MK2 850 AUTO....GARAGE FIND

[superflyguy]

I've recently purchased a mk1 850 Auto, my concern is the lack of gearbox parts apparently, so if it does break I think ill be sticking a bigger engine and manual box in so its more useable. But just enjoy it if it runs ok.

With the amount of auto/hybrid/cooper s cars in existence .....I recon there are plenty of low mileage auto engine&boxes kicking about under peoples benches .

the Auto mini was one of the first real 4 speed automatic car produced...and one of the most technically advanced cars Bmc ever made. I believe they are reliable if the oil is regularly change and driven sensibly...and know of one that had 90k on the clock and was still going strong.

one of the future collectors holy grails....but I would say this would'nt I

Hopefully mine will be fine, it seems ok at the moment, I was just going off advice given before I made the purchase. I'm going to change the Oil next week but I've also been told the preferred oil is 10w40 semi-synthetic motorcycle oil jaso ma2 ? is this correct with you chaps that are running an auto.

[JohnA]

I went on a 3 day BMC training course for A series transverse automatics in 1969
The most common fault was the forward clutch, this is the last thing to receive oil when the engine is started but the first engage when drive is selected.
Alternate plates have cork linings that are designed to run in oil that disintegrate when run dry causing them to run metal to metal.
If there is grinding noise when you select drive from stationary it's usually the problem
This I think may have been more common on earlier cars.
It was recommended to wait 8 seconds when starting for cold to allow time for oil to fill the forward clutch.
I still have the AP manual and technical data sheets

[superflyguy]

I normally have to give mine a bit of choke for a few minutes before I set off anyway, no grinding noise so fingers crossed. Just ordered some 10W-40 jaso ma2 motorcycle oil, so that's a job for next week.

[Costafortune]

Early ones can be push started - it was a clever idea really.

[mab01uk]

I've recently purchased a mk1 850 Auto, my concern is the lack of gearbox parts apparently, so if it does break I think ill be sticking a bigger engine and manual box in so its more useable. But just enjoy it if it runs ok.

With the amount of auto/hybrid/cooper s cars in existence .....I recon there are plenty of low mileage auto engine&boxes kicking about under peoples benches .

the Auto mini was one of the first real 4 speed automatic car produced...and one of the most technically advanced cars Bmc ever made. I believe they are reliable if the oil is regularly change and driven sensibly...and know of one that had 90k on the clock and was still going strong.

one of the future collectors holy grails....but I would say this would'nt I

Great find and agree Auto Minis need to be saved from all becoming manual conversions!

Prototype Mini Automatic 1962:-
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