If your vehicle inquiry report lists both - then you have both of them.

 

The MA should be calling for you - not you making the call. Not much of an MA if you ask me.

 

man i wish i could get my mini earler. whell what is done is done.

 

Just for the record:

I'm very optimistic that an answer will be provided and slightly optimistic it will be satisfactory.

I'm not a MINI rep and I don't think one would say the 60 Minutes line.

If adding the MFSW is that hard they should have designed the wiring to have made it easier. It just an interface to other systems. It's not like they need a servo or more sensors like in an older car.

I think it will be hard for us to be united on a common solution as we all seem to have different preferences. Our only common is we MAY not get what we want, when we want, for the price we want.

 

I received an email from MINI USA that was very apologetic and helpful. I believe there will be a solution, and was told that an email will be sent shortly detailing what it is.

On the MFSW to non-MFSW cars, it could be done on the R53, and I believe it will be the same on the R56. I think that is what MINI is looking at right now.

I'll be sure to post any info I get.

This was a mistake, but I think MINI is really doing their best to solve it, and I'm optimistic it will be done to our satisfaction...

Randy

 

Please add my name to the list. I received this email from MiniUSA in response to my email regarding my car's build:

Hi Joe,
Thanks for writing MINI. We appreciate your inquiry.
Unfortunately, it looks like your MINI was built without the multi-function steering wheel. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience this causes. I am currently researching the situation with your multi-function steering wheel further and will be in touch shortly with more information. In the meantime, I have listed the options we show for your MINI below.

Cooper S
Mellow Yellow
Cloth Checkered Carbon Black
Cold Weather Package
Heated mirrors and washer jets
Heated front seats
Sport suspension
Sports leather steering wheel
16" alloy wheels, bridge spoke
Limited slip differential
Comfort Access System
Roof and mirror caps in white
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Xenon headlights
Automatic air conditioning
If there are further questions I can assist with, please feel free to drop me an e-mail. I will be happy to lend a hand.
LET'S MOTOR.
Meg Brown
MINI Customer Relations and Services
Representative
866.ASK.MINI (275-6464)


-----Original Message-----
From: graphicjoe@comcast.net
Sent: 2/5/2007 12:00:00 AM
To: mini.assistance@askminiusa.com
Subject: Questions about our cars
First name: Joe
Last name: Stephenson
question/comment:
I have ordered a 2007 Cooper S. On the order I specified the Leather Sport Steering Wheel w/Multifunction. The build number is 3548704 and the VIN is. WMWMF73587TL85233. I understand that cars with this specification are being built w/out the Multifunction feature.
Please verify that my car will indeed have the steering wheel as ordered.
Thank you,
Joe Stephenson

 

I re-ordered today. Expecting Mid March delivery.

It appears that only 40 orders were effected.

 

RSB,

What is your source for the statement that only 40 cars were affected by the mixup? I'm curious because how Mini handles the situation is likely to depend very much on the number of cars that were affected.

It's important to keep in mind that the time needed to build the car is not that long; it's the transportation that takes the time. So even if the fixed my car tomorrow, it would still take almost two months to get to New Mexico.

How Mini deals with this problem will tell me a lot about the company and how it feels about its customers. It's a very small issue for BMW/Mini, but for us individual owners, it's a fairly big deal. At the first sign of them being anything but concerned and active in a quick resolution to the problem will send me right to the local Honda dealer for a Civic Si or similar.

Keep Smiling,

Joe Stephenson

 

MotoringFile has published their piece on this: (they quote the number from Mini as 40)

http://motoringfile.com/2007/02/05/m...#comment-93583

40 cars is not a lot in the grand scale of things - they were pretty lucky it was not worse. I am actually surprised that they are looking at a fix given the number of mis-orders. They could have told us tough luck without trying, and I do at least have a sense that they are trying - at least right now.

Now realize that its not all about going to bat for us. Even if we all re-ordered the dealers would still have 40 cars that they would prefer to sell with MFSW. And I am sure that they would like to be able to offer the swap as a dealer upgrade if it was reasonably possible. So there is good reason for them to work at it.

I'm glad everybody seems to be settling on a direction and moving towards getting their cars.

 

I was going to stay away from this having started this last week, https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=90688, but curiosity got the better of me.

I don't think I'd want a retrofit. If it were as simple a matter as having a dead ended harness in the column with a connector to just plug into and add the wheel, sure, no problem. But apparently its not and seems to involve almost tearing down the vehicle to get to the harness, potential splicing etc. Sounds like something I'd just pass on, and reorder (which I did). Upgrading warranty on MFSW wouldn't satsify me either. Once you break into the vehicles harness, reprogram engine computer (?), etc, you are setting yourself up for all sorts of gremlins that may have nothing to do with the MFSW. I want the vehicle as designed and tested, not jerry-rigged.

I'd prefer some form of compensation for my aggravation, and I'd be happy.

