Hi All,

I just had a local indy MINI shop perform the swap to install the JCW Leather/Alcantara wheel on my R53. What an amazing feeling!

Unfortunately, I noticed on the drive home that the steering wheel is not completely straight. It's off by a few degrees - nothing major, but still enough to be highly irritating.

Is there an easy way to get this fixed, or does the wheel have to come off and the installation re-done? I worry that they'll have to remove the wheel, and pierce the pin hole in the process. Would an alignment take care of this, or would that worsen the issue?

Thanks in advance!

 

most likrely the wheel has to come off. poking the holes is no big deal. You'll never notice.

 

I agree, would be best to remove and reinstall the steering wheel..

 

Check with an alignment place to see how far off your alignment is, and if centering your wheel is outside the range of adjustment. Centering the wheel is part of the alignment process. If they tell you your wheel is so far off it needs to be re-installed, then go back to the dealer to have them correct it before getting the car aligned.

 

Check the wheel, most likely they did not place it to match the bottom tick mark on the spline.

Gen 1 R50 R52 R53

JCW Leather Alcantara Steering Wheel 32300403545

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/32300403545/




See the little mark> Should line up with the mark on the spline.

 

Can you reuse the R53 airbag with it or do you need a new one?

How easy is it to buy the buttons for them?

Thanks.

James

 

You will need the 3 spoke airbag, and if you have a 7/2004+ three spoke wheel the front pads and the airbag swap.

 

Let me just get this straight, mine is a September 2004 R53 so the current airbag in the 2 spoke will swap out directly and there is a kit with wiring to make the 10 buttons on front work? What is the right JCW 3 spoke wheel to use, can the newest 2014 model steering wheels work?

Remind me where the kit is to retrofit, there are so many sites that I forget where the JCW steering wheel and retrofit kit are at.

 

Let me just get this straight, mine is a September 2004 R53 so the current airbag in the 2 spoke will swap out directly and there is a kit with wiring to make the 10 buttons on front work?

Remind me where the kit is to retrofit, there are so many sites that I forget where the JCW steering wheel and retrofit kit are at.

 

You are in Australia correct, Think they had the two spoke go further in the 2005 year.

I know this for the US cars :


If you have the two spoke wheel and go to the three spoke,

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...g-wheel-2.html


Wire harness for the three spoke : connection line. Airbag for three spoke ( we currently don't carry them ) and three spokes steering pads. Key pads left and right , then the center lower pad ( blank ).


http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-Cooper-R53-S-Coupe-L4_1.6L_W11B16A/Interior/Steering/