Engine Drivetrain 2nd Gen S Most liked posts in thread: Short Shifter

The Helix short shifter attachment works great for me!

 

Pretty cool short shifter addition over at Outmotoring....
A lot easier installation than dropping the exhaust and you don't need to worry about modifying the shifter box in the tunnel.... 10% and 40% reduction....

MINI Cooper Accessories : MINI Cooper Parts : OutMotoring:

 

I had Way install the Craven at AMVIV8. It's a wonderful piece and works extremely well. I'm not looking for an alternative....

Kent

 

The Alta short shifter is great also.

 

I had a factory JCW in my '03, it did make it a little tougher to shift, but not much.

A buddy has the Craven speed in his '06 - I really like the design of this one, and the fact that it's adjustable for the length of stroke. Check it out....

 

I went with a Helix; it shortened my shifts from 4" to 3". Installation is all done from underneath the car. You need to drop the exhaust and remove and replace a lot of fasteners but it's not that difficult.

 

Helix has worked good for me.

 

^ this

 

I don't like the fact that the shifter is dropped a bit lower on some and the fact that it takes a bit more effort to move the lever when these are installed. I am fine with the stock travel.......

 

Understandable, Scott. I just wanted to mention, the CravenSpeed Shifter drops the height only 1 inch at the lowest setting, while cutting the throw significantly.

 

No drop with the Helix, keeping the near the wheel where it belongs.

 

Currently, I use the Helix, as has been mentioned a few times already. The reasons I went this direction are varied. Cost was one factor. The Helix was significantly less than any of the others. Ease of installation was another consideration. Yes, it's a PITA, but compared to full replacement of the shift lever, still easier. I accomplished the addition in my garage in a matter of ~60 minutes, I believe. Final consideration was the final height of the shift lever. I still have a shorter throw, but stock height. This feels very comfortable to me.

Downsides to the Helix. That installation was a royal PITA. Getting that plastic cover off proved to be such a challenge, the majority of the time to install was in busting up the cover. It doesn't get reused anyway, so I didn't even try to keep it whole. I think I ended up with seven different pieces when I was done? Second, when I finally got a Craven shift well cover last year, the stock lever has this odd ridge on it, to keep the boot in place, I guess. If I had gone with one of the others, this wouldn't be the case, and the interior of my MINI would be more aesthetically pleasing, at least to me. And I drive it every day, so who cares what anyone else thinks about it.

When the time and funds come, I will probably replace everything with the Craven. The ability to adjust the height means that I can still have a shorter throw, but those times when the wife drives, everything can be put back to stock height. I'll have to sacrifice my own preference for the height, but the look will be what I want. Or maybe I'll talk to someone and get that ridge ground off. We'll see.

 

The throw is also 3" from 3rd to 4th on the lowest setting. The 'stock' setting on our shifter travels about 5" on the same shift.

 

Nice piece, have to love the S logo machined in.

 

Use the Helix, it is a tad stiffer, but keeping the knob height was important.

 

And don't these req the removal of the protective box just above the exhaust under the car?

 

Yes it does.

I used the NM Engineering shifter assembly box cover to replace the stocker. It's a little spendy, but it keeps out whatever swarf might find it's way in to bugger things up.

I didn't think the install was too bad. Really happy I did it.

 

Looks like one I would be interested in using.