I had to reorder being one of the lucky ones without the MFSW. In my reorder I added wood dash and wheel. Now it won't be wood. Oh well, I hope it is at least MFSW!!!!

 

I do want a wood wheel, it is in fact a large part of the look I was going for in the car, I pick up my car this afternoon, I'll be pretty pissed off if MINI just slithers around this problem!!!!!!!!!

 

I'm pretty upset about this as well. I already was going to the dealership to see my MA this afternoon. I'll see what she knows about it.

 

I completely understand the desire for your MINI to be PERFECT - trust me, I have the same compulsion.

Just keep in mind - the most any individual MINI buyer is out is one wood wheel - that they didn't pay extra for when all is done. That wasn't even theoretically an option until now.

Meanwhile, I'll bet this is costing MINI $$$$$... not to mention bad PR and new owner goodwill (both things they invest millions to generate through clever marketing, owner loyalty programs, etc.).

I know some folks are really sad / mad / frustrated by this. I understand. But some folks with MINI and MINI USA are having a VERY bad week over this...

 

Not sure I agree, they didn't seem to care to much when they built my car without MFSW and they did nothing but take a reorder. They never answered my inquiries by email or phone.

 

The MINI owner's lounge still has me listed for the wood sports steering wheel. The new MINI Cooper brochure notes that a wood vernier shift **** comes with that steering wheel (also, someone mentioned that wood vernier on the parking brake handle is part of that package).

The last steering wheel of this type I had was on my '65 Corvair Corsa, and it was indeed wood. But in this day in age I can't imagine any car having a solid wood steering wheel. It would obviously break and splinter in an accident and would be a real hazzard. So .. My assumption has been that MINI used a vernier on their steering wheel just as they did on the shift ****.

I want it. Otherwise there's not enough interesting contrasting color in the cockpit to suit me (I didn't select any of the cockpit color options). It will be interesting to see what comes of this. I would hope that now they'll make the wood verneer shift **** part of the wood trim option (handbrake too if what I read is true). I may very well be tempted to reject the car I've ordered and maybe later order another outfitted differently.

 

OK, I just recieved an e-mail from my MA indeed my car does not have the wood wheel, disapointed delivery later today, however he also says that he ordered a replacement wheel, and he has not herd anything about a wood wheel recall, yes he claims he'll be able to secure a wheel. I will report back when/ if this is unsuccessfull.

 

Since they didn't put them on due to a safety reason, would you really want to have it? At least not until they have redesign. IT was real wood so maybe it created large splinters during crash tests. I dunno.

I have seen a wooden shift **** with a leather steering wheel though.

I doubt your dealer will be able to do anything about it until the MINI factory does soemthing and I wouldn't count on it being anytime real soon.

You could get a wood wheel (I don't know that it was real wood) in 2006. Maybe you could get that one?

 

Would be interestingif Jim McDowell VP MINI USA read this kind of feedback,would be more interesting if he answered your concerns.Although their might be someone from MINI USA who monitors this site,that information may not bubble up to the top.Q

 

My experience with Mini and with my dealer has been very positive - but YMMV. I'm not saying that Mini or the dealers provide PERFECT customer service all the time. Just that they spend a LOT to "brainwash" us into this cult... And that while one unhappy customer over one issue is a bad thing, THOUSANDS of unhappy customers, all at once, due to a snafu this big is bordering on a DISASTER from a product management & owner relations perspective... and it's very, very expensive to boot...

 

Don't get me wrong, my dealer was absolutely great during my MFSW snafu, Mini owes him my reorder. With an ordinary dealer I may have just walked away. It is MINIUSA that seems to need the customer sensitivity training. They just seem to stay silent on the issues. They stayed silent on the MFSW problem and likewise have here with the wood wheel as well. Someone in this thread is picking up his car today without a wood wheel. Given the atlantic cruise and the time at the VDC, his car was being built 4-5 weeks ago, and at that time they knew about the wood wheel, and have said nothing till now. They knew when they took my order for a wood wheel , although my dealer didn't. I told a customer rep once during the MFSW problem, its not the problem that is killing you guys, it is your silence and seeming lack of caring.

