I bought a used 2006 JCW about a month ago and have just noticed something weird.

The console posts (that link the dash to the shifter console) appeat too short. The original console posts were removed and carbon fibre posts were installed by the original owner.

Here are photos showing the gaps at the bottom of each post:






Looks like crap and the passenger one squeaks like hell

Just wondering if anyone has ever come across this problem while removing / installing console posts.

 

For comparison, here is the nice clean fit on 2002 MCS:

 

Im going to go ahead and guess that the original owner installed something more along the lines of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400206193979...84.m1423.l2649

If you notice the base of them is cut off into a flat line. I'm going to assume they aren't the authentic JCW ones and they are knockoffs that were too short when he ordered them. The original ones that come in the car in an 06 flare outwards slightly towards the bottom, which is why in order to remove the stock ones in an 06 you have to unbolt the center console and slide them out the bottom, they don't come out the top like the 02-03's do.

Example:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/used-do...0-r52-r53.html