Hello All,
I Just put in my B&M shift kit in my 05 MCS on Friday. Now the shifter seems very stiff. The install seemd to go very smoothly. My only question is that the shifter seems to require a lot of effort. Anyone had this kind of problem?
I am going to call B&M as soon as the Cali boys wake up....

Thanks all

 

Funny you should mention this... I put one in last week, and had a little self inflicted wound in the process. I bent the cable housing just after it enters the shift box. I straightened it, but the housing still looks slightly pinched. I can shift, but the effort is very high.

Anyway, I bought a new cable, and will try and put that in tomorrow. Let me know what B&M says. I would like to feel one that has been put in correctly to know what the effort should be like.

Just in case, I did buy a new rubber gasket to replace the one that B&M has you hack up. If I still don't like the effort, I may go back to stock.

-Andy

 

I don't think I bent anything. I was very careful not to do that. I'm thinking maybe I tightened the bolts that hold the whole assembly in place too much. This might put pressure on the cable....

 

For me, it's just the front back (even - odd) shift. My left right is still same effort (as it should be) Are you seeing the same thing?

So, has anyone put an '05 B&M in successfully? How does it feel?

 

This is normal in any SS kit as you are changing the leverage. Longer bottom an shorter top, it's one of the first things you learn in physics class.

 

That was my thinking also, just want to make sure I installed it correctly...

 

Just got off the phone with B&M, they said to check for 3 things.

Bent Cable housing

Scoring on the cable itself

Proper install of cable into housing

Well when I tear it down again next weekend these are the things I will be looking for....

 

What does proper install of the cable into the housing mean? Did they give you any tips on this? Did they give you any idea as to if the effort you are seeing is normal? I will be on a friends lift tomorrow, so I'll let you know how mine goes.

-Andy

 

I have an alta SS kit, installed a few weeks ago. Its adjustable. At the shortest setting shifting requires some effort.

Common physics problem. Moments, Distance X force. The further you are from the point of pivot the less force required to make the movement.

At any rate, it'll just help you build muscles...

 

Very cool, thanks for the input. I'm still going to tear it down to see if anything is binding....

 

Ok, redid the whole thing today. As expected, it went twice as fast the 2nd time around, even with having to remove some top side stuff to replace the bent cable.

With both cables out of the car next to the other, I could slide them and do some tests. It was pretty clear I messed up the old one. In my defense, the inctructions from B&M suck. Upon inspecting the parts out of the car, it was pretty clear that the bottom cup has a spot for a wrench, and comes off very easily with one. Channel locks as described in the B&M page are not the best way to do it, and using them contributed to my demise...

With the new cable, it shifts pretty well. Over all though, I don't think the B&M kit is worth the $100+ they charge for it. If you just want a shorter shift, it will do that for you. If you want less slop, or more precision, don't expect that from this product. It replaces once piece of metal (the shift shaft) with another. There rest of the housing, the ball socket, and the right-left linkage are still all plastic, and flex quite a bit. If someone were to make a new shifter that replaced those with metal, that would result in more precision.

 

So, youre saying go with the Alta?

 

I've only seen pictures of the alta, and it looks pretty similar. They both appear to be very well made. They both will shorten the shift. I just see how much plastic is in the current shift mechanism, and wonder how much better it would be if you could replace that with something less compliant. With the shift boot off, you really can see how much the whole thing flexes. Just put your car in gear, and see how much you can wiggle the shifter left and right. Neither seems to address the slop factor from plasic compliance, although neither makes any claim to. The alta one is adjustable which could be an advantage over the B&M. The B&M has a replacement for the weather seal. I'm not sure if the Alta does.

Anyway, my experience with shifters for the mini is limited. I'm sure others with experience will chime in.

-Andy