Just thought I'd pass this on: Today was I scheduled to have the Alta Short Shifter installed on my mid-November build '04 MCS. But my mechanic discovered it would not interchange. There was also a late October build '04 car there for the same exchange and the Alta shifter DID fit his car. Somewhere between late October and mid-November MINI beefed up the size of the shift lever considerably over the 02/03 levers. All the ball portions now are much larger and the arm now has a bend in it. My mechanic who is the local Alta dealer notified them immediately. It turns out Alta had heard rumours of a factory shift lever change but the attempt to install an Alta on my car was the first actual reporting to them from one of their dealers. Alta is investigating and will design a new short shifter lever to fit '04 models.

If you are thinking of buying one to install yourself on your '04 model, it still might fit if you have one of the earliest production '04s. But the present Alta shifter will not exchange with later build cars' levers.

(By the way, normal Whalen ***** with their nifty quick release collars, won't work on Alta shifters with their screw-on arrangement for the ****. But if you ask Doug Whalen nicely, he'll make you one of his ***** complete with the destinctive collar, but designed to screw on, and also with a hidden set-screw to keep the engraved top oriented properly. And the best news is these will cost LESS than the regular ***** !!!)

Joe

 

Thanks ... Did Alta say when they are going to release a short shifter that would work on the 04's.

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2004 MCS Indi Blue /W Sport, Lapis blue interior - Stock for now, but not for long.

 

.. Did Alta say when they are going to release a short shifter that would work on the 04's.
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My mechanic said it could likely be a least a month or two, if not more. They have to first design and then custom fabricate and then test a new one before they start to produce them for sale.

By the way, it occurs to me that if the standard MCS '04 shift lever has been changed -- the same comments I made about the Alta shifter might also apply to everybody else's short shifter kits. They also might not work on the latest cars without being redesigned.





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2004 MCS, CR/Blk/Beige Interior w/Prem/Cold/Sport Pack's (except w/16" wheels), JCW kit, H/K, Auto Wipes/Mirrors, Rear Fogs, Sat. Nav & Blk Bonnet Stripes - More goodies to come !