Hello All!

Sorry to say but my first post is a plea for help.

I took the day to install my new B&M short shifter. I've had a bunch of issues with removal and installation, but the most pressing one right now is the pivot cup/retainer.

I was trying to remove the actual stock shifter as per B&M's [terrible] instructions and snapped the plastic pivot cup in half. I've called up MINI and BMW dealers but nobody seems to know what I'm talking about. I've scoured NAM and Mini2 and MU but nobody else seems to have broken the pivot cup.

Am I really the only klutz to have ever done this? And does anybody know the part number for this pivot cup? The Bentley manual gives no mention of it and neither does RealOem.

If all else fails, I suppose I can try to epoxy the darn thing back together and hope for the best or scrounge a salvage yard.

 

If you are talking about that cup holder screwed to the passenger side down post with the flimsy little rubber collar and snap in base, the one that gets swung to the left too far and turns on or off various climate control functions, the one holding anything containing liquid releases the container into the driver's side floor board and all down his right leg while making a right turn, then yea, I know what you are talking about. It is banished to a shelf somewhere in my garage where it won't hurt anyone. Are you sure you want to replace it?

The Teutonic motoring mind does not confuse itself with consuming liquid refreshments while motoring like Americans do and therefore is not adept at designing Detroit Iron type cup holders.

 

I'd bet it's part of the overall shifter assembly and is not available as a separate part. Not uncommon to have to buy a whole unit just for a small bit that's broken. Maybe time to check out a wrecking yard.

Eric

 

Bad news you can't buy that without getting the whole shifter assembly.

 

Thanks for the speedy replies!

Seems like salvage yard is my best bet.....

Still, would there be any issue with simply gluing the plastic pivot cup back together? It doesn't bear any weight, the lubricant on the pivot ball would prevent any direct contact and it might still be able to compress slightly. Or am I just trying to avoid the inevitable?

 

I can't say that i know anything about this, i think i have an idea of what your talking about, but i have yet to acctually get a short shifter, so i don't know if im right. But i'd say just try glueing it back together, it can't hurt to try, right?

 

I ended up just getting the whole assembly from MINI of the Main Line for about the same price as most of the junkyards I checked. Gluing it just felt a bit unsafe to me...I'll put up a post about my experience installing this hopefully it'll help somebody else out there.