the stock JCW is the exact same wheel thats on a S except with red stitching.

they have the fatter one which comes in all leather or alcantara with no red stitching which he didnt get.

 

So, quick update. I called MINI and they told me I can take it into the dealer and they will replace the steering wheel to be a spec w/paddles. 2 day procedure, no charge.

It sounded like something new, as the rep I spoke to hadn't heard about it before. All in a 5 minute call.

I called the dealer service department but haven't heard back on scheduling. I presume they have to order the part from MINI, which based on the other posts here may not be a quick thing. Will update tomorrow (and try to get the MINI part number for reference for the wheel they will be replacing this with).

 

Ahh well I was under the impression that is why because the leather/alc wheel is a JCW thing originally, which as well all know was not an auto tranny car until now. So basically ignore anything I said.

 

you would think for the money it costs for a JCW it would come with that steering wheel. :(

 

They wouldn't let you test drive the exact car you were buying? Sounds like a red flag. Care to explain?

 

I think he is referring to test driving the car before he placed the order and not his car once it came in. The JCW with auto is new to MINI and are just being delivered so it wasn't possible to test drive the auto JCW before ordering it if you wanted it this early.

 

Hmmm....

Well it was too good to be true. I took the car into the dealer and they came back saying MINI is still "looking into the issue" and no resolution has been reached/agreed to.

I'd be interested in hearing from folks which steering wheel was substituted on their vehicle - it's supposed to be 2XA (Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters) or possibly 2XC (John Cooper Works leather steering wheel). I ended up with 2XB (MINI Yours Sport Leather Steering Wheel).

Jack?, Durazo?

 

Yes, I did test drive a '13 manual JCW prior to mine arriving. Unfortunately to make it past the wife purchasing committee, any purchases cannot be stick

 

Sorry Dave but Rich didn't add paddle shifters to his Clubman S. His car came from the factory with Paddle Shifters. What he did was modify a JCW wheel (Stick) to accept the "Paddle Shifter" levers.

To add Paddle Shifter to a car that doesn't have them from the factory may require a major refit of the electronics in the steering column. Then the computer may need to be re-programmed to activate the Paddle Shifter functionality. This is something you would really want MINI to do for you!

Very doable but a pain in the ***.

Dan

 

2-6 months from the date of my purchase and the paddles will be going on (New steering wheel). This is what my dealership and Mini USA has told me.

 

I tried a different approach to see what's going on. I found a dealer with a JCW auto in stock (happened to be a build date within a week of mine) and asked them if it had paddles. "Of course, all auto's have paddles. The JCW auto is new from this year". Great - can you email me the build sheet please so I can look at the configuration. "Sure, shall do". As expected the build make no mention of paddles, and has the 2XB wheel. Can you double check the car and let me know about the paddles? "I'll send you a photo in a minute". Needless to say, the minute turned into many, and I got a call which confirms what we've all known - MINI put the JCW cars into the build process and substituted non-paddle wheels since they didn't have any JCW wheels with paddles. I did glean some new information on this call, since the sale manager of the dealership had called their MINI rep who happened to be at HQ - MINI is planning a retrofit recall in Jan to resolve the issue. Apparently this happened with some previous generation MCS cars.

Fingers crossed, i'll stop harassing them for a while and let the process run...

 

In my opinion only people who really like Mini's and drive them should work at dealerships. I remember how excited I was when Factory JCW's came out, after endlessly building them out online to have it all in one package was great. Problem was, when I got to the dealership, the salesman (kid) did not know what I was talking about. He said, well, you know there's the cold weather package, as an option, etc.... Really? What do I need you for, give me a computer, I build it, send the money to Mini and I want it delivered to my door.

I've noticed shortcomings in several dealerships when it come to not only sales but even worse, service. Im no mechanic but thanks to the internet in the last year I've changed brake rotors, pads, oil, breake fluid, brake lines, trim, lights, looking forward to what's next.

I'm done calling Mini for parts because there parts desks can't figure out what I'm talking about even when I have the exact part numbers. Thankfully there are third party websites. If someone would post just a few for videos online for more serious engine work I'd be golden.

 

My dealerships has confirmed that bill of materials for JCW 205 auto was incorrect resulting in these cars being manufactured without paddle shifters.

Retrofit requires new JCW leather steering wheel with red stitching and paddle shifters, a wiring harness from steering wheel to computer module, and also a new software upgrade so that on board electronics is aware of paddle shifters and can electronically process their inputs.

Dealership supposedly received steering wheel last week, but is still awaiting delivery date for harness and when new software upgrade for my VIN numbered mini will be available.

So it is now a waiting game. Major Bummer....

