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Home » Products » Interior » Shift/Parking Brake Boots and Knobs  
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Whalen Machine Whalen Shift Machine
Reviews Views Date of last review
14 18039 8/13/2011
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Recommended By Average Price Average Rating
100% of reviewers $156.67 9.7
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Description: Whalen Machine has a library of designs as well as the ability to incorporate your custom design into a knob. All knobs are made from stainless steel and are easy to install. Contact Doug Whalen and work with him to create something very unique for your MINI.
Keywords: whalen shift machine knob interior
Web site: www.whalenshiftmachine.com


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SandiaSky
Neutral

Registered: December 2005
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 8
Review Date: 2/4/2006 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Quality, service, customization, engineering
Cons: Temperature extremes on a metal knob can make it slightly uncomfortable for a minute.

Believe the hype. The quality is without peer and it does improve shifting.
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bee1000n
6th Gear

Registered: June 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1455
Review Date: 5/2/2007 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Quality of production, weight improves shift feel a little.
Cons: Cold in winter, hot in summer. "Quick connect" feature works, but it took a few attempts to get it to stay on the first time.

A nice product with a wonderful feeling of quality compared to the odd and oversized stock R53 knob. I don't think the shift feel is greatly improved, but it is a little better. I'd rate it a 10 if the "quick connect" feature had a more positive action. It took me a few attempts to get the knob to seat properly and not come off in my hand. As a result, I've never taken advantage of the feature. It wasn't a major selling point for me, so I'm only taking 1 point off.
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jonnieoh
6th Gear

Registered: December 2004
Location: Syracuse NY
Posts: 1517
Review Date: 10/18/2007 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Excellent fit and finish, only the highest quality and tolerances
Cons: Amplifies cabin temps; ice cold in winter, ultra hot in summer

Love this mod. I feel it does improve the ability to shift both quicker and easier. It feels great in hand, and looks sharp in the cabin. It is really cold in the winter, and really hot in the summer, but that really isn't a big deal. After just a few shifts with it, it warms up, or cools off pretty quickly. This is by no means a deal-breaker. They do sell sleeves to put on it, but why cover up this functional piece of art? I say, deal with it. Yes, it comes off and goes on very easily, should you want to remove it for security reasons, or to keep it with you inside for a more constant temperature, but it's more effort than it is worth to do that...

I recommend using the CravenSpeed brushed aluminum shift well cover with this knob. They look great together.
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cooldaddy
5th Gear

Registered: January 2005
Location: same as yesterday
Posts: 659
Review Date: 12/26/2007 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Quality product (great finish) and excellent support/service
Cons: Not a perfect snug fit on stock shifter (on my car), size of knob

Beautiful product, excellent status update after placing order, quick shipping.

Size of the knob will work for most people but in a perfect world it would need to be just slightly bigger for my hand... Custom sizing would be very nice...

It didn't fit perfectly snug on the stock shifter, there was some play. After adding some tape (filler) during re-seating all was well.
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Ion28
1st Gear

Registered: October 2006
Location: Orange, California
Posts: 26
Review Date: 8/18/2008 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $150.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Very heavy, solid feel. Great finish, quick install.
Cons: None really

It's a great upgrade to the feel of your car, surprisingly. I didn't really think that something as simple as a shift knob could change your perspective of your car. The shifts are much more smooth, and it feels more accurate. I wouldn't call the fact that it gets very hot or cold a con, because obviously, you're buying 18 ounces of steel, what else could one expect? Overall, it's a totally worthwhile buy.
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minintrigue
3rd Gear

Registered: December 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 228
Review Date: 8/28/2008 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Perfect size
Cons: none

The only think I hated about my MINI was the shift knob - it was oversized and uncomfortable for me. I'd read about the Whalen products and the benefits but was unsure about the cost - but in the end I decided that something needed to be done about the stock knob. I was unsure about the ball as I didn't care for the stock ball and the cylinder wasn't weighted so I had to decide.I was able to pick up second hand so I decided to give it a try, and right away I could tell the Whalen was substantial. The install was a breeze and took about 30 seconds. Immediately I could tell that it was a much better size for my hand - you'd have to have huge hands for the stock knob to fit, and then really like the feel of the seam between the leather and chrome. I didn't. Not only does the Whalen knob vastly improve the feel in your hand, the weight is a great counterbalance to the overall feel when shifting. My transmission is "notchy" which is fine, but the Whalen smooths out most of that notchy-ness and really enables less effort to be used when making shifts. It makes for a much more pleasant affair and given the amount of time spent shifting, in my opinion it was well worth it.
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Eurothrasher
4th Gear

Registered: May 2008
Posts: 557
Review Date: 9/15/2008 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Excellent Quality, Finish and Design
Cons: None

I have a custom engraved polished one, with Bulldog. Fantastic engraving and how this piece goes onto the shifter. I already had an B&M SSK, so this was just the icing on the cake for me, and a MOD I would highly Recommend.
And although I have never had to call, I understand from prior NAM posts that Doug's customer service is THE BEST as well.
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MINIGURU@WAY MOTOR WORKS
Vendor

Registered: October 2004
Location: Atlanta/Indianapolis
Posts: 1148
Review Date: 10/11/2008 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Great feel and weight
Cons: none

I have one of these knobs in both of my MINI's and LOVE it. Plus he did my co. logo on one and it looks great. Highly recommend this shift knob.
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chad1140
3rd Gear

Registered: February 2006
Posts: 197
Review Date: 11/13/2008 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: A solid quality piece
Cons: The hype

A great piece, but I would do a Webb Motorsports shifter 1st
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ltphoto
2nd Gear

Registered: August 2006
Location: Sandy, UT
Posts: 79
Review Date: 2/19/2009 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $150.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Excellent finish, feel, quick installation
Cons: None

I was a bit skeptical about a shift knob changing the feel of the shifting, but no longer. This is a very nice upgrade. Feels great and looks great too.

Doug's service is second to none. We did it all via email and Doug responded quickly to all of my questions as we worked out the design. From order to receipt of the shift knob was only three days.
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BobR
Neutral

Registered: January 2007
Posts: 1
Review Date: 2/21/2009 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Looks great, easy install
Cons: none

This knob is beautiful. It really classes up the interior and is a pleasure to use.
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STER AG
2nd Gear

Registered: January 2005
Posts: 83
Review Date: 9/14/2009 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $170.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Great feel, Quality work and craftmanship, fast shipping
Cons: NONE are you kidding I love this shift knob.

I am extremely happy with my shift knob! They answered my questions and helped me get my custom image put on very quickly. The knob looked so good that it made the stock e-brake look stupid......so I got the e-brake too!

Thanks Whalen Shift Machine
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gweinand
Neutral

Registered: May 2010
Posts: 5
Review Date: 1/6/2011 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Elegant - Great Looks and Feel
Cons: None

Doug did a custom knob for my son's 2004 R50 5-speed. It is a beautiful satin finish with a polished ring, checkering on the top and a set of Mini Wings with the shift pattern inside the circle.

I couldn't be happier with the result and his birthday gift will be a matching Whalen e-brake handle.
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ssigmon
2nd Gear

Registered: July 2009
Location: Conover, NC
Posts: 120
Review Date: 8/13/2011 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Heavy in weight, can customize, one of a kind
Cons: None

I have both the Whalen Shift knob and Brake Handle. They are awesome. It has been consistantly around 100 degrees in our area and these knobs never over heat. They feel great in your hand. I you can customize them specificly for your Mini! I would recommend them highly. They are worth the money.
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Statistics
Users 111,679
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Reviews 978
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