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Reviews Views Date of last review
6 5109 8/28/2008
Recommended By Average Price Average Rating
100% of reviewers $150.00 9.3
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supersize

supersize

supersize

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


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.
bee1000n
6th Gear

Registered: June 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1232
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.
jonnieoh
6th Gear

Registered: December 2004
Location: Syracuse NY
Posts: 1159
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.
cooldaddy
5th Gear

Registered: January 2005
Location: same as yesterday
Posts: 654
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.
Ion28
1st Gear

Registered: October 2006
Location: Orange, California
Posts: 22
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.
minintrigue
2nd Gear

Registered: December 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 109
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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