 

Hi All,


The 2013 JCW Auto did come with paddle shifters(code 2XA) if production was from 8/12/2012 to 10/12/2012. All JCW Autos (code 2XC) built after this date get the Standard JCW Wheel with red stitching and "NO PADDLE SHIFTERS". I understand it seems like it should but for now it does not. These JCW have been arriving at the stores for a couple of weeks now causing advisors to do some deeper research only to learn it was in a bulletin way back towards the end of September. As of now there is not a bulletin available to switch to a JCW paddle shifter steering wheel through the service department. However with all this said it does drive fantastic tapping through the gears at the shifter. I think its better to get the right information rather than misinformation.


Motor ON!!!

 

Confused

My MINI has a build date in the last week of Sept 2012, which give the above should have paddles (it does not). It was equipped with 2XB steering wheel, and as I mentioned in my previous post i've seen this in other MINIs where dealers have thought that it has paddles, but does not...

 

Thanks for this information, but you aren’t telling us what this bulletin is about. It would be nice to get a copy to see exactly what it says, and if it gives any reasons for the paddle shifter snafu or decision to discontinue them for now. I too received my special order JCW Clubman without paddle shifters on December 13, 2012. I won’t get into the specifics of how this problem is being handled because I am still trying to give the dealer time to rectify it. I was offered a $250 compensation, but to me this paddler omission is almost as bad as ordering a manual transmission and getting it with the shifter on the column. I originally started my ordering process in July, but we held up the order to get the JCW leather steering wheel which supposedly started production in November under code 2XC. This made sense because a 2012 JCW I saw in July did not have a JCW script steering wheel.

For the last 15 years I have been restoring older cars to factory as-built standards as a hobby and have some knowledge as to how the production process works. I would imagine nowadays that all the component parts ordering is computer generated. Apparently MINI has several production plants for the different models (Hardtop, Clubman, etc.) and even in different countries. All of these plants must have the parts in stock in time to keep the production line running. These parts must be designed, ordered, manufactured, assembled into sub-assemblies and shipped to the assembly plant in time to keep the lines moving. All this is done months in advance of a car being built on the assembly line. Typically, if an assembly line runs out of a particular part they will substitute another part to keep the line running, and different assembly plants may run out of the same part at different times. If there was a parts ordering mistake it could have been discovered way ahead of the production line point, but still too late to get the correct parts to the assembly plants. A decision could have been made to use what was already in process or the wrong parts that were already on order. This scenario would make sense with what others are being told by their dealers. We know they changed from a 2XA to a 2XC steering wheel for the JCW on the production lines in November; this change was shown to me to be in the process in July and started even sooner. However, none of this should make a difference in my situation since we received an email confirmation from Johnly Velazquez, Product Planning, MINI Product Specialist in Woodcliff Lake, NJ on 10/11/12 (after the bulletin in September) that the red-stitched steering wheel code 2XC would get paddle shifters if the car is equipped with an automatic. It says, and I quote:
“The red-stitched steering wheel will be option code 2XC”
“It will be standard on the JCW models”
“There is no separate option code for the red-stitched steering wheel with paddle shifters”
“If the car is equipped with an automatic, then it gets paddle shifters”
I signed a copy of the build sheet for my JCW Clubman with automatic transmission on 10/19/12 after receiving this confirmation. If MINI is planning a retrofit in the future, we can be sure that the assembly lines will take first priority for the parts so the retrofits may not be immediate.

I recently saw a 2013 JCW Roadster ordered with the 2XA steering wheel at the dealer and it has paddle shifters AND the JCW logo! Same thing on a 2013 JCW Clubman I saw online. I think this problem could have been created in the switch from a 2XA to a 2XC steering wheel. On my first build sheet in July, when ordering a “205 Steptronic Automatic Transmission” the build sheet program automatically added “2XA Sport Leather Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifters”. On my final build sheet that I signed in October, when the “205 Steptronic Automatic Transmission” was entered it did not generate any special steering wheel. I questioned why there were no details of the steering wheel when we were finalizing for the October 19th build sheet and received an email response on October 18th that said the steering wheel is standard and would not be listed on the build sheet per the email forwarded to me from MINI Product Specialist. If this was a program error by not specifying paddle shifters like the 2XA, there could also be an error in the parts ordering program.

