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I was concerned about the dust cover as well. But, after ~15k of hard driving, I installed the Helix SS (actually, Eric did, but I got in his way a lot) the dust cover had more dust on the inside than the outside! The outside of the cover was spotless (it is completely covered by the exhaust heat shielding) while the inside had a bit of graphite, dust, etc. inside it.
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i'm still happy with the junkyard wars/monster garage short shifter: just cut off 3 1/4" from the shaft and stick a knob on the top. the stock interior shift boot just scrunches down.
I installed the alta, 3 way adjustable on the 2nd setting (this setting you can keep the box cover) and then put on a Momo F16 knob. This brough the hight back to stock (which I wasn't too fond of) so I put the alta knob that come with the kit, but changing only take 5 minutes, so you cna go from short to stock very easily. This also means that you can keep your Whalen...
I missed my Whalen shifter so I had Doug make a new one for my Alta SS. Nice!
Quote:
Originally Posted by samawil
I installed the alta, 3 way adjustable on the 2nd setting (this setting you can keep the box cover) and then put on a Momo F16 knob. This brough the hight back to stock (which I wasn't too fond of) so I put the alta knob that come with the kit, but changing only take 5 minutes, so you cna go from short to stock very easily. This also means that you can keep your Whalen...
When I bought my '03 JCW Cooper S last year the first thing that bothered me was the trucker style shifter with it’s enormous throw. I looked around and was not surprised to find lots of short shifters for sale to correct this obvious error on BMW’s part.
-The problem was that to install these after-market shifters requires getting the car on a lift, dropping the exhaust, modifying the shifter case etc etc. none of which I was predisposed to do.
-I therefore decided to simply shorten the shifter as it sat in the car. (30% throw reduction and feels "tighter")
-All done took me about 30 mins... and I had to buy a half inch connector bolt and the correct thread die and handle (about $15 total)
I installed a Whalen Shift Machine a few months back. I felt it provided a smoother feel to the shift process. Shifting felt a bit smoother, less "sticky" or "notchy", as others have said.
Then I had the Helix SS installed. Randy said it was the only option for me, since I had the Whalen and I did *not* want the shift knob to drop lower in the car. That's my personal preference.
I really like the Helix SS/Whalen combination. Shift knob height is stock, but the throw is shorter, and it still feels smoother with the Whalen than stock.
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On another note, I've asked Doug Whalen if he could make a Whalen Shift Machine that was as big as, or a bit bigger than, stock. I miss the size of the stock shift knob (the Whalen is a bit smaller).
It sounds like with Doug's new lathe, he *might* be able to lathe that size of a shift ball, but he's been too busy of late to try. Here's hoping that someday he'll be able to do that. To me, that would be the coolest -- a Whalen shift machine that is the same size (or a bit bigger) as the stock knob.
I have the whalen knob and the Helix SSK. Whalen+Helix=Butter
