Ok that makes me feel better. Im still going to see if the dealer will swap it out for me if it comes that way. If they wont budge, how much is the black grille?

 

Well, make sure that the grille comes installed correctly from factory first. Mine wasn't so they had to replace the actual grille and the lower trim piece. The lower trim wouldn't latch into the grille on the driver's side (I'll upload a picture later). I told them to order the black trim and I'd pay for the upper part. Ended up costing me less than $43 after tax. You can get both pieces from outmotoring (and elsewhere) for $70 or $75. I don't know what a dealer would charge, but it's probably comparable.

Personally, I'm glad I made the swap.

 

I'll be doing the same thing on Friday probably!

I'll make the original post less confusing about the red stitching.

 

Didn't this package come with JCW door sills as well? Is that still included?

 

The sills are a part of the aero kit, so yes.

 

What he said

 

Man that looks good!

 

I hope the chrome line interior goes well with the red stitching

 

Everything goes well with red stitching!

 

For future reference, here's what the incorrectly installed grille trim looks like:


(Ignore the grime... it's been a dreary weekend on the east coast)

 

I added the last part of an email between my MINI Dealership and MINIUSA discussing this issue. I was forwarded a long chain of emails between the Sales Manager, BMW North American and MINI USA.

Confirmed by MINIUSA.. No paddle shifters for automatic!

I can't wait for MINI to send me one of those surveys... although if I haven't already raised up a big enough stink with them I love the car but the ordering process and mistakes from the Configurator to the parts specs to what can actually be ordered to what is ordered and shows up... the process is extremely flawed.

 

no paddle shifters!

 

I would go ape sh*t w/o the paddle shifters. and not to be an *** the red stitching on only the steering wheel looks out of place. Wow talk about cut backs at mini

 

you inspired me to send an email as well. I am going to try and get the black grille before it leaves the distribution center because I'm pretty sure my dealer isnt going to do anything about it. The customer is always right...right??

Anyway Im going to get the black grille even if I have to order it and bring it with me the day I buy it.

 

Nick, you need to make a big stink about this. Aesthetics are aesthetics, but no paddles is a fundamental difference in your driving experience. If it's not in the literature that you forfeit them with the JCW package, they essentially "took" them from you without any sort of warning. (If I remember correctly, I thought they actually implied you forfeited the JCW wheel with the auto -- but I don't remember where I saw that.) MINIUSA should work with your dealer make it right. Get screenshots and whatever literature you can ASAP, put your love for the car aside while dealing with them, and be the squeaky wheel.

The red stitching actually looks great in the car. However, if I had an auto, I'd trade it in a heartbeat for paddle shifters. I'm not really sure how it has anything to do with cutbacks, though.

Well, don't get ahead of yourself... I haven't seen a car with the JCW Package yet that has had the grille installed correctly. I'm 3 for 3. Also, all JCW aero kits get the chrome now, even factory JCWs, so I suspect your pleas will fall on deaf ears. Can't hurt to try, though.

 

The red stitching actually looks great in the car. However, if I had an auto, I'd trade it in a heartbeat for paddle shifters. I'm not really sure how it has anything to do with cutbacks, though.


cut backs meaning that when only two things are done to the interior... wow red stitching on steering wheel and parking break, and no paddle shifters when you get the auto and no black molding around the grille...that means cut backs!

 

I chalk it up to poor choices by someone in design. No engineer would choose a fancy wheel over paddles.

 

Yea... my dealership is having a "New Owner Clinic" tomorrow.. MA actually said I should come because he thinks so far I know more about the MINI than anyone there and I could be of some help... however.. I'm pretty sure I'll be going in and having a nice talk with him.. and having him get me in touch directly with someone from MINI USA. I'm going to try to get them to either finish off my red stitching or get me my paddles back... or... SOMETHING.

Although I'm not sure what I'm missing with paddles, I've been using the "slapstick" automanual shift and I enjoy it just fine.

 

when doing 95+ it is best to keep you hands on the wheel when shifting...of course only on the track!. I have the paddle shift and it great at high speeds and going around corners. + it comes in the price of the auto tranny. Give them HELL

 

So... what'd they offer to pay you for this service?

+1000

 

Hopefully paddle shift!

 

But that was a change made without notice to the consumer. Aside from the fact that the mini configurator was not updated to reflect these changes. Where is a person to know these things? no fine print, no disclaimer. Thats like changing my headlamps to black housing without notice. Understandably the remedy is a bit easier in this case but unacceptable nonetheless. To someone like me it makes a huge difference and I shouldnt have to pay for the change.

Btw im not arguing with you at all here, just simply stating how I feel and how I would explain it to someone at MINI.

 

Just sent my MA a long e-mail, I will be getting some contact info for MINIUSA from them and I will be bringing up all the points made in this thread.



If they're cutting costs.. how about getting rid of the flash drive they include with every MINI.. all the videos included in it are online already anyway.

 

Note that the JCW wheel can be modified to accept paddle shifters.


I have a writeup on this. I did encounter one problem and it's been addressed. The lack of wire guides in the JCW wheel caused the paddle shifter wire insulation to wear away from the airbag causing random shifts to occur.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-shifters.html

 

The configurator doesn't even have the aero kit correct. It still has it in the JCW accessories, indicating its dealer installed, not factory installed like it really is now. And it says JCW aero kit Cooper S for some reason. And has a price of $2100, which is wrong cause it's $1500 since April1.

Its like they don't want anyone to order the aero kit so they don't show it accurately on there.