MINI folks,
Hey, I want to take the stock gear shift **** off of my "S" without damage to anything and replace it with my 42 year old wooden shift **** (been on '61 VW Bug, '63 VW 21 Window Bus, '65 VW 17 Window Bus, '59 Porsche 356 Convertible D, '73 Porsche 911T and now on one more German (well, a little German anyway) road terrorizer, my '03 MINI Cooper "S." This **** has got a great patina to it. Can anyone give me clues as to pulling down the shift boot (feels like some sort of clamp on the shift lever at the top of the boot)? I think the **** probably has a set screw to allow removal from the lever.
Also, I wanted to pull the back seat backs off for room to pack for a camping trip. I found the center release and figured it out, but the outboard ends of the seat bar felt like it might be held with a cotter pin. Anyone been there yet?
Thanks in advance for any constructive advice.

2003 MINI Cooper "S" Oklahoma plate SENNA (honk if you see me) Cheers!

 

The **** pulls straight up and off; don't twist it!
And watch out that you don't hit yourself in the face, when it comes off!

 

the rear seats will slide right out when at the right angle
i forgot what that angle is sorry pulled mine out last year

 

Is there a way to remove the black plastic piece where the stock **** mounts? Anyone try cutting this piece off?

 

Your old wood shift **** might not fit the stock shifter, old VW's have threaded shifters dont they? I tried to fit another shift **** on my mini that required a threaded shifter, it won't fit at all...but I saw that the B&M short shifter is threaded and my other **** would most likely fit.

 

>>the rear seats will slide right out when at the right angle
>>i forgot what that angle is sorry pulled mine out last year
>> :smile: