MINI USA will be delaying the introduction of the new wood steering wheel for the foreseeable future. Apparently the issue is that the Wood wheel has not performed US crash tests the way it had been hoped for. Therefore, since start of production, the factory has been substituting the Sport Leather wheel for the wood version.
A redesign is being looked into, however there is no current time-frame in place for US availability.
Interesting. How does a steering wheel with wood on it perform differently in crash tests than – presumably the same size and shape – a steering wheel in all leather?
Does it have to do with breaking away on impact? The surface (wood) being to stiff to collapse on impact, etc?
>Interesting. How does a steering wheel with wood on it perform differently in crash tests than – presumably the same size and shape – a steering wheel in all leather?
<blockquote>IMHO good riddance. wood looks aweful with the silver crap all over the dash and wheel itself. (ducks)</blockquote>
hahaha
<blockquote>The wood shift knob and steering wheel go together, so if they sub the leather wheel, you’ll get the leather knob too.</blockquote>
Don’t know what to tell you kelli, I saw it again tonight. Wooden knob, leather wheel.
<blockquote>Don’t know what to tell you kelli, I saw it again tonight. Wooden knob, leather wheel.</blockquote>
Not sure. Thats what my dealer said when I asked where my wooden knob was. He also said they got a few odd balls that had the wood knob for no apparent reason (no other wood trim in the car).
this is disappointing. i’m all set to place my order for march’s production but some of the big pieces to the ’07 MCS i want to get are being delayed. i almost feel like i should wait until next year when they have all the kinks ironed out.
just heard from my MA that the wood steering wheel is back in production: “the Wood Steering wheel is a go, it is back in production as of 3/7/07.” the hyper sport package is a month away from production and, more importantly for me, the audio package won’t be available until 6/07.
Makes me wonder. We ordered Habanero with the wood dash (which arrived in place) and the wood wheel (which showed up as a leather wheel) when we got our darn-near-first-off-the-boat “S” in March. As stated above, we were told the wheel would not pass safety inspections b/c of potential splintering in a crash.
The question is will Mini offer me my wood wheel kit as a no/low cost replacement or exchange?? The car looks weird, out of balance, with wood on the dash but not the wheel/shift knob/hand brake.
I wanted, ordered and paid $500 for wood. Got and paid $500 for leather.
Before I go pursue this with the dealer (NW Mini), it’d be good to hear from those who’ve been down the pipe with them before.
Are they going to design a new steering wheel which will meet the crash standards? I really wanted the wood steering wheel with beige leather and BRG.
all the new options on the docket… start ticking them off – as unavailable.
so sad.
So if you ordered the wood steering wheel as part of the prem package and you get the leather sub, what about the shift knob – still wood?
The R56 that I saw only had a wood shift knob/ leather steering wheel. It looked awkward in that it was the only wood in the interior.
The wood shift knob and steering wheel go together, so if they sub the leather wheel, you’ll get the leather knob too.
Interesting. How does a steering wheel with wood on it perform differently in crash tests than – presumably the same size and shape – a steering wheel in all leather?
Does it have to do with breaking away on impact? The surface (wood) being to stiff to collapse on impact, etc?
Just curious.
>Interesting. How does a steering wheel with wood on it perform differently in crash tests than – presumably the same size and shape – a steering wheel in all leather?
Splinters?
what is somewhat surprising is that it is not as if BMW does not have experience in wood trimmed steering wheels!
<blockquote>Splinters?</blockquote>
I guess that’s too obvious? But I didn’t actually think real wood was being used.
Probably fear of getting sued when someone gets a splinter.
smokers catching their wheel ablaze? No telling what americans can do.
IMHO good riddance. wood looks aweful with the silver crap all over the dash and wheel itself. (ducks)
<blockquote>IMHO good riddance. wood looks aweful with the silver crap all over the dash and wheel itself. (ducks)</blockquote>
hahaha
<blockquote>The wood shift knob and steering wheel go together, so if they sub the leather wheel, you’ll get the leather knob too.</blockquote>
Don’t know what to tell you kelli, I saw it again tonight. Wooden knob, leather wheel.
I think it looked surprisingly fabulous with the wood dash. A great nod to English sports cars of the past.
<blockquote>Don’t know what to tell you kelli, I saw it again tonight. Wooden knob, leather wheel.</blockquote>
Not sure. Thats what my dealer said when I asked where my wooden knob was. He also said they got a few odd balls that had the wood knob for no apparent reason (no other wood trim in the car).
this is disappointing. i’m all set to place my order for march’s production but some of the big pieces to the ’07 MCS i want to get are being delayed. i almost feel like i should wait until next year when they have all the kinks ironed out.
So the search is on for the euro supplier that will sell them to us after the fact….sigh
just heard from my MA that the wood steering wheel is back in production: “the Wood Steering wheel is a go, it is back in production as of 3/7/07.” the hyper sport package is a month away from production and, more importantly for me, the audio package won’t be available until 6/07.
Makes me wonder. We ordered Habanero with the wood dash (which arrived in place) and the wood wheel (which showed up as a leather wheel) when we got our darn-near-first-off-the-boat “S” in March. As stated above, we were told the wheel would not pass safety inspections b/c of potential splintering in a crash.
The question is will Mini offer me my wood wheel kit as a no/low cost replacement or exchange?? The car looks weird, out of balance, with wood on the dash but not the wheel/shift knob/hand brake.
I wanted, ordered and paid $500 for wood. Got and paid $500 for leather.
Before I go pursue this with the dealer (NW Mini), it’d be good to hear from those who’ve been down the pipe with them before.
Mike