hi everybody, just thought to rant alittle and address the problem about the B&M shifter.

i bought a B&M shifter (product code 45129) supposinly made for 2002-2004oct made cars according to the box. and i have a 03/oct made MCS, so it's in the bracket of time, and according to other sources, the shifter change is not until 03/nov or dec made. please correct me if i'm wrong on this.

so i took everything apart quite happily, as it took quite abit of effort. and i realize it's not even the right size off the lower ball joint (shifter cable connector), as the 45129 product is having a small joint and my vehicle need a bigger ball joint.

so obviously i have to put everything back together and pay all the shop time i wasted. so i'm wondering if anyone have any problem with this shifter change time period problem. or is it just me misunderstanding the whole concept of the build date, and part of it is my stupidity of not checking the color and the shifter assembly design before purchasing.

Just thought i should share my experience i have, and hope other member ain't as stupid as me.

 

My '04 is a 9/03 build date, and i have the older linkage. But i did make the mistake of buying a newer model engine damper kit. Had to get the older style brackets then. Hopefully it wasn't a misprinted box and you got the wrong SSK to begin with.

 

Check out the Helix site:
http://www.helix13.com/mini/products/suspension-chasis

If you scroll down to the short shift kit, they have linked pictures to the two different housings.

 

Hi Jerjer:

If it makes you feel any better the same thing happened to me and I gave up. This was in April.

The shop that I took the car to was good not to charge me for the wasted time. Were you able to locate the correct part?

My car needs a new serpentine belt and I'm thinking about the short shifter again.

Thank you!

 

i ran into the same problem...i have a 08/03 build mcs....any 03 made in the latter half of 2003 is a mutt between a 2003-2004....i had to get the 04-06 shifter from craven...

 

You probably aren't going to have much luck finding a real B&M that's the model for the newer R53s. They went out of production due to lack of sales.

 

Guess I lucked out, bought mine in 03 right after they came out on sale for my July build 03 MCS.
It was an outfit in Texas if I remember.
It's a great shifter.