Shift **** is not only explodes, broken. It can also fell off from the stick.
True Story about the Shift **** on MINI. I went to one of the MINI dealer to test drive a Cooper S. Driving down the road on 50, sharp turn almost 85 degrees. Down shift. Here it come! surprise!!!! the whole shift **** ball fell off the stick. Emergency concern, strong break...... car slow down, got the **** from the sales person behind me. Keep Motoring...... God I love MINI so much. it always makes the motoring so "experienced"!!!!!!!!!

The sales Person try to ignor it. i did not try to put them into a bad situation, but definitly reconsider the quality of MINI.

I love MINI but they just try to hard to make MINI CHEAP. I'm getting a MINI for sure, because it is still my dream car.

 

Like all BMW's if you pull up hard enough on the shift **** it just pulls off. Thats jus the way they designed it you must have pulled to hard.

 

Nothing's fallen off my car...seems like a freak occurance? Granted...an unsettling one...

 

Yup, this is a BMW thing not unique to the Cooper...so price is not the consideration. Just don't hold the ball like it's a BALL. Treat it like a shift ****. Flick it, don't hold it solid. Since it was in a tester car, odds are that it's been abused by people that don't know how to shift, and have been firmly grasping the ball like they are going to throw a curve. This no doubt loosened it to the point where you could easily remove it.

And a word of warning about putting it back on. I've personally seen someone push down too hard when reapplying it, and shoved the gear lever thru the top of it!!! Warranty will gladly replace it in that situation.

R

 

>> Just don't hold the ball like it's a BALL. Treat it like a shift ****. Flick it, don't hold it solid.

Exactly, it's a gear shift, not a joy stick or arm rest!

 

thanks everybody, there are some funny tips. sounds good.
actually, Mini should make it better like the one in the PT cruiser. this is not something hard, it just something lazy or less important for them to change. usually this should happen on a ford focus, or a neon, etc. it is shame to happen on a MINI