anyone have the B&M shifter?
likes, dislikes?

Alta's shifter has too many set screws and adjustments for my tastes.
the way i shift i'm afraid i'll yank all those set screws loose.

 

I bought one, it was delivered today. I havn't got a chance to install it. I thought it was built better and cheaper.

 

I had one installed last year at Helix along with a Whalen. I love it. No problems and the shifting is like butta'.

 

Got one for Christmas (from my wish list) but I probably won't be able to install it for a couple of weeks :impatient

 

I have the prototype version, before it was released to the masses. (I have a friend who works at B&M as an Engineer).

Anyways, the only gripe is that I cannot use the cover (box) that was included with the package because my aftermarket header w/oem cat was hitting it. No biggie, I just ran without the box. I mentioned to my friend and I think the final version fixes that problem (for those who have aftermarket headers).

Nevertheless, it's a good mod. I have it for 1.5 years now and it's still performing like the day my friend gave me.

 

I've had one for about 4 years - got it in an introductory group buy. I still love it.

 

I have had mine for almost 3 years now and still lovinging it. Add the Whalen and it is a great combination.

 

Hi , I was hoping that I did'nt need to do much with the JCW exhaust to make the shifter fit. It seems they addressed the interference?

 

I just looked at the shifter kit and there is no cover with it.It must use the stock parts. So what interefers with the exhaust?

 

Actually the one that fits the October 04 and newer builds has a dust cover on the bottom of the housing. The earlier version didn't have that piece.

 

I like it alot, its extrememly stiff though.

 

My buddy that got me into MINIs has one in his MCS. It reduces the throw which is nice, and it lowers the shift **** position. I have the Alta myself and prefer the feel of the Alta. The Alta one is angled and for me puts the shifter in a more comfortable position, and the middle setting isnt quite as short as the B&M but you can always drop it down to the shortest throw setting if you desired. The Alta is also smoother and goes into gear easier on my car than the B&M on his car, the B&M is a stiffer feel and like I stated doesnt go into gears as easily as my Alta does on my car.

To sum it up, the B&M does the job but I much prefer the feel of the Alta. Once you tighten those set screws in there they wont come loose, and if you think they might just put a dab of some light duty thread lock on them.

 

[quote=BE4TNUT;1289180]My buddy that got me into MINIs has one in his MCS. It reduces the throw which is nice, and it lowers the shift **** position. I have the Alta myself and prefer the feel of the Alta. The Alta one is angled and for me puts the shifter in a more comfortable position, and the middle setting isnt quite as short as the B&M but you can always drop it down to the shortest throw setting if you desired.quote]

Can one screw in any aftermarket **** onto the Alta shifter?

and i havent got my Alta shifter yet (ordered) but is there something written on the shifter as to how much percentage you are lowering the throw, like different positions, 15%-20%-30% throw reduction, etc. Or you just eyeball it and see how it works out?

My wife will be driving the car, so it can't be too hard to shift, it has to engage fairly smoothly so what range should i stay for that, where does it get too notchy/stiff to shift, at what setting?

 

ive had mine for 4 years now still lovin the short throws. i had an issue with it being stuck in 2nd a few times. i never figured it out what was wrong, oh well, it still works.

 

I should be installing my B&M this week alog with my JCW exhuiast

 

I installed my B&M SS on my '05 MCS this past weekend. I really like the shorter throw and the well-defined gates. All of the OEM slop is gone.

However, something I did caused the JCW exhaust to start resonating like crazy (a deep resonance and not a metallic buzz like heat shield contact) - so much that it rattles loose change in the ashtray/coin holder and now drones somewhat. I need to get it back in the air and try to figure out what I did. Best I can remember the JCW resonator did not contact the heat shield anywhere but I did have to 'mold' the heatshield around the larger B&M dust cover so I could remount it.

 

I think you have the same problem as me. The resonator is hitting the dust cover. I thought B&M fixed it for the final release, but I guess they didn't. Try removing the dust cover and see if the noise goes away, but I'm positive that's the reason.

