Hello,

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the long awaited ALTA Mini Performance short shifter is done and shipping. It features an adjustable design for short and really short shifting. Hardened stainless steel rod with black oxide coating ensures long term reliability and performance. Requires a MOMO type or other threaded brand of shift **** (an ALTA Mini version will be available in late January.) Illustrated step by step instructions are included. Fits both Std. and 'S' models. Retail price is $199.99!

For those people who are already on the backorder list, we are shipping out to you today! Please call us for more information. Look for more info and pics to be posted on our website Monday afternoon. European Car magazine will be doing a feature article on the shifter in a Spring edition of the magazine that will include a review and installation instructions.

Hope to hear from all of you soon!

_________________
Adam
ALTA Mini Performance
7733 SW Cirrus Dr.
Beaverton, Or 97008
adam@altaminiperformance.com
http://www.altaminiperformance.com

 

Can you post some pictures.
I´m interested can you ship to México city.
thnak you.
chobe

 

Would the ALTA shifter work with our Whalen Shift Machine ****? In responding, consider that I'm not technical (meaning we had our mechanic swap the friggin' shift ****). Here's the Whalen site:

http://www.whalenshiftmachine.com/

Thanks!
tom@wigginsassociates.com
http://home.earthlink.net/~bmwmini

 

Hello,

We can ship to Mexico City! The pics will be posted on Monday both in this thread and also on our website. Sorry for the delay. The shifter is a complete replacement for the factory shift rod and pivot ball. You do not need to disconnect anything at the transmission itself.

The shiftknob shown on the website you listed will work on this shifter. I read the instructions online and it appears that it will work just fine.

Thanks for the questions please let me know what else I can do to help.

 

>>The shiftknob shown on the website you listed will work on this shifter. I read the instructions online and it appears that it will work just fine.

We will have to add ALTA to our "visit list" when we roadtrip up to Portland from So Cal, hopefully in summer. Wow, what's with Portland... not that big a city, but besides ALTA there's Mini-Madness and Matrix Engineering/Racelogic Traction Control (which I confess that part of the reason we'll visit Matrix is because my wife is working on visual effects for the Matrix sequels and we both love all things Matrix-- even that silly Toyota Matrix sport wagon looks like fun...) and I think there's another Mini somebody up in Portland.

Plus, Portland is just one of my favorite cities. A fair amount of rain, though... guess one doesn't run Hoosier autocross tires as all-season performance tires

Can we get a short shifter installed by ALTA if we come up there?

 

Can we get a short shifter installed by ALTA if we come up there?

Of course! Unlike many other MINI retailers/manufacturers we have a full service install facility on site with ASE and MECP certified installers. We are always happy to install any MINI components for our customers. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you soon!

 

do you have any pictures of the shifter in the car?

what is the percentage in throw reduction; is this obtained by a lower ratio mechanical advantage (like most "typical" short shifters)?...and if so, how does this effect the feel of the shift action (notchiness, effort)

if the product is stainless steel, why the oxide coating?

and finally...what is the weight difference between stock MCS and your shifter?

thanx,
Ryan

 

Here are a couple pics of the short throw shifter from the Alta Website

 

yea Dave, I saw the site. know anything more about this shifter?

 

Our goof, communication breakdown. It is fixed now.
Its not stainless steel, its 1144 stressproof steel, that has been heat treated to 45Rc coated with black oxide for protection. We didn't make it out of stainless steel because of strength and wear reasons.

As for the reduction in throw, yes it is done by changing the mechanical ratio of it. It is completely adjustable inside the car. There are 3 different potential settings:
1-Stock
2-20% shorter much better feel than stock.
3-45% shorter, much more like short shifters for Honda's!
However it is infinately adjustable between any of these points. We have just indicated a few popular choices to ease installation.

Even on the 3rd setting, the shifting effort is hardly increased because there are weights built onto the shift linkage on the tranny.

Finally, the weight difference is not an issue at all. The factory part is the same 1140 steel so the weight difference is very slight. Most customers prefer a heavy weighted shifter.

Jeff Perrin
http://www.Altaminiperformance.com
Jeff@altaminiperformance.com
503-643-4677
null

 

UUC and BMP are both working on a short shift kit as well...and at one time rogue engineering told me they were going to do one as well.

 

Jeff, thanks for the info on the shifter!

 

Alta,
Any info. on installation difficulty?
Thanks.

 

The install is not aa easy as some of the honda ones, but here it is in a nutshell.
from inside the car, remove the plastic trim ring around the shift boot and the sift ****. remove the factory exhaust or cat back system. remove the aluminum shield under the car. disconnect the shift cables from the shift box. remove the stock shifter from inside the car. move old bushings and install them on the alta short shifter. then put it all back together again.

The instructions we include with our parts is much better than this, just so everyone knows.
hope this helps! you will find the hardest thing is to remove the exhaust, other than that is is pretty straight forward.

Glad to see we are the first to market with this product.
Wait to see what else we have up our sleeve!!! Very Very soon.

Jeff Perrin
www. Altaminiperformance.com
503-643-4677

 

>>Glad to see we are the first to market with this product.
>>Wait to see what else we have up our sleeve!!! Very Very soon.
>>
>>Jeff Perrin
>>www. Altaminiperformance.com
>>503-643-4677
>>

I dont suppose that you could "unofficially" drop a few more detailed hints about exactly what it is you have up your sleeve?? Pweeeaaaaase???

 

>>I dont suppose that you could "unofficially" drop a few more detailed hints about exactly what it is you have up your sleeve?? Pweeeaaaaase??? Alta is/used to be a large Scooby aftermarket part provider.

R

 

mister eh? I wonder how effective/advantageous that would be? Any horsepower guestimates?

 

Yes we are a subaru parts manufacturer also and the IC spray is just one of the many things in the works. Wait until the NW mini meet, and you will see a few more things.
Also check the website for a few more things in the next few days.

Jeff Perrin
http://www.altaminiperformance.com

 

What NW MINI meet are you talking about???

R

 

The only other question I have before I buy this is
warranty issues????? This seems borderline to me. Comments
by othe MCOLers and MINI sales people will be appreciated.

 

Adam,
Does the ss shifter have the same dimenisions as the stock one? More specifically, is it the same height in the car?

_________________
<img src=http://www.liquid2k.com/peace108/mini3.gif>

 

The Mini meet is happening this weekend in forest grove Or. Meeting at the Grand lodge mcminnimans around 11am. should be about 80 new minis!

The lenghth of the Short shifter is the same at stock hieght. If you adjust it to the shortest throw, then the rod get shortened also. But not by much, about 1" or so.

See you all there hopefully, this is where we will be debuting our new products!

Jeff Perrin
http://www.altaminiperformance.com

 

>>See you all there hopefully, this is where we will be debuting our new products!
>>
>>Jeff Perrin


Cool Jeff!! Can't wait to see what you and Adam have been up to.

R

 

So what did you think? Did anyone test it out? Did anyone see some of our new parts? Just wanting some feed back. Sorry, didn't have our monster intercooler on the car, it just didn't make it in time. We will have pics up on wednesday.

Jeff Perrin
http://www.altaminiperformance.com

 

I really liked your intercooler mister. Very nice. Adam had explained it to me, but it was nice to see in person. I was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off...so I appologize for not digging in for a better look. One question..where does the water come from? The windshield washer tank? And is it on all the time, or is there a switch or something?

Really liked that hose work, too. Can't wait for a mellower event so I can actually hang and talk....and next time the directions will be SPOT on...no excuses. Thanks for not killing us.

R