F55/F56 Alternative shift knob

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Jan 18, 2016 | 06:58 AM

#51

vetsvette

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From: South Central Virginia

Glad you got it sorted out. A side note about the Cravenspeed short shifter... It can all be installed while sitting in the drivers seat. No need to lift the car and work under it.
http://www.cravenspeed.com/adjustable-short-shifter/

Jan 19, 2016 | 09:33 AM

#52

darex

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Quote:

Originally Posted by vetsvette

I read the installation instructions. Not bad. Sounds like removing the armrest and center console are the most time-consuming/tedious part of the installation.

Jan 20, 2016 | 11:40 AM

#53

darex

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Here's my temporary **** until my ultimate replacement arrives. It's a $20 Autozone special, but oddly, I really kind of like it. I like it MUCH better than the stock ****.

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Jan 20, 2016 | 11:42 AM

#54

atlantaorange

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From: atlanta

Quote:

Originally Posted by darex

Here's my temporary **** until my ultimate replacement arrives. It's a $20 Autozone special, but oddly, I really kind of like it. I like it MUCH better than the stock ****.

that looks surprisingly good for Autozone!

i have always thought that some of the $100 metal ***** are overpriced...

Jan 20, 2016 | 03:09 PM

#55

darex

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Quote:

Originally Posted by atlantaorange

that looks surprisingly good for Autozone!

i have always thought that some of the $100 metal ***** are overpriced...

I guess they are! I also kind of enjoy the fact that it's not even etched with the gear numbers.

Downside: freezing cold to the touch, at first. LOL

shift ****

Last edited by darex; Jan 20, 2016 at 03:15 PM.

Jan 20, 2016 | 03:24 PM

#56

DAVIDLEERAD

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Quote:

Originally Posted by darex

I guess they are! I also kind of enjoy the fact that it's not even etched with the gear numbers.

Downside: freezing cold to the touch, at first. LOL

shift ****

How did you attach it?

Jan 20, 2016 | 05:13 PM

#57

darex

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVIDLEERAD

How did you attach it?

It slides right onto the stick (w/o using the included adapters), and locks with three tiny allen screws onto the divot down the shaft of the stick, and those screws are covered by a ring that screws onto the ****.

Jan 20, 2016 | 06:09 PM

#58

DAVIDLEERAD

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Quote:

Originally Posted by darex

it slides right onto the stick (w/o using the included adapters), and locks with three tiny allen screws onto the divot down the shaft of the stick, and those screws are covered by a ring that screws onto the ****.

👍

Jan 21, 2016 | 06:47 PM

#59

MidnightF56

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Quote:

Originally Posted by darex

How many here had the shifter-gate recall work done, and subsequently successfully removed their shift *****?

I swear, they glued the **** onto the top of the gear lever! They must have!

I know they notoriously require a lot of elbow grease straight up to remove them, but I simply cannot remove the stock ****! I am nearly thinking it's now impossible due to glue. I opened the sunroof, straddled the seats and pulled with all my might, repeatedly: Nothing! WTF!!??

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!!

I had the recall done, and have since replaced my **** with the Cravenspeed one.

Jan 22, 2016 | 09:34 AM

#60

Escoozi

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From: The Biggest Little City

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcoPolo

the pictures i took when i took mine off. hope it helps in any way...

https://goo.gl/photos/YxnWeTNsQDe6UKjK9

This is super helpful!

What are the benefits to a short shifter? is it easier to shift or is it mostly aesthetic? Thanks.

Jan 22, 2016 | 01:37 PM

#61

MidnightF56

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Escoozi

This is super helpful!

What are the benefits to a short shifter? is it easier to shift or is it mostly aesthetic? Thanks.

Less travel betweeen gears when you are shifting, or a "shorter throw".

Some kits replace the entire linkage (and can therefore be multi-height adjustable) and some are just simple adapters. Besides differing in the way they achieve the shorter travel, they can differ in the amount of leverage they provide which affects feel.

Feb 9, 2016 | 02:26 PM

#62

darex

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What do we think of my new shift ****? I love it!!

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Feb 9, 2016 | 02:38 PM

#63

ECSTuning

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From: Wadsworth, Ohio

Looks great , So you modded the ZHP shift **** ?

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/25117896886

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Feb 9, 2016 | 06:58 PM

#64

darex

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ECSTuning

Looks great , So you modded the ZHP shift **** ?

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/25117896886

Nope. I bought from these people:

INNOVATIVECAR-TECH

They shipped fast, and the quality is excellent -- and it's lighted!

Their shift boot is real leather, unlike MINI's.

I tapped the power from the Sport-Mid-Green socket. It's right there, after all.

I always liked the clean look of VW shifters, and this is reminiscent of them. I think it looks WAY better and more at-home than the OEM shifter.

The only bad thing I can say, if you consider this bad, is that it's lighter than OEM or ZHP, I believe.

Feb 9, 2016 | 07:07 PM

#65

pjsjr13

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From: NJ

Interesting

Feb 10, 2016 | 06:40 AM

#66

ECSTuning

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From: Wadsworth, Ohio

Yea, looks close to the design. The zhp has some weight to it.

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Sep 5, 2016 | 05:12 PM

#67

toyopet

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Quote:

Originally Posted by vetsvette

This could be a good thing. It give you a perfectly good excuse to buy a Cravenspeed short shifter. When you remove the stock shifter you can remove the boot from the bottom and just leave the pesky stock **** attached to the stock shifter. I guarantee you'll like the shifter.

How much shorter in height (not throw) is the Cravenspeed shifter compared to the stock oem shifter?

Sep 5, 2016 | 05:23 PM

#68

vetsvette

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From: South Central Virginia

You can adjust it from ~stock height to ~4" shorter. You can tell from the picture that mine's considerably shorter.

Sep 5, 2016 | 05:29 PM

#69

toyopet

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It seems the stock shifter is either too high or too far back. Since I can't move it forward, I will most likely get the Cravenspeed to shorten it. How does the red shift **** match with the stitching? Thanks for your reply!

Last edited by toyopet; Sep 5, 2016 at 05:42 PM.

Sep 5, 2016 | 05:36 PM

#70

vetsvette

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From: South Central Virginia

I recommend you order the Pro Retaining Clip at the same time. Much tighter tolerances than the stock clip and makes for smoother shifting. Just remember to lube it good when installing. White lithium grease works well.

http://www.cravenspeed.com/mini-shif...ning-clip-pro/

Sep 5, 2016 | 06:19 PM

#71

GregoryK

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From: Far North

So this is a straight replacement for the stock clip?

Sep 5, 2016 | 06:40 PM

#72

vetsvette

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From: South Central Virginia

Yep.

Sep 6, 2016 | 09:10 AM

#73

Ignoramist

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From: Halifax

Quote:

Originally Posted by darex

I just tried again, with motorcycle gloves on, the sunroof open and me straddling the lever. Thanks to MINI's glue fix, that **** is not coming off -- EVER! I'm really pissed-off about this! Whatever glue they used, it's permanent!

I must say, when I'm in my car yanking on my ****, I like to stand up in the middle with my head through the open sunroof.