 

I've had mine(B&M) on for 60K without issues. Here in the northeast, installation can be an issue on older cars as you HAVE to drop your exhaust to put it on, and salt encrusted flange bolts can be a real pandora's box of problems. I watched Randy put this on and it must have been his first install, cause it took HIM close to 2 hours (and cost ME an extra $80.00 ) for the install.
This mod is NOT for everyone and for the guy whose wife will drive this car, find someone who has it installed and see if you can arrange a short test drive for her BEFORE putting it on. It's not imperative that it be done on a lift, but it sure makes it easier. Lastly , I still have trouble getting the car into reverse and occassionally 4th to 5th . Wish I'd tried the alta and B&M before putting this on, but you won't see me taking it off anytime soon.

 

It feels like the resonator may be making contact (pressing up against the heat shield and dust cover) but after I got the exhaust all bolted up the other night I forgot to check. I wish I had access to a lift - flotating this car on four jackstands to slide under it can get a little old.
Hmmmm - wonder what used lifts go for these days

 

Well...

after installing the new Alta short shifter i must say that i am very dissapointed with it.

no matter how high you adjust it, the feel never loses its NOTCHYNESS.
1st and 3rd seem to go in fairly smooth, but 2nd and 4th don't give a good feel at all, they don't 'click in' like 1st and 3rd, the feel is vague, not to mention very notchy and heavy to manipulate (not so heavy for me, but my wife can barely shift it)

All in all, money wasted and i dread doing the job again but it looks like i'll have to.
I have changed shifters in many cars, Miatas, VW's, SRT4's, etc. and none of them felt this shitty.

I might give the B&M a try before going back to stock

 

I'd give it a couple weeks if I were you. I have the Alta short shifter with the adapter for my whalen and it was kinda 'notchy' the first couple weeks. I don't know if there is a break in period for this mod but I definitely don't notice the 'notchy' feel that I felt the first week or so.

 

I installed my B&M shifter {04 MCS} over a year ago.--At first very dissapointed in the way it felt.--very stiff & not a positive feel to the gear engagment, along with clearance issues to the Borla exhaust.

What to look for & possiible fixes.

Part of my shifting problems were fixed by checking the shift cables. I found that I had accidentally bent one durring the initial install. Was able to straighten cable & reinstall.
The second part of smoothing out the shifter was installing a heavy shift ****.
The third part is just getting used to a different feel. You have less leverage & thus must us more effort to shift.

The clearance problem to the exhaust was fixed by turning the square mounting plate that holds the exhaust to the floor in that area upside down, transfering the two rubber mounts to the other side of the mounting plate.
The bolts are just long enough, although you may want to opt for slighly longer bolts.
Also I was able to get exhaust pipe clearance by rotating the center pipe slightly because it is offset.

Bottom line is I love my short shifter now. It has gotten better over time, or I have gotten used to it.
Knowing now what I didn't know then, not sure I would do it again. But am glad I did and was able to get it working properly.

 

seems to be getting a bit looser as it's being used...
maybe a week's worth of shifting will make it give a bit more, we'll see.

as for cables being bent, etc...nope, the install was done perfectly, everything went in the way it was supposed to, checked and rechecked everything already.

 

Well, I'm considering a short shifter, I'd like the **** to be as close to stock as possible, but reducing the throw. Which one would you suggest? I've read that Helix and rogue are just add-ons to the stock lever so they keep the same **** height, but they are not adjustable like the Alta and Craven Speed.

How much would the Alta and Craven Speed ones be lowered before they require to take away the stock dustcover? Would that reduction in throw and height give me a too hard to use stick?

 

I originally had the Craven Speed shifter. It required some modification of the dust shield. But the real problem was that it didn't stay adjusted. So I replaced it. My B&M shifter is about the same as stock height and accepts the stock shift ****, but the dust shield is completely removed. The kit comes with another metal enclosure, but it would not fit with my JCW exhaust (resonator directly below shifter). I now have a custom Whalen Shift Machine, and love it.