Apologies for the double post - just realized I had posted it in the wrong section.

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?

I just spoke with the shop, and they said that an alignment is needed - I don't see why that would be the case. They said they'll make it right, but it sounds like the only way to do it is to remove the wheel...

Thanks in advance!

 

i had the same issue when i'd installed incorrectly ages ago.
it wasn't an alignment issue. it's an easy installation and you should be able to do it.
my issue was that the hub or steering column wasn't completely straight prior to installing the wheel..if your wheel was straight when you bought it in, then their reasoning is BS.

 

think about it this way. when you take off the wheel and the steering column/rack is not completely straight and then installing the wheel while column is at an angle, but you install the wheel as if it's straight when you turn the wheels straight it will be at an angle which is what you're experiencing. hope that makes sense.

 

Absolutely. My concern is I do not have a torque wrench to ensure it is properly torqued when I reinstall - wanted it to be done right with such a critical component!

I thought that it was BS too - just weird that they didn't see it that way.

 

I guess it might be different for the 1st gens, but on the R56, there is a red line that gets matched up on both the wheel and the hub. It would be nearly impossible to NOT align it properly, assuming the 1st gens are the same...

 

If you are worried about removing the wheel again for possible damage, a front end alignment is the other option to correct your problem. When a frontend alignment is done they will adjust the toe end to center your steering wheel.

 

just go to an autozone and you can borrow a torque wrench. or bring it back . they messed up the install.

 

Was the other wheel straight when you dropped it off?

 

Yep, it was dead-on straight.

 

Interesting - that might not be a bad option. I could ask them to align it instead of removing the steering wheel again.

That said, will it change anything in terms of the lock-to-lock centering? I know the DIY says to be careful of that...

 

Just posted this in your other thread:

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.

 

It takes 30 min to install a wheel. It is super easy. They or you should fix it. But yes you will get pin holes. There is no way around that because you need to remove the airbag. You won't need to unplug it for what you are doing. But you will need to remove the airbag to remove the bolt rotate the wheel a notch or 2 and then re tighten.

 

Jasmcs realignment should not change your lock to lock. If it was mine and I didn't want to put more holes in the wheel then I would get it aligned. Hope this helps

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Alignment seems like the way to go so they don't puncture holes in the brand new wheel - I think they should cover this cost.

I have an appointment to drop it off first thing on Monday morning!

Thanks again!

 

seriously though, are there no alignment marks on the first gen steering wheels? it seems awfully drastic getting an alignment to correct an improper steering wheel installation. i mean, its only ONE bolt.

 

There are / there are marks on the wheel and the spline. If you mate them up then you should be fine. I would imagine what happened is they took the wheel off when the wheels on the ground weren't straight. After - they put the wheel back on "straight"'ignoring the marks. It is not keyed - so very easy to do.

Sloppy work - but putting and taking off a steering wheel is easy and hard to get wrong. Just make sure battery is disconnected (wait 15 minutes.,, I waited 30)... There is a DIY on the net for 2 spike to 3 spoke which is spot on.

 

Its on the spline at the bottom, a little mark , punch line. Sometimes hard to see.

 

Not just one bolt... don't forget the two holes they will need to make in the brand new $300+ steering wheel. Yes, they're tiny and on the backside, but to some people it's not acceptable.

Besides, alignments should be checked periodically. Just because your steering wheel is centered, it doesn't mean your alignment is good. Most places have a different rate to check your alignment before actually getting one done so it wouldn't hurt to see if you need an alignment anyway before removing the wheel.

Another option would be to try and get the dealer to replace the wheel with a brand new unit for their mistake.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ion-issue.html

 

what are the 2 holes that need to be put on the back? I certainly didn't have to do anything like that on my 2nd gen. Must be something they changed between models.

 

To remove the airbag there are two access holes on the backside of the steering wheel. These are completely covered when the wheel is new. To remove the wheel you have to poke holes in the leather/vinyl to release the airbag. If you reuse the wheel, it now has holes in it. I believe this is on all MINI's.

Did you R&R the same wheel, or did you replace the wheel?

 

on 2nd gens, the airbag access hole is on the bottom. just 1 hole, and it is freely open, part of the plastic airbag housing/center cover. i replaced my stock wheel with another gen 2 stock wheel i recovered with a custom leather cover from Redline Goods

 

Didn't realize it was different on the second gen wheels. I did just remember you have the awesome wheel and interior in your MINI. I still haven't ordered my wheel skin. I'm waiting for my seats to come to match the color of the inserts.

 

Yep Gen 1 wheel from the top, see those press clips for the springs. Gen 2 its a single hole in the bottom, presses on the main clip spring. Also disconnect the battery fully if you mess with the airbag , otherwise you will get an airbag light.

 

you might want to order the color samples from Redline now, since they take like 2 weeks to get in from Poland. what seats are you waiting on? custom covered or MINI oem?