Classic doesn't do too well with e-mail. Best to call them.

http://www.driveclassicmini.com/

 

Jason is the NAM contact at Classic for discounted parts (just ask for the NAM discount) phone 440-585-9950 or email bmwparts@driveclassic.com

They show no JCW wheels available in the US now, so your best bet may be to order from the UK, http://www.minigenuineparts.co.uk is where I purchased mine a month or so ago.

 

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm saving up my nickels, dimes, and quarters!

 

Just to update this thread, I added paddle shifters to my JCW Wheel on my 2010 Clubman S.


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3106105

 

Thats cool - nicely done

 

So, the stock '05 MCS 3-spoke wheel is not leather? It sure feels like it! What about the bottom half of the stock shift ****--same stuff...leather, or no? I know the stock e-brake handle is textured rubber and extremely cheap-feeling...that's definitely not leather...

Arguments about stitching and thickness aside, is the leather on the all-leather JCW wheel of better quality than that (or whatever it is) of the stocker?

FWIW, the best-feeling wheel I ever laid my paws on was a Japan-market (JDM) FD RX-7 "Efini" wheel. It was somewhat similar to the USDM FD ('93~'95) RX-7's wheel, except the leather was a little nicer in how it was stitched and perforated at the 9 and 3 positions, and it had no airbag. The best thing was how it felt in your hands...it was almost sexual.

 

Can ANYONE verify this claim?? It sure would be nice to know if my '05 R53's stock 3-spoke wheel is leather or not! (I wouldn't put it past those crafty Germans to go through the trouble of stitching multiple pieces of high quality vinyl together--with actual real stitching--to look and feel just like leather...but with many times the durability.)

 

Necro-Revive of a thread here ...

Curious... With all the shops doing great recovers to these specs and materials or better... and my complete disinterest in "is it genune?" types of questions .....

Has anyone had an original OE JCW R53 steering wheel leather or leather/alcan cover off of the wheel?

Is the standard pleather wheel under the new stitched on cover?...That's what it looks like to me from photos??

On the aftermarket Recovered wheels, like the offerings from Dallas, Wheel-Guy, Guardian-designs ... Are they a stitched on re-covered standard MCS wheel??
OR... Are they stripped down to the frame and built back up again....(I know the flat bottom/top and CF wheels are 're-moulded' over stripped modified stock steering-wheel-armatures.

There are plenty of really nice wheel cover mfgs out there for the DIY'r... and if careful... can be done to top quality std. ... OR... have one of the many AM companies provide a wheel and no core charge for around $600 all in.

 

Wow - 12 years between posts!

Good questions. I too am interested in the answers.

 

I'm pretty sure that the JCW and GP1/2 wheels are simply re-covered Standard steering wheels.

.

 

I bought an Alcantara cover from Redline several years ago and like it. Agree with several posts above, a thicker wheel with some added 'squish' feels much better. The idea was from a thread on this site so thumbs up to those posting nice mods for Mini's.

 

There are some very good quality, high end leather stitch on wheel covers out there.... with patience, factory, or better results can be had
.... with the benefit of a 'fatter' grip too !!

There are now a lot of aftermarket companies that re-stitch new covers onto 'standar' Mini cores ... and some that modify the wheels for flat top/bottoms as well... a patient and semi-handy DIY'r can get similar results for the round wheels IMO.

.

 

One of the first changes that I made to my Mini.
This is my first car with ANY...sort of air-bags (old American car guy !). And that big ol pillow in the center of the steering wheel was NOT in my plans.

Here's the one that I used. Rubber covered, not any fancy easy to get dirty cover ! Smaller in diameter, (13.75") than stock too.


Mike