I totally get it. I guess the distinction I'm making boils down to form vs. function. Having some chrome trim doesn't affect how much I enjoy driving my car. However, if I had ordered an auto that, unbeknownst to me, came without paddles, it'd be a different story. I said it before: it's a fundamental difference in the driving experience. These cars are supposed to be about the driving experience... right? I don't get* why the paddles disappear on a car with the JCW package... the package is pretty clearly supposed to make the cars (if only in appearance) "sportier" than their brethren.

Also, I don't know how hard or expensive it is to retrofit paddles, but I can tell you that swapping for black trim is cheap and easy. Am I happy that my car showed up with the chrome trim? Nope, but it was a minor aesthetic difference that I've already rectified.

*In reality I can see two possible reasons from a manufacturing or brand standpoint. From a manufacturing standpoint, a JCW wheel with paddle shifters is not something they already make. They have JCW steering wheels already on hand, like every other part of the JCW package. A JCW wheel with paddles is another part to manufacture and manage supplies of. From a brand standpoint maybe they want JCW parts to stay true to "heritage"? All factory JCWs are stick after all. Having said that, it's still bullsh**.

 

That's going to be my arguing point exactly, minor aesthetics.. I don't care too much about, they can be easily changed.


I see both of your reasons clearly...if that's the case, don't give me the steering wheel! And especially not ONLY the steering wheel

 

No absolutely, the chrome trim and lack of paddles are two different issues, one clearly being more ridiculous. I too understand it from a manufacturers point of view but if thats the case why are they not relaying this change to consumers? A simple message in the configurator stating ***JCW package removes paddle shifters on auto transmission**.....would have solved this whole problem. Im sure there are some people who would have seen that and gone....oh well I like how it looks anyway....and some people that would have said....hell no, I'll save my money. Either way the lack of communication seems to be the real issue, and the consumer should not have to feel misinformed especially when they are spending 25-35k dollars for a product.

Fantasy solution? Almost like a recall, MINI allows for every new owner with the JCW package/Auto tranny to take it back to the dealership and have paddle shifters installed for free. And a written apology attached to an air freshener.

 

I'll work for that fantasy solution when I get in contact with MINIUSA, but I want to make it a point that the dealerships aren't "losing out".

 

One more thing to complete my rant for now. I had to add this because it CLEARLY says, "black grille with a gloss black surround"......now I'm even more determined!!! ok rant over

 

I included that too...and got this in return.

I digress for now though... back to studying for my final....

 

I just filled out my post-purchase survey and gave a rundown of the discrepancies and invited MINIUSA to get in touch with me. I'll report back if I hear anything.

 

Can I ask where you sent the email to? I sent one 2 days ago and never got a response. He is just stating what he was notified of but it doesnt change the fact that we never were and the consumer counts more..... in that case its simple false advertising.

good luck on your final

 

Where'd you find that survey??

I'll think I'll be filling out a nice long email tonight after my final and CC'ing the people I've been forwarded e-mails from so far which include my MA, the Sales Manager at my BMW/MINI Dealership,member of Parts Management for BMW North America, member of MINI USA Product Management, a "Sales Operations Specialist" with MINI USA and the Digital Communications Manager (???) with MINI USA.


It was just a response to an email my MA sent.. somewhere.

 

Good for you. I got the survey via email this morning. I suspect yours will follow in a few days.

 

An automatic on a JCW??

 

Guys.... MINI Cooper S with JCW Package

 

My MA believes it was a MA oversight. He believes that the MA should have informed the customer that when you get the JCW upgrade it includes the JCW Alcantara steering wheel which does not come with paddles.

 

My e-mail ended up being more than 900 words long with about 8 attached screenshots.

 

+1000 Give them hell

 

Get em!

 

Guys, huge update. My MA called me about 4 times today... I don't remember all of the calls specifically but the first call discussed the black grille surround and eventually my e-mail. He told me that he got a lot of **** because I sent that e-mail and that he was currently fighting for his job. Felt bad, told him I wasn't trying to go around him, just wanted to make more people aware of what was happening. Two more calls about the steering wheel, explained how the red stitching was on the Justa automatic but not on the MCS automatic and how I'd rather them take back the red-stitched wheel and get a normal wheel that had paddle shifters. From there he said he'll ask questions and see what he can do...

On the fourth call, "the ***** back in your court, Nick.. this is what we can do, the paddle shift steering wheel is a direct plug and play swap, do you want us to order you a normal wheel with paddle shifters WITHOUT red stitching?"

I said yes, it is being done.

I'm losing my red-stitched steering wheel (oh well, not a big deal didn't fit anyway) and will be getting a normal Mini Cooper S automatic steering with WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS.


Apparently I made a huge stink with corporate and my dealership, and someone used some febreeze.


Ordeal is settled :D

 

Congrats! No one wants an unhappy customer. Im currently trying to coerce my MA and the manager at the dealership to just swap in the black grille since thats how I ordered it. We shall see....

 

It is nice to see the customer finally win! Don't feel bad for your MA. Ask yourself why is his job on the line. You are probably not the only person that has complained about what has been happening there. Congrats and good luck!

 

Good for you, Nick! You shouldn't feel bad about putting your MA in that position. It's his job to make sure you're satisfied. He failed to do that (quite spectacularly) so you were forced to go over his head. He brought it on himself.

I'm going to keep my eye on the miniusa.com configurator to see if they roll out any convenient updates to how they represent the JCW package...

When's the swap going down?

 

I tend to flat out tell someone that tells me" your complaint may cost me my job" that if they had been doing said job correctly in the first place they would not have garnered the complaint and therefor THEY are costing themselves a job and to not push things more or I will make sure they lose their job for giving me further lip about things. I have a HUGE problem with people that cannot or will not do their jobs.

 

 

I have worked 16 years in retail customer service... I have had people take complaints from me that have basically ignored everything I have said to them right up till I say that I have 16 years of customer service in retail. That usually lets the person on the other end know that I know if they are bullshitting me and also lets them know I am not bullshitting them. I usually also point out that if I bother to complain its pretty bad whatever I am complaining about.

 

Sorry about reviving this thread...

I ordered this package with my 2012 back in May, I'll post pictures when I get it here in the next week.

Very disappointed to hear about the chrome grill trim and the no red stitching on the auto shifter and e-brake. Could care less about the paddle shifters, I was thinking about removing them anyway.

Anyone know where I could purchase the black grill trim for the JCW grill, boot cover and (if the regular cooper auto comes with red stitching) the auto cover with red stitching?

 

I think way motor works has them not sure though!