We know that there must have been an error made since it’s obvious that the intention was to produce JCW automatic vehicles with paddle shifter steering wheels. It seems to me that the dealerships and MINI could be losing a lot of credibility unless they all just admit that there was a mistake, and offer to correct it. I can understand if someone buys a vehicle off the lot, it can be presented “as equipped”, but regardless of what happened, MINI should work to at least correct the vehicles for those of us that had special ordered them as represented with paddle shifters.
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]

 

Thanks for this information, but you aren’t telling us what this bulletin is about. It would be nice to get a copy to see exactly what it says, and if it gives any reasons for the paddle shifter snafu or decision to discontinue them for now. I too received my special order JCW Clubman without paddle shifters on December 13, 2012. I won’t get into the specifics of how this problem is being handled because I am still trying to give the dealer time to rectify it. I was offered a $250 compensation, but to me this paddler omission is almost as bad as ordering a manual transmission and getting it with the shifter on the column. I originally started my ordering process in July, but we held up the order to get the JCW leather steering wheel which supposedly started production in November under code 2XC. This made sense because a 2012 JCW I saw in July did not have a JCW script steering wheel.

For the last 15 years I have been restoring older cars to factory as-built standards as a hobby and have some knowledge as to how the production process works. I would imagine nowadays that all the component parts ordering is computer generated. Apparently MINI has several production plants for the different models (Hardtop, Clubman, etc.) and even in different countries. All of these plants must have the parts in stock in time to keep the production line running. These parts must be designed, ordered, manufactured, assembled into sub-assemblies and shipped to the assembly plant in time to keep the lines moving. All this is done months in advance of a car being built on the assembly line. Typically, if an assembly line runs out of a particular part they will substitute another part to keep the line running, and different assembly plants may run out of the same part at different times. If there was a parts ordering mistake it could have been discovered way ahead of the production line point, but still too late to get the correct parts to the assembly plants. A decision could have been made to use what was already in process or the wrong parts that were already on order. This scenario would make sense with what others are being told by their dealers. We know they changed from a 2XA to a 2XC steering wheel for the JCW on the production lines in November; this change was shown to me to be in the process in July and started even sooner. However, none of this should make a difference in my situation since we received an email confirmation from Johnly Velazquez, Product Planning, MINI Product Specialist in Woodcliff Lake, NJ on 10/11/12 (after the bulletin in September) that the red-stitched steering wheel code 2XC would get paddle shifters if the car is equipped with an automatic. It says, and I quote:
“The red-stitched steering wheel will be option code 2XC”
“It will be standard on the JCW models”
“There is no separate option code for the red-stitched steering wheel with paddle shifters”
“If the car is equipped with an automatic, then it gets paddle shifters”
I signed a copy of the build sheet for my JCW Clubman with automatic transmission on 10/19/12 after receiving this confirmation. If MINI is planning a retrofit in the future, we can be sure that the assembly lines will take first priority for the parts so the retrofits may not be immediate.

I recently saw a 2013 JCW Roadster ordered with the 2XA steering wheel at the dealer and it has paddle shifters AND the JCW logo! Same thing on a 2013 JCW Clubman I saw online. I think this problem could have been created in the switch from a 2XA to a 2XC steering wheel. On my first build sheet in July, when ordering a “205 Steptronic Automatic Transmission” the build sheet program automatically added “2XA Sport Leather Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifters”. On my final build sheet that I signed in October, when the “205 Steptronic Automatic Transmission” was entered it did not generate any special steering wheel. I questioned why there were no details of the steering wheel when we were finalizing for the October 19th build sheet and received an email response on October 18th that said the steering wheel is standard and would not be listed on the build sheet per the email forwarded to me from MINI Product Specialist. If this was a program error by not specifying paddle shifters like the 2XA, there could also be an error in the parts ordering program.

We know that there must have been an error made since it’s obvious that the intention was to produce JCW automatic vehicles with paddle shifter steering wheels. It seems to me that the dealerships and MINI could be losing a lot of credibility unless they all just admit that there was a mistake, and offer to correct it. I can understand if someone buys a vehicle off the lot, it can be presented “as equipped”, but regardless of what happened, MINI should work to at least correct the vehicles for those of us that had special ordered them as represented with paddle shifters.
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]

 

I too recently received a special order JCW automatic vehicle with no paddle shifters. I even had written confirmation from MINI before I ordered it that it WOULD have paddle shifters. I've been trying the past two days to post detailed information about how this transpired but it won't post for some reason. Feel free to email me if you'd like more detailed information.

 

Thanks for this information, but can you tell us what this September bulletin is about? It would be nice to get a copy to see exactly what it says, and if it gives any reasons for the paddle shifter snafu (as my salesperson called it) or decision to discontinue them for now. I had received written email confirmation from MINI in mid October that my special order JCW vehicle would come equipped with paddle shifters and it did not.

