anyone taken the oem steering wheel and cut the bottom half circle and converted it to a squared bottom design - similar to this one from audi. this way you keep the oem functions on the steering wheel and the airbag.

 

Oh man dude! You've read my mind. I've been wanting to do something like that since the bottom of the steering wheel is always up on my knee. (I have a Gen 1 steering wheel). What would it take to do that? A table saw? You should do it and see how it turns out. or someone should photo shop it to see what it looks like.

 

Absent finding one made that way, I would not reccomend anyone doing such a mod.....

Difference is, the Audi one is a factory steering wheel.

Modifying OEM MINI steering wheel not designed that way is asking for trouble should you ever get in an auto accident.......

Just ask and bottom feeding ambulance chasing attorney.........

 

i can't believe that someone hasnt fabricated something with an oem wheel. i'd imagine it would sell like crazy. as for me and a table saw - this is definitely one of those things where it'd be best for me to support the economy and someone else's skills! repairing the human body - right up my alley - playing with electric saws - i'd rather it be an observational exercise!

 

Could minor modification of the steering wheel void insurance if you were to get into an accident? I'm not going against what your saying, but I'm just curious. Isn't adding a steering wheel cover, or adding felt to the multifunction steering wheel covers considered modifying the OEM MINI steering wheel's design?

 

It is a great idea for running around Lyme Rock Park, but probably not good idea for general street driving.

Adding covers sold by the tens of thousands over the years is really not the same as altering the structural integrity and shape of a steering wheel designed by the factory.

It is just my opinion one would be asking for trouble. Given then chance, any auto insurance company will void their responsibiltiy and make you culpable...

Remember, in civil cases like that, they need only to tip the scales of justice ever so slightly in their favor to win. It is not proof beyond resonable doubt.

I think Nate ( Natster ) moved his controls to his dash for the cruise control and stereo and added a MOMO. That would be the best way to go IMO but then there's the issue of no air bag.....

A can of worms this is.

 

What are the chances of retrofitting another company's OEM steering wheel to the MINI?

 

i'd speculate the air bag would still be an issue...and maybe the controls.

however, regarding a modification affecting structural integrity - certainly if it was a low tech gunning for darwin awards kind of a mod to change the round bottom to squared. however, in the hands of an alta or m7 , etc could mean a structurally intake oem-like modification. perhaps this is something that has been considered but deemed too expensive to bring to market????

 

What structural significance is the steering wheel exactly? If you are in an accident the airbag comes out and you hit that. Regardless of the steering wheel shape.

Not to mention that if it is structurally weaker it will hurt less when you hit it.

 

 

And what Audi is this? That interior is amazing!

 

Over in the UK, my insurers confirmed that swapping the steering wheel for a non airbag after market version would not incur an additional premium and impact my ability to claim in the event of an accident.

 

Beautiful interior i agree

I think thats the Audi TT-S

 

I...must...push...orange...BUTTON!

 

it was an audi TT interior pix. my friend's 07 tt is beautiful (that's not a pix from his) and the steering wheel was the first thing i noticed when he first bought it. it's obviously a silly thing to get excited about, but then again in the never ending quest to personalize/customize our cars it's very desirable.

i'm surprised that it's not an option either through mini or again that no one is fabricating oem versions with the square bottom.

 

Air bag,oooh, wouldn't want to remove that, thats the reason i sold my 2 old Corvettes and getting ready to get rid of my wife's 69 Roadrunner,no air bag,we're scared to drive them without air bags, i shutter to think about the classic Mini's running the Dragon with out airbags. But i guess the now generation grew up on air bags so therefore they can't drive without them.Anyway fwiw,i'm looking to replace my wheel with a Momo or a Sparco after i get the diode thing figured out.

 

That's the A3 TDI Clubsport Concept

 

The steering wheel is cool, but I'd love to have that shift gate in my car

 

to do such a mod you would need to re-wrap the ring in leather again because after you saw that chunk out you would be left with a tore up wheel lol buttt yeah i think the diff with the audi and what i think youre speaking of is the audi has the brushed aluminum piece which yes is squared off however its still there keeping the integrity of the steering wheel ....cutting that off of the OEM mini wheel you would be left with a big gap likely not a clean looking steering wheel unless you can re-wrap and stitch like a pro and plus in an accident i see the steering wheel impaling something somewhere lol

 

That would be my main concern. Airbags only remain inflated for a fraction of a second after deployment, so a severe-enough secondary impact could still drive you into the steering wheel. If all you do is cut the bottom part out of the factory wheel, you'll have two exposed metal bar-ends hiding underneath any cosmetic cover you replace the section with.

Now, if you were to strip off the factory steering wheel cover and padding, and re-shape or replace the metal frame, you could end up with something in the shape that you want while still being structurally sound.

 

V difficult as the steering wheel inside frame is cast magnesium.

 

Is there an aftermarket wheel shaped like that that either incorporates an airbag or fits the MINI factory bag?

 

don't believe so. any of the aftermarket ones leave you without the airbag.

i'd think, given the race-inspired history of the car and the size of the cockpit (think about how that squared off wheel would help some the taller MINI drivers...) that this isn't either an option through MINI or an aftermarket component that preserves airbag and steering wheel controls. hmmmmm, maybe i'm not supposed to make my mark in the operating room, but instead in the MINI world by creating and selling the things that MINI overlooked. gee, i shoulda taken shop in high school instead of all those science classes!