He repairs Rover automatics (as well as building quick road and race Minis) and could advise what the fault is and fix it.
Not many shops in Oz will do these boxes, most run a mile.

Every classic MINI has opening windows.
The early sliding windows are even better for moving air than the roll-ups that appeared in 69(?) 

If you're looking for a late 90's model, I don't think they are legal in the US...or are you in CA.  ( your location says US )
There are many Japanese market MINIs with AC....find a 1275 manual box

edit:...I see you are in Australia from your first post....you need to change your flag

 

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your answers, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I will keep looking for the perfect mini for me. I can't keep two cars so even though I love the early ones I think I am going to have to look out for a late 90's for a bit more reliability and windows that allow air in when its a boiling 35 degrees for a month. They just don't drive as nicely I find, plus the steering is so much heavier in the later models.

I still would love to know why the transmission has failed in this way. Its a bit of a mystery.

Thanks again particulalry for not making me feel silly.

Cheers

 

I like the autoboxes but unfortunately I have to agree - if you are not mechanical or dont do your own work it will get expensive fast - probably better off with something else.

If you do go to someone make sure they know the AP II boxes. If the car shifts when manually put into 1 to 4 but stops at 2 when D is selected you need to remove the valve block and replace the oil seal o rings on the servo oil feed pipe. You may then have to reset the 2nd servo band. Whilst the valve block is out i would replace the servo valve seals too - easy when the valve block is out.

cheers

Barri

Since you say you don't know anything about fixing cars , as Spitz said , walk away!! Find your self a nice driver with a standard trans unless of course you can't drive standard.

Mousy

I would walk briskly away from that car.

Find another MINI with a 4 speed manual gearbox.

Most automatics haven't been taken car of well ( oil changes and proper viscosity oil not used ), and are hard/expensive to fix the gearbox.

I cant give you an answer to your question but I'll suggest that you post this same question on this site  www.autominiregister.proboards.com

Hi I am looking to buy a 1999 Rover Mini - auto - it is a Japanese Import and the car has had this problem for a few years but I'm not sure what is causing it and does it mean a whole new transmission.

When selecting drive it won't shift from 2nd to 3rd and it revs and you get no more speed out of it. It will manually let you shift from 1st - 2nd - 3rd then you shift it into drive it will find 4th.

The current owner has been driving it like this for a few years and never worried about fixing it but I'm concerned it has caused more damage and if I do buy it with this problem I am going to end up with a huge problem to fix. Or do I put a manual transmission in it?

My biggest problem is I don't know anything about fixing cars and I would like some idea of actually why it is doing this. I know most people aren't keen on the auto's but it is a good price (not a price to good to be true! but fair.) and it is in fantastic condition except for this transmission problem. Can any of you shed any light on what would be causing this so when i do get a transmission specialist to look at it I have some sort of idea what is wrong. I will be driving it as a daily drive and it has air con and seat belts which is must in Australia and when you have kids! Hence why I am willing to have a car that isn't quite as fun to drive.

Much appreciated and I really look forward to hearing from any one you on this one