Most liked posts in thread: I need a wooden emergency brake handle..

Very cool

 

A wooden hatchet handle would make a perfect replacement
It's curved, unobtrusive and won't break easily, if at all. :ihih:

 

FYI: on the R53, you can remove the hand brake handle and drive the car just fine without it. Sometimes there is some grease left on the inner part of the handle, but you can clean that off with some generic cleaner (Fantastic, Windex, really anything will do) and paper towel and be able to drive the car just fine.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_9PbLXKaAg"]How to remove the handbrake cover on a Mini Cooper - YouTube[/ame]

In the video, above, the guy removes the handle but doesn't show you how to remove the faux-leather gaiter that is attached. If you do what the first video shows, you will find that your stock pleather gaiter is attached to the flange at the bottom of the handle. You squeeze on either sides of the long oval bottom of the gaiter and can pop out the oval inner plastic clip that holds the base in place. Then the handle and gaiter will slide off, all as one unit. Invert the gaiter over the handle and you will see that it is zip-tied on. Cut the zip tie and you can separate the gaiter from the handle.

You can see how the gaiter is attached, here:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BqvytfyuS8"]How to fit new handbrake handle to a Mini Cooper - YouTube[/ame]

 

I had to do some Googling... I'm recently returned to the MINI community and knew that there was someone out there doing beautiful wood knobs/handles several years ago when I sold my first MINI.

http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/

He has an aluminum adapter that would make this a MUCH easier / cleaner project and probably make for a much firmer attachment. Probably $50 for just the adapter.

 

Some of those are really cool.

 

Yeah. If I didn't already own 2 Waylen Shift Machines (one from my first MINI, given back to me for a sentimental keepsake, and one that came with my new JCW R53 with the JCW # inscribed on it) I would have seriously looked at these. There is something very pleasant about grabbing a big woody knob and working it... umm... yeah.

 

That is very cool! I thought that he was just going to turn it down on a lathe for you. If you call Robin, he can probably mill one down, unfinished, for you.

The carving probably eliminates a lot of the curly / burly woods. These would be cool:

http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/e22Nanciton.html

http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/e44Walnut.html

http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/e35WhiteHolly.html (could be really stunning, carved, antiqued and then sealed)

Robin also has one of the best 'how-to' articles I've seen: http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/ebrakeInstructions/Index.html

 

Your partner appears to be a highly skilled craftsmen.

 

MINI sold OEM leather knobs, and in different colors to match their leather interiors. Not sure if they are still available for 1st gen. However, knowing the quality of "MINI leather", they probably kinda looked and felt like vinyl.

 

That is seriously cool and full-on custom. Love it! Never seen anything like it on a MINI (or on any other car, for that matter)