Re. Wood Steering Wheel - It's been resurected - but ...
 

Saw my car today - Supposed to get it tomorrow.

No wood steering wheel, no wood shift knob, no wood hand brake.

This car needs these things, otherwise the interior looks too bland. I'd have ordered my interior differently had I known the wood would not be there. I almost ordered wood trim but figured the steering wheel et al would be enough.

Those others of you who ordered as I did, what have you worked out with your dealers?

. Have you re-ordered to get an R56 that will be built with the wood steering wheel?

. Did you select a different R56 from dealer inventory?

. Have you received money back?

. Have you received assurance that, when available, one would be retrofitted on to your car (listed on a 'We Owe You' form)?

. Or did you just resign yourself to the sad fact of a relatively bland interior?

I'm not sure what to do.

Of course it's always possible that once I see the car all spiffed up tomorrow I'll forget all about the 'no wood steering wheel' issue.

What is your spec?
 

I am picking my wk 3 production up this week. Had to wait till work schedule allowed it.

I ordered the wood wheel with a Oak trim and black punch leather. I have actually seen a picture of this without the wood wheel and it still looks good. I am however waiting until I pick up before I tell dealer to retrofit.

Ask Mini says this is an option but they have not confirmed whether the wood knob and brake would be included.

I wouldn't count on a wood steering wheel ever coming available, whatever you do.

What interior do you have that it strikes you as unacceptably bland? I've seen a number of R56 interiors and they were all pretty spiffy.

I have heard both stories. NO WOOD steering wheel, and Yes there will be one retrofitted by dealer. I'm not sure anyone has the real answer. Only time will tell?

Does a wooden shift knob and handbrake handle come with the wooden wheel? I wasn't aware of that. I'd just seen the leather knobs & handles (and the carbon fiber).

I'm going to attempt to make a few wooden knobs for myself -- turn them on a wood lathe.

I have information as I've been involved with this problem since delivery 2/27
My dealer Towne Mini has assured me several times of the following:

1. Wood wheel is now back in production for the US market

2. Soon, ie 2-3 months they will retrofit people with the proper wheel

(retrofit is a misnomer because the wheel mechanically is identical to the leather mfsw that is now on the car, no diffrent than if the wheel were otherwise in need of replacement)

3. I recieved a full ($550) refund for accepting the leather wheel, my dealer did all the leg work with MINI USA.

**Here is where my story gets interesting**

When the wood wheel comes in, (2-3 months) I don't know what I'll have to pay, I've been told 2 things, they are: Firstly Towne will work with MINI USA to perform a free swap leather for wood, or if that can't be worked out I have been guaranteed my cost will not exceed $550. If the second scenario happens then I'll have a leather MFSW 2 months old to sell on NAM or Ebay

Please see my gallery if you want to see a wood/ cream colorline/ chrome gauge interior w/o the wood wheel, it still looks darn good IMHO

Nice gallery. Excellent photos of wood dash. You are correct it looks good without the wood steering wheel.

There is no wood wheel as of yet on the configurator. I doubt its coming soon, if at all.

I had in state in my contract...
 

...that they owe me the wood wheel when it becomes available (presumably with the knob and brake, if that is what comes with it).

I was pretty disapointed when I picked up my car and it wasn't included, but I've got to say, it doesn't look too bad with the wood dash, wood door pieces, and just the leather steering wheel, and chrome knob and brake. I have the chromeline interior anyway, and it matches pretty well.

I am looking forward to the wood though, and I trust it will eventually happen.

- R

First post
 

Hey all. This is my first post on NAM. I just placed an order for my MC on 3/20. Talking to the MA he said that the wood steering wheel is definitely back in production - he even gave me a copy of the BMW/MINI issued bulletin to keep. He wasn't sure with the redesign if the appearance was altered much or at all. I went ahead and ordered it anyway. So if anyone sees any pics out there of the redesign please post them. My MC is supposed to go into production the first week in April. If I am not a fan of the new wheel, I am hoping to have time to switch the spec.

When is your car slated for production? This could account for the time lag. Did the MINI bulletin say when production would commence.

PGHDomer said it would go into production first week of April. That seems about right. I ordered on 3/12 and mine is going into production next week.

i had my MA and manager sign off on a "we owe" ticket for a wood steering wheel when/if it becomes available no matter how much it cost at time of install. how did i do?

When did you order the car?

feb 10th......

ordered the wood got the leather
 

I ordered the wood wheel, picked up my car yesterday and the leather still looks great with Oak Trim dash.