Ok, these are the best directions!!! This should be on a FAQ somewhere on this site. Total time 10 mins using the factory instructions. Couldn't have been easier. I think my wife could have done it herself as the **** didn't require super human strength to pull off either.

 

ahahahhahah

 

I just heated the bottom of the stock shift **** with a hair dryer for a few minutes and it easily popped off without much force. I do not know if my **** is one of the few fortunate ones that would of just come off easily without much effort to begin with

 

Before getting my MCS i was in the honda game and was used to the screw on shift ***** and was really used to hard shifting (lol vtec) and well yeah this one time i was racing a ex-crewmate and when i was shifting into 4th i shifted pretty hard and the shift **** came off and nearly caused me to wreck lol the whole boot came off and the clips that held it onto the well broke off as well lmao so now im riding around with a torn boot and am looking for a replacement

 

This should be very helpful when I replace my shift **** in a couple weeks... thanks everybody!!!

 

Doug just finished making my new shift ****... and sent this:

 

Just installed a new shift **** on my 2012 Countryman. Thanks to this thread, it was super easy!

 

I was finally able to install my new shift **** from Whalen on my new 2012 MINI Cooper S Coupe thanks to some PM's back and forth with powerbook76!!!

All I can speak to is new R58 Coupe, but they have change the way they attach the Shift **** to the Boot. What we have learned is there is an adhesive between the boot and the shift ****... using a sharp knife... very carefully insert the knife between the shift **** and the leather of the shift boot. I went all the way around the **** once. Then just pull up on the shift ****... it took a little bit of force, but I did not straddle the shift **** to remove it.

There seems to be a ring in the upper part of the boot... and no need to remove the boot. After the old shift **** is removed, just put the new one on per instructions, and the boot seems to ride perfectly... I might think about added some type of adhesive later to keep it right up next to the new shift ****, but no need at this time.

Thanks powerbook76 for all the help!!!

 

what would i need to do to install a guinness beertap to the shifter?

2009 Clubman

 

WHOA.... Way too much reading! I just got my Whalen shift **** from the powder coating peeps.

Oddly enough my OEM **** came off easily using only one arm. Loving it. Thanks, Doug!

 

I had a Whalen Shift Machine **** on my 2001 BMW Z3 and saved it when I traded in the Z3. I sent a message to Doug asking if it would fit on my newly purchased 2007 MCS Hardtop.my original mini **** popped right off and the Whalen **** poped right back on. No issues. See Dougs response below.

Yes, the **** will fit a MINI, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
If it's a 2nd-generation MINI, the **** will fit fine, but if it's a 1st-generation, you'll need a small extension piece to lengthen the ****-mounting area of the shift lever.
2002-2006 MINI's were made with a shift lever that is about 3/8" shorter
than a BMW (as far as the ****-mounting area is concerned). I make a small
aluminum piece that will take care of that.

Another thing to know is the fact that, on a MINI, the anti-rotation slot at
the top of the lever is oriented directly in line with the left-right axis
of the car.
On BMW's, that slot is oriented at an angle of roughly eleven degrees. Why
that is, I have no idea; but if your shift **** has an engraved design on
it, it will be oriented at that same angle.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

 

I just installed a craven speed SS **** along with the shift well cover. I used a hair dryer on the stock shift **** and after a few minutes of heat it pulled right off with the shift boot. No tears in the boot at all. No worries, it wasn't going back on. I had the car in neutral while doing this. This was a big time saver. According to the instructions from craven, it stated to take the console out to remove the boot. I had the shift well cover and **** on in minutes.

 

Didn't care for the bare metal look of the shifter or the slight gap around the grommet. Simple fix with a little shrink tubing without the chance of the dust plate getting stuck down.

 

Nice advice. Now, I have not tried the hairdryer trick. I do know that on some occasions I have been able to just grab the ring around the boot and pull it off of the console. While on some other cars, after much effort, that does not seem to be possible without getting underneath the console and engaging the clips manually.

It is a decent time saver to try from above first like that, but I don't want to be responsible for any damage to the shift boot so we'l keep the instructions as is.

 

I did plan on following the instructions to key as I always do with everything. I had no idea that the boot and rings were going to pop out with the shift ****. I totally agree with you for not wanting to be responsible for anything to go wrong. I couldn't be happier with the look and feel of my new set up. Thanks Craven!!!