Questions about 05 Cooper S auto tranny

[Chuckwag1]

Hey folks.

I'm looking at a 2005 Cooper S with a 5-spd auto tranny to buy as a commuter.

I've already got an 05 X3, and although I'm sure they're completely different, the Cooper S auto tranny was very different, in a bad way. It shifted VERY weak, searched between gears, and seemed to slip for a good 5 miles before it warmed up.

I know what mechanical instincts tell me: walk...no, RUN away from this one! But it's only got 33,000 miles on it, is still under factory warranty, is being offered by a reputable dealer, and I've known the sales guy for ten years with no negative history.

Is there anything I may be overlooking, like a common minor problem, or are my instincts correct? (As in, "that's a common...MAJOR...problem with these things")?

By the way, when all is right with the world, what kind of mpg should I expect?

Feedback appreciated,

Chuckwag1

[tenfifteen]

No aware of any common problems with the autos in those years. I've driven a loaner of that year for a couple of days, and its shifts were jerky if anything; like the '08, in sport-mode it borders on harsh. I think your instincts are correct: Run... this one's been beat on or is in bad shape.

Can't recall what kind of exact mileage we saw, but in my wife's bonestock '04 MCS (manual), we got mid-to-high 20s around town, low-to-mid 30s around town... just a few MPG lower than we see in the '08 MCS (automatic) in which she averages 34mpg in a half highway, half-traffic commute.