I have had a B&M short shifter sitting on the shelf for a long time, and finally got around to trying to install it last weekend. Everything was going well enough, until I ran into a bit of a bind (literally) while trying to extricate the gray plastic retainer/bushing from the OEM shifter shaft. I got the retainer ring to release from the shifter housing easily enough, but I managed to break it while trying to get it loose from the ball section of the shifter shaft. It cracked at the thinnest point- the U-shaped section that passes over the side arm of the shaft.

After getting over being irritated at myself for snapping it, I did attempt to repair it with epoxy and some wire reinforcement over the split. However, I still have concerns about the long-term durability of this repair, and would like to get a replacement, if one can be had without buying a whole shifter assembly.

I have read that this part may be available separately now, but I cannot find a part number for it. I went to the dealer today, and the parts counter person also couldn't find it (we both looked at the catalog illustrations- they were not very useful. The only reason I could recognize most of the parts was because I've just had the thing apart and on the bench.)

Does anyone out there have a part number for the shaft retainer/bushing for the early (2003 model year) shifter?

 

Here is the RealOEM page for the shifter...

Maybe it's shown here?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...85&hg=25&fg=05