...right in my hands. It sounds strange but it is happening. I have a 2004 MC with the Premium Package. I started to notice a stickiness on the left side of the wheel, where I usually hold it, as my right hand is shifting. Then I put The Club on for a couple of days and it 'smeared' and impression on the wheel. It looks like it actually melted. Is it heat...this is Miami. Is it UV rays... the ozone is depleting. I dont know.

 

Is this leather wrapped? My leather wrapped 03 MFSW peeled and was just replaced yesterday when I went in for servicing.

 

Hey fellow Miamimanian

First of all, you should not be using a club in your MINI's steering wheel because based on prior experience, these bulky anti-theft devices (Which now days don't really deter any willing car thieves) have a tendency to make nasty marks on the plastic steering wheel surface and badly scuff the leather wrapping of the wheel.

Also consider that you steering wheel came with leather wrapping and it needs the same level of care as your real leather seats. Get a pack of Meguiar's Leather wipes and make sure to clean and condition the leather wrapping in your steering wheel. These wipes have specially formulated leather conditioners, cleaners and UV protectant lotions to help prevent scuffing and cracking of your steering wheel (It also helps to use a sunshade to cover the dashboard and steering wheel when the car is parked outside. I highly recommend the original MINI accessory sunshade at your dealer's parts dept).

Some people have very sweaty hand palms and the sweat itself tends to degrade the consistency of the leather so this one of the main reasons why it is so important to clean and condition your steering wheel cover as often as necessary.

My '04 MCS with 12,100 miles looks brand new inside and out, including the leather steering wheel wrapping. (And it is parked under the HOT Miami sun 365/24/7)

 

The leather on the stock wheel does have a history of "bubbling" which may well resemble the "melting" you describe. I've had two replaced under warranty for this condition in 23K miles and have since had the sport wheel fitted. The dealer should take care of it without any problems.

 

I must be doing something right, because the leather wrapped steering MFSW of our '02 Cooper CVT still looks brand new after 25K miles and 2 years of daily use.

 

Seems it affects only a certain population. Might be the way we grip our wheels, or the oil or sweat from our skin, etc. I've got a rubber steering wheel cover I use now to protect my wheel. Makes it thicker, but feels more like a gocart. I put it on to prevent further damage, and removed it for replacement, and it's back on again for good. LOL.

 

It was interesting to read this since I am having a "melting" problem in a couple of tother cars. At the bottom of the drink holder in my daughter's car is some spare change permanently welded to the plastic - method unknown. (2003 Honda Element) In my wife's car, there is a depressed area under the emergengy brake handle where the plastic seems to be dissolving and melting into a pool of glop. (2001 Passat) Quite frankly, I think all the plastics they use nowadays will melt or dissolve or evaporate or dissappear under the right circumstances. Soda, coffee, Scotch, who knows?

 

Hey JoeDentist--
somebody in your family must be a hot tamale--mmmmmeltdownnn!

 

Leather or not, it should still pass the automotive storage temperature of 95C sustained for 1000hours or 105C to 120C accelerated.

 

My original leather wheel began peeling and bubbling earlier in the year (starting at the Dragon Run - I wonder why? ) and was replaced under warranty. I noticed that the replacement wheel has a flat, 'real leather' finish compared to the original wheel which apparently had a sealer applied to the leather. I think the sealer was an attempt to keep the leather from wearing and discoloring from skin oils. Good in theory, lacking in practice. The original wheel stayed cleaner.

Looks like the replacement wheel will need more care that the first.

 

My palms don't tend to sweat to much in the MINI,it just feels to"RIGHT"
After almost 30k miles looks like new

 

Dang it, just washed my car today and forgot to condition the steering wheel.

Must remember to do this after work tomorrow (along with cleaning the windows again...).

 

Do you regularly use any lotions containing acids of any kind, hand, face or otherwise? Rx creams? Your in FL, how about sunscreens, do you use them regularly? Any of the following mixed with sweety palms can pretty much eat through leather.

 

I am a former Miami Miniac transfered to Tampa and I have the same problem in the same place. I am skeptical if the material in question is actually "leather"... it looks to me like a fake spray-on leather coating over dense foam. The material under the "melting" or "peeling" or "whatever" doesn't look like any type of leather I have ever seen.

I am going to take Sparky over to Ferman ASAP for his 25k mile service and I have a laundry list of quirks and problems to get looked at.

Good Luck! -J

 

stop using the club the mini has a coded ignition and is near impossible to steal same as beemers

 

This will sound crazy, but beer drinkers often have this problem.
Serously!

 

My steering wheel had a strange bubble at about the 12:00 o'clock position that then "popped" leaving a nasty "wound". I thought that I might have done something wrong to cause this. I am both relieved and concerned to here that this is not an isolated problem. I will be contacting my dealer tomarrow, hope it goes well. Btw ... the seats are not holding up that well either :(