The gear lever gaiter is the leather cover that surrounds the gear lever where it emerges from the centre console. It is a high-visibility interior trim item directly in the driver's line of sight, and because it flexes every time a gear is changed it wears faster than most other leather surfaces in the cabin. MGOC Spares stocks a full range of replacement leather gear lever gaiters in Mk 1 and Mk 2 styles, in a range of off-the-shelf colours, with non-standard colours available to special order.
Mk 1 Style, MGF to VIN XD511058
Mk 1 gear lever gaiters (R813 series) fit MGF cars to VIN XD511058 and are secured by the black plastic retainer (FJN100160PMA) that clips into the Mk 1 centre console aperture. Four off-the-shelf colours are catalogued: Black (R813A), Cream (R813C), Green (R813G) and Red (R813M).
The Mk 1 aperture in the centre console is a specific shape and size, Mk 2 gaiters will not fit a Mk 1 console without modification, so VIN verification is essential before ordering.
Mk 2 Style, MGF from XD511059 and MG TF
Mk 2 gear lever gaiters (R814 series) fit MGF cars from VIN XD511059 and all MG TF cars, and are secured by the alloy retainer (FJV101910MDC) that sits in the revised Mk 2 console aperture. Four off-the-shelf colours are catalogued: Black (R814A), Cream (R814C), Red (R814M) and Grey (R814P).
The Mk 2 gaiter uses a larger aperture and a different retainer profile to the Mk 1, and the two are not interchangeable, fitting the wrong style will leave the gaiter either loose or unable to seat properly in the console.
Retainers
The retainer is the structural ring that holds the gaiter in place at the top of the console aperture. It is specified separately from the gaiter itself and, in most cases, the existing retainer is fine to reuse.
Where the retainer is cracked, distorted or missing, particularly common on Mk 1 cars where the black plastic retainer is brittle with age, a fresh retainer should be ordered alongside the gaiter. The Mk 2 alloy retainer is more durable than the Mk 1 plastic equivalent, though it can be scratched or marked by careless removal.
Matched Gear Knob and Gaiter Combinations
For owners refreshing both the gear knob and gaiter at the same time, MGOC Spares catalogues matched combinations (R800 series) that pair a leather gear knob with its corresponding gear lever gaiter. Cream (R800C) and Red (R800M) are offered off the shelf. The matched combination gives a better-integrated look than buying knob and gaiter separately, as both items are trimmed in the same leather stock and consistent colour. This is particularly useful on cars where the two components are being renewed after a retrim or a deep interior refresh.
Ordering Considerations
The two essentials are the car's VIN (to confirm Mk 1 or Mk 2 style) and the chosen colour. For originality-focused work, the colour should match the car's original interior leather specification. For a coordinated cabin refresh, the gear lever gaiter, handbrake gaiter and door pods should be ordered in the same colour, the matching R812 handbrake gaiter range carries the same colour palette as the Mk 1 gaiters and most of the Mk 2 range, allowing a consistent finish across all three items. Non-standard colours can be produced to special order for retrims outside the standard palette, contact the MGOC Spares sales team with full details of the existing trim leather.