MINI2

Mr Grean · Apr 17th, 2003, 10:17 PM

Anyone else notice this problem with the grey plastic steering wheel ring..the one that goes around the black MINI emblem in the middle of your steering wheel ? About a month or so ago I noticed ours had about 3-4 very small gouges in it. One at about the 12 o'clock position another at about 2 o'clock and another near the bottom. They were about 1/4 inch long and look something like what you would leave if you scraped a sharp fingernail on the plastic.

I never noticed them there when we first got the car but first saw them one day when cleaning the steering wheel. I had this trim ring replaced under warranty about a month back and 2 days ago noticed identical scrapes had appeared. I know I never scraped the ring with anything, yet there they are again. All the scrape marks are almost identical in size, length and position on the trim ring. I had read a while back of others finding scrapes like these & wonder if you had seen any on yours? I wanted some consensus before I went back again under warranty.
I am positive I did NOT put them there myself and I'm equally positive thay they were not there on the replacement trim. This has me at a loss to explain how they got there. I'm wondering if some sort of defect in the manufacturing process allows them to appear a couple of months after installation?

Paul · Apr 17th, 2003, 10:25 PM

Quite common. Lots of people have little scrapes on the soft bits. If you'll pardon the phrase.

motoring · Apr 17th, 2003, 10:50 PM

I think mine are from my wristwatch... It's pretty easy to bang the center of the steering wheel in a hard corner and not notice.

sjbartnik · Apr 18th, 2003, 12:48 AM

Clearly if the scrapes weren't there when the trim ring was installed then you (or another driver) are the party who put them there. May not even remember doing it, maybe your jacket zipper brushed the steering wheel as you were getting in or out of the car?

Maybe your wristwatch or a ring on your finger grazed it. They didn't appear by magic

Perhaps your brain is blocking out the trauma of having scratched the trim

Davisio · Apr 18th, 2003, 01:15 AM

I had to honor of denting mine with the end of a straw.
Isn't there a metal (chrome) replacement ring out there somewhere? That way it won't happen again.

oldandquitemad · Apr 18th, 2003, 03:39 AM

Just remember to remove the metal ring prior to an accident. The inflation of the air bag might sent that ring right through your noggin.

Apr 17th, 2003, 10:17 PM	#1
Mr Grean MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2002 Local Time: 02:45 AM Posts: 85 Offline	Steering wheel scrapes Anyone else notice this problem with the grey plastic steering wheel ring..the one that goes around the black MINI emblem in the middle of your steering wheel ? About a month or so ago I noticed ours had about 3-4 very small gouges in it. One at about the 12 o'clock position another at about 2 o'clock and another near the bottom. They were about 1/4 inch long and look something like what you would leave if you scraped a sharp fingernail on the plastic. I never noticed them there when we first got the car but first saw them one day when cleaning the steering wheel. I had this trim ring replaced under warranty about a month back and 2 days ago noticed identical scrapes had appeared. I know I never scraped the ring with anything, yet there they are again. All the scrape marks are almost identical in size, length and position on the trim ring. I had read a while back of others finding scrapes like these & wonder if you had seen any on yours? I wanted some consensus before I went back again under warranty. I am positive I did NOT put them there myself and I'm equally positive thay they were not there on the replacement trim. This has me at a loss to explain how they got there. I'm wondering if some sort of defect in the manufacturing process allows them to appear a couple of months after installation?

Apr 17th, 2003, 10:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
motoring Autox Monster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Des Moines, WA Local Time: 07:45 PM Posts: 619 Offline	I think mine are from my wristwatch... It's pretty easy to bang the center of the steering wheel in a hard corner and not notice. IB/W MC with the really big checkered flag on top 2004 H Stock National Champion

Apr 18th, 2003, 12:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
sjbartnik MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Local Time: 10:45 PM Posts: 629 Offline	Clearly if the scrapes weren't there when the trim ring was installed then you (or another driver) are the party who put them there. May not even remember doing it, maybe your jacket zipper brushed the steering wheel as you were getting in or out of the car? Maybe your wristwatch or a ring on your finger grazed it. They didn't appear by magic Perhaps your brain is blocking out the trauma of having scratched the trim Sean Bartnik 2003 MINI Cooper S

Apr 18th, 2003, 01:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
Davisio MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN Local Time: 10:45 PM Posts: 61 Offline	I had to honor of denting mine with the end of a straw. Isn't there a metal (chrome) replacement ring out there somewhere? That way it won't happen again. '03 Cooper S IB/W, chrome grill! come see www.MINICCI.org for more club events

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Apr 17th, 2003, 10:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 03:45 AM Posts: 40,435 Offline	Quite common. Lots of people have little scrapes on the soft bits. If you'll pardon the phrase.

Apr 18th, 2003, 03:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
oldandquitemad MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Smyrna, GA Local Time: 10:45 PM Posts: 47 Offline	Just remember to remove the metal ring prior to an accident. The inflation of the air bag might sent that ring right through your noggin.

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