Two-Spoke Steering Wheel Returns to the US

Too bad you can’t get the MFSW in the two-spoke as so many people are so enamored by it. It’s cool looking, that’s for sure. At the very least, I would hope its availability is due to the outcry. I like the idea of MINI listening to its customers.

I love my 02 two spoke MFSW and I’m glad they are bringing the two spoke back…

But about the MFSW, the 02 has the control paddles on the back of the steering wheel, in a very ergonomic position and with the benefit of not having to move your hands at all away from 9 and 3. I want to know if they are putting the MFSW paddles on the front or back of the steering wheel.

Welcome back two-spoke!

add me to the list of people who absolutely love their 2 spoke MFSW in my 02 Cooper. having the controls on the back IMHO is significantly safer and more convenient. it’s one reason i hadn’t jumped on buying a new Cooper. also, IMO, it makes the buttons useless if you have to take your hands off the wheel. we didn’t get the MFSW in my wife’s 05 Cooper for that reason.

along with Nathaniel, i hope that MINI will read this and bring back a similar configuration to the US.

the controls on the back of the wheel are definitely much better.

There’s a good fee for someone who can take the 2-spoke off my current MINI and transfer it to the new (still to arrive) GP!!!!!!! It is the one thing I will truely miss from my current MINI.

I always have liked the horn buttons like the ’04 and earlier cars had on the two spoke. Just like most Acura steering wheels.

Why should you take your hand off the wheel at the moment you should have the most control, to honk by fumbling around….

Wish this wheel had the horn buttons (left and right side) with or without all the other MFSW stuff which I use on my ’05 MFSW.

I miss the clean look of my 03′s 2-spoke wheel. This new 2-spoke still has the saucer shaped center piece that looks out of place like my 06′s 3-spoke.

We need an “Original 2-Spoke Owners” grill badge. ;)

I’m probably sitting all alone in the corner on this, but frankly, NONE of MINI’s steering wheel designs have ever particularly knocked me out. Owing, I suppose to the need to cram an airbag in there, they come across as a bit overly chunky and toylike to my eye – kind of the genesis of the Playschool-ization design scheme some now note in the ’07 interior.

This wheel is like not offering a two spoke. If you’re not getting the MFSW buttons, you’re not getting two spoke wheel advantages.

The three spoke buttons stink!

“original 2-spoke”? The one without the thumb grips? My 09/02 build Cooper with the sports package / MFSW has a 2-spoke wheel without thumb grips. I think the 2-spoke with thumb grips came in a little later in the build cycles.

I have had all steering wheels sold by MINI. My ’02 MC CVT has the “original” 2-spoke MFSW without the thumbs in the 2 and 10 o’clock positions. The leather is of the smooth/shiny kind, not too crazy about it.

My 2004 MCS had the 2-spoke “sport” MFSW but the main difference between this wheel and the one first offered in 2002, was the thicker (And much better quality) perforated leather and the raised thumbs. Fantastic wheel and I miss it very much.

My 2005 has the 3-spoke MFSW with the better leather, but unfortunately it is not perforated as it was in my ’04.

To be honest, I much prefer the “feel” of the 3 spoke wheel because it has a nicer shape and provides icer tactile feel and hand grip. Why I am not crazy about is the “Nintendo” style buttons for the stereo/cruise control.

These buttons lack the quality and tactile feedback of the back spoke mounted buttons found in the earlier 2 spoke wheels. They are very erratic at best and not ergonomical at all.

The 3 spoke wheel is a cheaper wheel. No doubt about it. MINI had an extra incentive there by stop offering the 2 spoker in the North American market.

the “R56″ 2 spoke wheel pictured here is the same exact 3-spoke currently offered, minus one spoke. That’s it. Sorry fellas, the original 2-spoke wheel is gone for ever.

I just bought an ’06 and had the 2 spoke MFSW swapped from my original ’03. All buttons still work (cruise and radio) and I can still change mode from CD to radio. I had seen it done before so I knew it would work. I am VERY happy to still have the 2 spoke wheel.

Jim in ky,

I wish that I had done that. Good move on your part.

I miss my 2-spoke and the better buttons. I also miss the “mode” button on the wheel of my ’06 MFSW.

I am not a fan of the 2-spoke wheel. I like the wheel on my 06 MCS. I am really excited about the wood steering wheel, I would love for it to be all wood instead of just wood trim, but I’ll take what I can get.