 

This to me indicates there was probably a parts shortage of the correct parts for the production line. Apparently MINI has several production plants for the different models (Hardtop, Clubman, etc.) and even in different countries. All of these plants must have the parts in stock in time to keep the production line running. These parts must be designed, ordered, manufactured, assembled into sub-assemblies and shipped to the assembly plant in time to keep the lines moving. All this is done months in advance of a car being built on the assembly line. Typically, if an assembly line runs out of a particular part they will substitute another part to keep the line running, and different assembly plants may run out of the same part at different times. If there was a parts ordering mistake it could have been discovered way ahead of the production line point, but still too late to get the correct parts to the assembly plants. A decision could have been made to use what was already in process or the wrong parts that were already on order, or whatever else was in stock at that assembly plant. This scenario would make sense with what others are being told by their dealers. If MINI is planning a retrofit in the future, we can be sure that the assembly lines will take first priority for the parts so the retrofits may not be immediate.

 

Greetings,

I too received my special order JCW Clubman without paddle shifters on December 13, 2012. I won’t get into the specifics of how this problem is being handled because I am still trying to give the dealer time to rectify it. I was offered $250 compensation, but to me this paddler omission is almost as bad as ordering a manual transmission and getting it with the shifter on the column. I originally started my ordering process in July, but we held up the order to get the JCW leather steering wheel (code 2XC) which supposedly started production in November. This made sense because a 2012 JCW I saw in July did not have a JCW script steering wheel. We know they changed from a 2XA to a 2XC steering wheel for the JCW on the production lines in November; this change was shown to me to be in the process in July and started even sooner. We received an email confirmation from Johnly Velazquez, Product Planning, MINI Product Specialist in Woodcliff Lake, NJ on 10/11/12 that the red-stitched steering wheel code 2XC would get paddle shifters if the car is equipped with an automatic. It says, and I quote:
“The red-stitched steering wheel will be option code 2XC”
“It will be standard on the JCW models”
“There is no separate option code for the red-stitched steering wheel with paddle shifters”
“If the car is equipped with an automatic, then it gets paddle shifters”
I signed a copy of the build sheet for my JCW Clubman with automatic transmission on 10/19/12 after receiving this confirmation.

I recently saw a 2013 JCW Roadster ordered with the 2XA steering wheel at the dealer and it has paddle shifters AND the JCW logo! Same thing on a 2013 JCW Clubman I saw online. I think this problem could have been created in the switch from a 2XA to a 2XC steering wheel. On my first build sheet in July, when ordering a “205 Steptronic Automatic Transmission” the build sheet program automatically added “2XA Sport Leather Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifters”. On my final build sheet that I signed in October, when the “205 Steptronic Automatic Transmission” was entered it did not generate any special steering wheel. I questioned my salesperson why there were no details of the 2XC steering wheel when we were finalizing for the October 19th build sheet and received an email response on October 18th that said the steering wheel is standard and would not be listed on the build sheet per the email forwarded to me from MINI Product Specialist. It seems to me that this could have been an error for the 2XC by not specifying paddle shifters like for the 2XA. The 2XC is standard on manual transmission cars but the automatic takes additional special equipment (paddle shifters).

I would imagine that all the component parts ordering for the MINI assembly plants is computer generated. There could also be an error in the parts ordering program, possibly somehow tied to the above, and resulting in no paddle shifter steering wheels in stock at the assembly plants in time for the production line. We know that there must have been an error made since it’s obvious that the intention was to produce JCW automatic vehicles with paddle shifter steering wheels. It seems to me that the dealerships and MINI could be losing a lot of credibility unless they all just admit that there was a mistake, and offer to correct it. I can understand if someone buys a vehicle off the lot, it can be disclosed to a buyer and presented “as equipped”, but regardless of what happened, MINI should work to at least correct the vehicles for those of us that had special ordered them as represented with paddle shifters.

 

MINI has one assembly plant for everything except the Countryman (which is built by Steyr in Austria). It seemed to be working on Just in Time parts suppling when we were there.

 

Btwyx: Thanks for the clarification about the assembly plants.

FYI everyone: I sent another short email to my dealer yesterday immediately after doing the forum postings and got a reply back in the afternoon which said:

"Today we received a preview of an internal bulletin that will be released Dec 31, 2012, that our colleagues in Germany are working with engineers on a retrofit for the (R5x) JCW Clubman, Hardtop, and Convertibles. They anticipate it will be implemented sometime in the first quarter of 2013. That is the most current update we have from MINI North America."

This now matches what some others are being told. Hopefully they are planning a as-factory built type retrofit and not some add-on.

 

I happened to be passing a MINI dealership in London, UK today. They had a 2013 JCW on the floor, conveniently with a September production date. I snapped a photo of a red stitching JCW wheel with paddles.



I'm eager to see the technical bulletin mentioned above. Maybe it will provide some insight as to why the US seems to be affected whereas UK was not (I asked the sales reps if they had heard of the issue), especially since there is only one factory.

 

I received my Coupe JCW AT last December 21st and it came with the paddle shifters. I am from Asia so it must be a US issue?

Hope you guys get a resolution to this soon.