First off, what would I do with out all the help from everyone at NORTHAMERICANMOTORING ??!!

Everyone here is so helpfull and I just love it.

Im looking into changing my shift know and i wanted to know what thread pattern it is? Threaded Type?
Most are- 2MM x 1.25 Thread Pattern but i dont know...

 

What year is your MC? if its 02-06 its not threaded. Its just a push on pull out kind of deal.


Edit: One more thing when you go to take it off if you have a sunroof open it.

 

How can it be sturdy that way?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I can see the broken glass now...

 

Theres a plastic ring in there that locks it in.

 

Getting the stock **** off is not easy from what I've heard so it is a positive lock when the new one is on. Be sure to ge the right size (I'm guessing you have an 02) the later cars have a larger diameter shift rod.

 

I had no problems getting my stock **** off. I just gave it a good tug & poof it was off.

Just get a Whalen ****. They are the best & fit perfectly

 

I just dropped the hint for a whalen as an anniv present from my wife.-they are very nice.

 

You should also consider the JCW shift ****...




... The one above is cf with leather, but it's also available with Alcantara in place of the cow skin.

It has a nice feel to it in spite of it's "automatic trans selector handle" appearance.

 

How long would that alcantara last with greasy/dirty hands touching it all day?

 

Time to start washing up!! sorry,

Alcantara in sythetic so I would think it could be wiped down and if you got a dark color it would hind stains,etc pretty well. I have been wanting either a suede or alcantara wheel cover-like the wheel skins-maybe even with a white line to show top dead center like you see in rally cars. I haven't found one yet.

I installed a wheel skins leather cover on a dingy,cracked steering wheel on a Volvo I had and was impressed with the fit and quality.

 

Good grief, man! Wash your hands and it's not a problem!

Seriously, my last three cars have all had Alcantara steering wheel rims...

... (here's one of 'em) and I never had a problem with the wheels getting funky or matted down. Needless to say, my hands are on the steering wheel rim a lot more than the shift ****. Even had Alcantara headliners in two of those three cars. Admittedly, I give the interior a thorough cleaning and once-over every month or so. But since Alcantara is just polypropylene, it cleans up with plain ol'soap and water. Just remember to rinse and dry it after washing

My Mini has the JCW Alcantara & leather steering wheel rim along with the Alcantara/cf shift ****. Only problem with the wheel is that where I want the faux-suede...

... is where I prefer the fuzzy stuff and vice-versa. I want the increased grip you get from Alcantara where I tend to put my hands when driving - at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions of the rim.

Another pleasant side effect of Alcantara is that it's never too hot to touch in the Summer or bone-numbing cold in the Winter.

 

I think they put the leather at 9/3 so that it doesn't get all matted down.

MDK- I know what youre talking about, those rally wheels are nice!

"One more thing when you go to take it off if you have a sunroof open it."

HAHAHA I can see it now: A half hour trying to get the damn thing off, a SIXTEENTH of a second feeling of victory as the **** comes off, and then a blitzgrieg of depression as you realized you just cracked your sunroof.

Eh, it's worth it.

 

Never had that problem on any of the three Audis I had will full Alcantara streeing wheel rims. But than again I keep my hands moderately clean, all things considered.

 

ah, i stand corrected

now i want one.

 

I just replaced my **** wtih a Whalen (which I love) and I followed the recommendations of a fellow Mini owner as well as other posts here and it was a breeze. Just sit in your drivers seat, and put your shifter into 2nd gear. Grasp/cup the **** with both hands by lacing your fingers together and putting the shaft between your index and middle fingers. Plant your feet on the ground and just pull up firmly. It should come right off with nothing flying into the air or bumping heads or shattered glass. I was suprised how easy it came off.