So I just installed the JCW Leather & Alcantara wheel onto my 07 MCSC. Wow, what a great improvement over the stock, hard vinyl wheel. The JCW is as nice (maybe nicer) than the M Sport steering wheel I installed years ago in my X5.

Anyway, as a result of the install, the driver airbag warning light is now on. I'm going to live with it for a while and hope it goes out. Is this something that will require a trip to the $tealer so they can reset it--or is it possible that I might get lucky and it will go out at some point soon?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

i did a Canadian leather (paddle shifted) steering wheel swap on my R50. I had the airbag light coming on and off periodically after i did the swap. It stopped doing it after about a month of having the new steering wheel on.

 

Believe it or not, MINI says the stock wheel is "genuine leather". It has been so processed with chemicals that it certainly does feel like vinyl.

 

Did you disconnect the battery before you did your install? I installed my new JCW alcantara wheel last weekend (brought from Sewell Parts - great guys to deal with) but I already had the airbag light on from a seat change last year . . I'll eventually go to the dealer with it, but Seattle Mini will probably quote me an arm and a leg to switch it off / investigate the problem

 

Yup. Didn't want to mess with the airbag while it was still powered.


Ummm, seriously, there is not a bit of leather in that wheel I just removed. They can call it what they want, but I'm not buying it.