Hi, just wondering if anyone who was affected by this has visited their dealer yet and got their paddle shifters retrofitted?

I am going to have mine done in a week and hopefully they'll know what their doing.

 

There is a campaign on this, all dealers have the data and kits should be on hand. Even if you are not a paddle shifter driver, I would get this done anyways.

 

My Coupe' was one that didn't have paddles when I picked it up. It took 7 months to get it retro fitted. The dealer did a great job, I can't tell that there is any differance than from the factory.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Just out of interest - do you R56 owners need a new steering wheel when you get the paddle shifters retrofitted?

 

Good question Noonzio. We were supposed to get a leather steering wheel from the factory but got some hard-plastic wheel instead w/o the paddle shifters. I kinda doubt that they'll swap it for a leather one when they do the retrofit (probably too costly).

I wrote to MINI and asked about the leather steering wheel but haven't heard back yet. Will keep everyone posted.

Also, could anyone who had the retrofit done already let us know if they changed the steering wheel?

 

But surely they'll need to replace the wheel either way, since the paddle shifters will require a 'cut-out' in the back of the wheel? I'm just about to fit a JCW alcantara wheel into my R53 MCSa . . and will be doing the retro-fit paddle cut outs

 

Oh okay. I will know more in approx. two weeks when it's done.

Good luck with your retro-fit project Noonzio.

 

Retro-fit failed - the internal metal structure of the JCW wheel is not the same as the stock wheel from the MCSa, so its not possible (for me anyway) to drill holes so that the paddle shifters can be mounted in the correct place / at the correct angle. Unfortunate really, as the JCW wheel was my favorite mod on my manual R53 and I was looking forward to having it on the new automatic R53

 

Oh Man. That sucks. I am so sorry.

 

Hello,
I'm trying to add the paddle shifters to my Countryman Cooper, I have everything I need except one part that was used in the missing paddle kit. I can order it but I need a vin number from one of the vehicles that had this done. I'm asking if anyone with one of those vehicles can either order the part for me, or call my parts guy with the vin so I can get the part or simply let me use their vin.

Thanks in advance guys, please contact PM here or email jimholewka at hotmail dot com

Cheers
Mr. Jim