So once MINI UK customer services realised that I didn't believe them that there was mysterious option, that they couldn't name, that doesn't appear on any options list a customer can see, that needs to be selected to get the blind ring with the JCW logo on they just kind of gave up. They've passed me back to my dealer, so I'll see where I get with them.

I really get the feeling that customer services aren't used to dealing with people who actually know what they are talking about and just expect people to be pacified by any old nonsense the churn out!

One more thing that adds to the mystery is that when I picked my car up there were two of the pins that hold the blind ring on (part number 4 in the diagram), in my cup holder.

 

I set mine do do the disco effects. Light colors change about every 3 seconds. The wife loves it. Never crass to amaze me.

 

Yep. Who would have thought that "Fuzzy Dice" could be superseded....I'm ordering a fur cover dash and getting a custom licence plate - "Disco Boy"....and maybe glitter ball dice too...

 

The word disco lights are not actually what I was looking to say here. I was at the dealer a few weeks ago and my salesman was asking me how much more I liked my 2015 JCW than my 2008 JCW I just sold. I said it was a little more refined than my '08. He also asked me if I liked the ability to change the light display in the ring. He showed me how to get it to change colors. I personally liked the RPM display but the wife liked the color changes. Guess who won? As far as fuzzy dice, like my last 3 JCW's they all stayed bone stock except for the K&N and Mobile 1 oil.

 

I'm being told there is an option called "547 Chrono Pack" that needs to be specified to get the JCW blind ring (it's £140 in the UK).

I'm 95% sure this pack did not exist when I ordered my car.

Edit- For what it's worth I ordered my car in May.

 

So the "COCKPIT CHRONO PACKAGE" has recently appeared on the UK JCW website configurator, this matches the £140 price I was told by my dealer. On the website selecting this option does not appear to change anything on the car (it has the JCW ring if it is selected or not) and in the description it says "No description available.".

Searching on-line I have come across a description of the Cockpit Chrono Package on the minif56 forum from some dealer documentation, it describes the 3 analogue instruments behind the steering wheel and makes no mention of the blind ring. I couldn't have specified this option as I have the HUD.

So once again the combined power of MINI and my dealer are unable to give me a straight answer as to what has happened.

(Sorry for the long post but you guys are the only people who seem to know what they are talking about and help me feel like I'm not going nuts!)

 

Don't forget those curb feelers!

 

Prior to ordering our JCW I went around lots of UK dealers and saw around 20 new JCWs in a lot of colours and combinations. Not one of them had the chrono pack, but every single one had the JCW blind ring.

 

I was just wondering something else about the JCW blind ring. Is it just the glossy black but that's different on the JCW?

The reason I ask is that the picture earlier in this thread appears to show little silvery notches just inside the led ring too. Is this on all Minis these days, cause my current March 2014 F56 Cooper doesn't have these?

 

I've just been to have a look at mine and it doesn't have the silver notches on, but the blind ring piece includes the transparent part that goes over the LED ring, so I assume the silver bits are part of the JCW ring (well for those who are lucky enough to know the super secret option you need to select to get it )

Oh and same as you I've never seen another JCW (in real life or magazine reviews) that doesn't have the JCW ring. Although my dealer swears all of there's have had the plain ring I've never seen one.

 

Oddly it appears that in the very first JCW press shots the car has a plain blind ring:

http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-ga...d-info-news#14

 

So, another update in my blind ring saga. So after I pointed out to them they were totally wrong about the chrono pack the dealer have gone back to saying it's because I specced piano black interior. In a 'good will' gesture to get me to go away the dealer have said they are going to take the JCW blind ring off their senior salesman's car and put it on mine.

The thing is I'm 99% sure they are wrong about the piano black thing, I mean there is a picture of a JCW with the JCW blind ring and piano black on their own server!

http://sytner.alerts.images.neon.ser...ht=0&crop=auto

If any of you folks have a piano black interior in your JCW and could take a picture that shows the trim and the blind ring in one shot for me I'd really appreciate it! I want to get enough evidence to convince them to find out what really went wrong.

 

Sounds like you needed to tick the box on option NHO, which ensures that your JCW will be assembled by folks that are Not Hung Over from a weekend bender.

 

or maybe the box NLSA - No Late Shift Assembly. After all the plant runs 24/7...

 

That one, too.

I have to say, though, that the fact that there were two of the retaining pins in the OP's cupholder makes me wonder if someone wasn't doing a bit of "unauthorized parts trading" when nobody was watching.

 

I'm totally with you on this. I would be looking for confirmation from the factory that the wrong part was fitted and a brand new (not removed from another car) JCW blind ring. It would then be up to you if and when you choose to fit it.

 

Here's MY 2016 JCW. Has the JCW ring and the Piano Black accents. Hope this helps.

 

I think you've nailed it here. If you've watched the production/tour/plant videos you learn enough to know that each car gets precisely the exact number of each part it needs to be built. The plant workers who built your gauge have probably built thousands before it...they don't just 'accidentally' grab 4 pins instead of 2.

I guess now I'm obligated to go make a new member/one on order post.

 

I called my dealer and they want over $70 US for the plain ring. Where did you see the part for 36 shipped?

 

ECS Tuning.

 

Thanks. Also found the door lock cover plate that was just stolen off of my car. Sheesh, 32 bucks for a 1 inch piece of plastic??

 

65509354400 right here:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/65509354400/


&


F56 JCW version : 65509338327 Non Navigation version / wired

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/65509338327/





F56 JCW version 65509338328 is for navigation / wired and not out yet.

 

So I've just picked up my UK spec JCW with Piano Black interior and it doesn't have the JCW blind ring! So during hand over I asked my salesman about this and right away he knew exactly what I was talking about. He said there had been a memo from Mini a short while ago saying the supply shortages meant some cars were having the regular blind ring fitted. He wasn't sure when it would return to normal or what plans Mini had to add the correct part later. This kind of leaves a dilemma, as while I prefer it without the JCW markings, a JCW without the markings doesn't look quite right.

 

Thanks for the info, did not know about the supply shortage for the UK part.

 

Just a heads up on this. If the Mini configurator shows the JCW ring on your countries website they have to supply you with one.....no question., shortage or not.