has anyone done a shift kit on their car? i noticed some are just a little piece and some are a complete assembly

http://www.nm-eng.com/235/3/0/2445/n...t-adapter.html

http://www.mini-madness.com/new-mini...t-shifter.aspx

http://new.minimania.com/InvDetail.c...300&googlebase

just a couple examples i know theirs more out their

 

I've installed several of the NM short shift adapter and had great luck with them. Shorter throw but the stick is the same height.

 

See this post in this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...887-post3.html

 

Thank you both!

Onefish, I didn’t want to change the appearance so the link was very helpful! Although it does look cool,

Way, i think I’m going to go with the one from nm along with the torque arm insert i just lost my job Tuesday, so I'm going to hold off for a little till i get another one but they both seem like a good bang for the money. Now that i got some free time I’m going to install the my WMW diverter valve tomorrow that iv ad since the end of Feb. lol.. I can’t wait!

 

Let me throw my opinion in... Drove the NM short shifter and loved it. Drove the helix and LOVED it. Reminds me of a notch ferarri 6spd. And the helix is like, um, $45. And the torque arm bushings is great, but keep your eye on the marketplace. I see them on there all the time.

 

I have the Helix short shifter. I think it's the same length as the NM, so it should feel the same. I would definitely recommend it, it really shortens the shifting, but not so much that it's hard to shift or find a gear.

One thing to keep in mind, is you won't be able to reuse the plastic cover under the car that seals up the shift mechanism. The short shift adapter pushes the linkage down, keeping the cover from fitting. Some people say it's not a big deal, just throw it away (the whole area is really covered up by the exhaust heat shield), but I was a little uncomfortable with that. NM makes a replacement plastic cover that just has a little "bump out" in it so there is enough clearance. It's outragiously priced at $89 I think, but I bought one anyway. It fits perfectly.

Tom

 

i prefer to have the plastic there too. I dont have it there now and i feel the outside temperatures, and its annoying. I want the inside to be sealed from the outsides elements.

 

I think not installing a cover is a bad idea, unless you are a fairweather, track day kind of driver. The telling point is that BMW actually designed in a groove and a seal. They are really trying to keep the area closed and it is a barrier against heat and noise. Also, I suspect if you go through a few inches of water, some will splash onto the bottom of the shifter. The ball on the end of the shifter pops into a plastic part where it joins the transmission linkage. Moisture will carry dirt in and that will accelerate the wear on the plastic part. Try to get that fixed under warranty if you have taken the cover off and not replaced it.

Also, $90 for the nm cover may not be all that bad. Note that they buy original BMW/MINI covers and modify them. Somehow, I don't think that BMW/MINI makes any CHEAP parts.

I didn't do the installation work. I sold my house a few months back, so I have no garage and all my tools are in storage. Anyway, the guy who did the work is a co-owner of a repair shop that serviced the MINIs predecessor for the last 8 years. He was impressed by the quality of the nm cover. He's been in the business for maybe 30 years and I think he can tell the Good from the Bad and the merely Ugly...

 

Over 2 years with no cover. No issues. My mechanic that did the install said it should be fine as its "tucked away."

I do my best to avoid driving in flood waters.

 

And snow. I would guess that the materials would have a hard time with road salt...

 

Put the NM SSA on over a year ago and love it. NM's linkage cover plate wasn't available at the time, so I went bare and have had no problems after +20K. During install I noticed that the outside of the cover was spotless while the inside was a mess! Apparently dirt is filtering down thru the shifter boot into the linkage. Craven's shift boot cover hopefully will give a better seal. Going bare is probably not a problem in SoCal's weather, but not advisable in other areas according to NM. Just my 2 cents.