 

Went to the dealer today. They said they didn't know of any plan to come up with a new wheel. The guy I talked to said I would get the leather Mutifunction wheel instead. I thought about switching to Piano Black for the trim, but found out that the car is already in production, and I will have to take what I get. I don't think I want to reorder, and it will probably look OK, but it will bother me for awhile. If they had just told us earlier, some of us could have made changes and been happier.

The same guy I talked to seem to think that the edge of the veneer was the problem with safety tests. The wood veneer only covers half of the wheel and the edge would be right on the front of the wheel. I guess it could exacerbate head injuries.

 

Well picked up my car without the wood wheel, the leather wheel is ok but it is not what I wanted, I would have made other interior changes if I knew this wheel would be substituted. FYI I ordered on 11/29/06 and was in production 12/20/06 so that's a long time to know about a problem and not inform the customer that the $550.00 steering wheel he ordered will be substituted with leather. Also my dealer as of 2/24/07 has not gotten any wheel info from MINI USA, at least that's what he's telling me.

If this problem can't be resolved with a redesign in a reasonable amount of time 2-3 months what sort of compensation would be fair from the dealer or MINI. Keeping in mind that I accepted delivery with the dealer promising me a wood wheel that he dosen't know yet won't be deliverable. I was thinking of asking for a refund of the wheel cost, and calling it even, Possible? Probable? never gonna happen? Or perhaps the addition of matinence year four to my car at no cost? I could live with either of these soloutions, short of a redesigned wheel of course. What do you guys think?

 

Agreed. All good points.

 

We will get nothing. Rest assured. You still got a 550 dollar MFSW, the wood was no cost relative to that. I've had this problem now twice, once a MFSW reorder, and now on my reorder no wood. I expect nothing from MINIUSA. They did nothing for a worse MFSW problem, expect nothing here. At best I'm hoping for a wheel switch out when they do a redesign. Should be easy as the MFSW part is already present. Another option would be to replace the wood dash parts with something else given I don't have the rest of the wood, maybe piano black.

 

ok, I do... (what next?)

 

I have some information to share if you are unfortunate enough to be affected: I talked to my dealer today, he states that MINI USA was proactive enough to send his dealership a bulletin today 2/26, after he delivered and promised to make right 2 vehicles (mine included) without the wood wheel, he did take several steps to and even went as far as telling me how to compose an e-mail that will express my frustration in a mannar that as he puts it "will get action from his district manager" whatever that means. I did tell him that I expected a refund of the wheels cost, for what it's worth he agreed that that was an appropriate remedy and is working with me to resolve this issue, time will tell, I'll keep people posted.

 

Please do keep us posted. If they would just make some gesture to admit they screwed up, I would be a lot happier.

 

Got a Full refund for the wood wheel, I am still waiting to hear weather I will get the brake or shifter, I would really be nice to get these options, does anybody have any info on weather the shifter or brake will be available?

 

I don't, but I finally got my email off to my MA today asking about the shifter and hand brake. I also inquired about a refund. Will post what I find out.

 

Update: I finally got some answers from my dealership. They say there is still some talk about a retrofit wood wheel, but nothing definite. They don't know whether the car will arrive with the wood shifter, but they think it can be added later if it doesn't. They also told me they would knock $300 off the price. In other words, I am still paying for the multifunction part.

 

My MA said definitively that MINI USA had informed the dealers that there would not be a wood steering wheel for this market.

 

... accessories and therefore not counted towards the 33.3% option penetration threshold National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has for its certification/testing procedures. As for the steering wheel, regardless of option volumes it is considered a primary safety item. Since the United States is virtually alone in the world when it comes to requiring our cars to protect an unbelted occupant in the event of a collision, the steering wheel rim plays an important part in managing crash forces for the anthropomorphic dummy's chest. I suspect the wooden rim was added an unwanted impact pulse in the 30MPH unbelted driver test. Ergo, it was eliminated from the U.S. certification configuration.

 

got a call from Mini today (following some complaints on my part) and was told that they will have a wooden steering wheel in about 3months and that they will exchange the leather one then.

While I am not thrilled about the delay, the service of the Mini dealer is quite impressive, very responsive, no haggling or arguing ...

 

TFM, was your call from Corporate or your MINI Dealer? My MA was adament that the wood wheel has been withdrawn from U. S. Hope you are right?

Thanks