 

Just to be forewarned:

Some people have been making this an even bigger deal than it seems to be. Almost seems like they are worried that if they don't get others riled up and pissed off, they won't get what they want.

As far as the number of Minis with this issue: 40 actually seems like a pretty reasonable number. (Reasonable meaning, the size of the estimate, not the number of mistakes they are allowed to make.) Here's my theory why: Mini enthusiasts are far more likely to both be on here AND have placed an order for the initial shipment. They SHOULD recognize that and take good care of you, absolutely. Anyway, point being, I think between the dealer pre-spec'ed cars and the average driver (like myself) appreciating the packages, I'm guessing that's where most of the US Market's options are added on: packages, which don't have this MFSW issue. If you tell most drivers that with the Premium package it's like buying a sunroof and the MFSW (with cruise!) and getting the automatic climate system for free. I'd say sign me up! (In fact, I DID sign up...) However, it seems the enthusiasts (especially trackers)would just as soon pass on the weight of the sunroof (or other issues which go with it) and don't see a need for automatic climate control. Hence, only the MFSW-only is what gets added in ala carte. I can definitely see that being only 40 issues in this initial shipment.

At any rate, Gabe over at MotoringFile called the spammer on it, and I'll link here. Some of the suggestions might sound familiar to those following this thread. Gabe's comment follows this posting:.

http://motoringfile.com/2007/02/05/m...#comment-93502

I bring this up because if someone is new to this issue and sees it all over on here with all sorts of anger it certainly makes it even harder to wait for Mini's solution, and kind of taints the feel of the community here. Who knows what they'll do... maybe they'll ask people to take ownership of the car, order/build a new one, and then swap it when it arrives, and put 40 R56s up for sale as used (along with all those track cars).

Finally: It helps to have integrity when critiquing the integrity of another (even if the other is a corporation). Don't abuse the system of anonymity a message board allows you to "stuff the ballot box." It really does reek of desperation, and after reading what Gabe said I know I went back and re-read this entire thread with a bit of a jaundiced eye.

 

My dealer alone had 4 orders and me affected. I hope that is true, but 40 Sounds like an optimistic damage control estimate from MINI.

 

I am guilty of attempting to rouse the troops, but I would never adopt false identities to feign crowd, no way.

40 does sound optimistic, but we probably won't ever know the number. Over half the people here had reordered by the time the press event began so who knows what they are counting. It almost does not matter any more, as long as they have said we made the mistake and they are looking at whether or not they can fix it, which they are.

And with that my tone has changed. The time to storm the gates is over.

 

I wonder if they will compensate those that are re-ordering if they come up with a reasonable sound way to get the MFSW in the cars before launch? Are your MAs holding your original car for you also or are they actively selling it? Holding out a few more days for an official answer to make an informed decision makes sense to me. Keep your options open if you can.

 

I agree with glangford. There was no way I wanted anyone tearing into my new MINI to retrofit a MFSW. Waiting to see what MINI was going to do was not an option. That's why I decided to reorder immediately.

 

I too agree with MiniC & glandford that all that ripping can't be good for a new car. Also enough has been said about the cost and complexity if retrofitting that I don't think Mini will bother. Hence, I re-ordered. I didn't ask my MA what they will do with my car. I understand that some of you want to wait till you know what the options are, especially because waiting a couple more days will probably not add any more to your wait. My understanding is that if you order on Monday or on Friday, the production date stays the same.

I'm still expecting Mini to make it up to me for the additional wait.

 

I agree with you not wanting to have your new car ripped apart for a retrofit. When I odered my 06 it came in with the wrong dash finish. I wouldn't let them replace the whole dash & door panels as they suggested. It was another 6 weeks wait, but in the end it was worth it to me.

 

I agree with you not wanting to have your new car ripped apart for a retrofit. When I ordered my 06 it came in with the wrong dash finish. I wouldn't let them replace the whole dash & door panels as they had suggested. It was another 6 week wait, but in the end it was worth it to me.

 

MINI didn't do a thing. It was a salesman screw up not MINI's. I got a set of Cooper S floor mats for my trouble. I am glad I waited for a car with the correct spec's.

 

You mis-understood me. When I said it was a salesman screw up & not MINI's I was referring to my case with the wrong dash. I have no info on the current fiasco with the MFW. Sorry for the mis-understanding. I do hope MINI does the right thing for you folks.

 

Read above - Crashton was comparing to another issue he had with his dash. No worries

 

That doesn't seem like much time at all. I'm sure there are extensive discussions that need to take place before they can announce what they're going to do. Hang in there.

 

Finally a rep from Mini USA called me back to confirm that there will be no retroffiting and no compensation for the delay!

 

It met the spec for ordering so they figured that it was ok. Sorry to hear that - I hope it all works out for you. I feel bad for the people that ordered mobile phone prep and got the wrong wheel. :-(

 

I wonder if there will be some official word issued, or if they hope this will fade away...