In the process of replacing my rear main seal and I noticed that the bellows/boots on the end of the shifter cables are suffering from some serious 'rot'. The cables themselves function flawlessly, and I really don't want to drop the exhaust to completely replace them. Mini doesn't sell a kit, and I've spent hours combing through search engine results that don't pertain. Does anyone know of a boot kit that could be used to replace them? They make kits for CV shafts that are 'split boots' so that you can replace the boots without complete disassembly so I'm hoping that something similar exists, somewhere..

 

There is no boot kit. They all deteriorate like that prematurely. May be you can improvise something in their place. Condoms may work - extra thick ones.

 

And I thought I was joking. Come to think of it condoms is a brilliant idea for fixing that, especially with some appropriate lube inside rather than out.

 

Probably not thick enough . I almost grabbed some 100 mil pond liner.. then I went to the dealer and bought the new cables. Also grabbed a Megan short shifter since I'll have to tear the whole thing apart anyway..