The MINI logo on the steering wheel of my '06 MCS started to peel off in November '06. My dealer replaced in March of '07 with a new airbag assembly.

Now today, I noticed that the right corner of the logo is once again peeling away from the steering wheel.

What is going on here? Anyone else with this unique problem?

 

seen it before, you will get another airbag aseembly again.

 

Waiting to take mine in for the same thing

 

And what is annoying about it is that the logo is kinda sharp and snags on loose sleeves.

 

Mine's been doing it since a month after delivery (over a year ago). I just keep forgetting to ask about it when I'm at the dealership.

 

Not to mention skin...I have a small scar on my wrist from catching it once and then continually catching it over again. I took the car in because I blew out an RF tire and hoped to have the clutch growl and the steering wheel logo looked at...seemed that the MINI service was closed that day. The BMW guys changed out the tire for me but weren't allowed (nor had time given I had no appointment) to look at the rest.

grrrr

 

Yes, my wife's '05 had this same exact problem twice. Had the airbag unit replaced because the right tip was sticking up and snagging on everything. The replacement lost it's grip after a few months so we are now on out third emblem - this one is currently still holding on. Seems like an incredibly stupid thing to have an issue with and if you search the forums, it is a very common problem with the '05 and '06 models. I guess that I would rather have this issue then a true mechanical problem.

 

MINI seems to be very good at stupid problems, with even stupider solutions. Replace the airbag assembly to fix a logo? Sealing storage boxes to "fix" rattles? Remove bumpers to put on mud flaps? (According to my MA, but I don't believe it). Taking up half the door pocket with a thing with a slit in it to do who knows what? Damn good thing these cars are fun to drive.

 

Count me in with the loose logo. I was going to ask about this a year ago but was certain I was the only one.

 

That's two things we have in common. . .

Does MINI just replace and hope for the best, or has anyone heard of an actual CAUSE (beyond a "bad" emblem)?

 

What does one have to do to get the sticker to start peeling? Punch the horn? 14 months and over 24k and ours looks like the day we took delivery

 

I'm having the same problem....taking the '05 in to get the airbag replaced next week.

 

I think you hit on the head! Maybe not punch the horn, but one could see that if you try and beep the horn and press on the emblem, the emblem will push in and stay bent in the center causing the oustsides to deflect outward.

Chad

 

The logo on the '05 and '06 streering wheel airbag is not a sticker. Of course its metal, but it is attached to the airbag unit via tabs and slots. The logo has about 4 or 5 metal tabs that go right into some slots on the airbag, then inside there is what i can only describe as platic spot welds on the metal tabs to securely hold them in place....

Dont ask me how i know:impatient......you'll get me started, hahahahaha.

 

hmm, I'd noticed this on my '05. I'll have to see what the dealer says when I take it in for it's 2 year service in a couple of weeks.

 

Not to get off topic, that sounds like what is called a sonic weld. The plastic part is moved very fast against the mating part (typically another plastic) to heat the material and fuse it, similar to welding metal.

 

At least you were able to get a replacement. My dealer (Mini of Murray) refuses to replace the emblem and air bag assembly. Since it is bent up at the corner they decided that it is my fault and not a warranty item. Of course, at this point their service has been worthless since the only thing they have done is the first scheduled oil change. Anything else I bring to their attention is automatically not a warranty issue. I really like the car, but the dealer is a rotten part of the deal.

 

Brian, my MINI wings logo on the steering wheel has distorted and continues to deteriorate. The right wing tip juts out as it did within the first few months of ownership. And now the left wing has separated from its circular base. The center of the logo has indentations. Do I want to replace the whole steering wheel and airbag combo for this and have this happen again--as per your experience? No. I think I will just remove the plastic logo myself (or it will fall off) and hope to replace it with some kind of soft cushioned logo.

Here are some close-up photos.

 

skeffers, it is possible to replace the logo just as you want....make sure you're careful when taking off that center portion, thats the part that has the sonic welds...

I purchsed a donor airbag assembly and with a little cutting, time and patience and epoxy i was able to replace my bent mini logo with another one. But now I wonder if A.C. would be willing to develop a bubble logo replica to stick in that spot? I know id buy surely buy one......

 

Ditto the logo issue...

Our Right Edge stuck up and inflicted pain on my forearm.

I have been trying to push it back down - but it still seems to stick up a bit. I looked at REALOEM.com for a part number - but it does NOT seem to be available seperately.. :-(

 

The cruddy part about this whole thing is that most airbag logos will eventually get messed up because of two reasons. 1 - theyre metal, and 2 - when trying to avoid an accident one doesnt think of how not to hit the horn, you just mash your palm into the center and honk that mother...

Thats how my logo got messed up in the first place, but thankfully accident avoided...

 

hmm. i gotta watch out for this. but whenever i honk i never press the middle. i press the sides. or wait..maybe i do press the middle...
next time im honking at someone ill check my hand placement.
but that kind of sucks and is good in a way..that dealer has to replace the whole assembly..waste of time and money. but as long as we get it for free.

 

I had mine replaced after only two months, and the replacement is now lifting up just a tiny bit. What a crappy design. I wish Mini gave us the option of getting a replacement unit that has NO LOGO or perhaps just an imprinted/branded one or silkscreened. With the number of free airbags they're giving out, the no-logo option would pay for itself because we'd be set for life and never have to come back again.

 

The horn action seems to come from the sides. I tried once from the middle and it was noticeably more difficult to actuate the horn.

 

Peeled up from the right twice, fixed twice. And once for good.