OK, I just installed my new B&M short shifter yesterday. After doing a search and reading all the previous posts it was actually easier than I expected.

I knew it would be a little more difficult/more effort to shift, but I have noticed 2nd and 4th gear require more effort than the others or top gears. Anyone else notice this or is it just me?

After driving five months with the stock shifter in my MCS I'm still trying to figure out if I like the shortness of the short shifter. I guess I was expecting a more uniform effort with all the gears.

Thanks

 

I haven't noticed, but perhaps the MINI gods are smiling down on me because of the f'ing nightmare installing it... the nut on the exhaust was as rusted as I've ever seen, so I had to Dremel through it, which worked OK, but then when I was torqueing everything back together, TADA! The bolt "tore" off. Had to drill through the flange to get the bolt off. Took quite a while, needless to say

 

I started to try and take the exhaust off but it was starting to take too much effort. After only five months it was rusted pretty good. I went ahead and left the exhaust on and exchanged the shifter in the car.

I did find an unexpected surprise when taking the heat shield off. A small rectangular "MINI" sign fell out. It is black with silver lettering. I always end up with a few extra parts when putting a project back together .

 

My exhaust bolts are the same way. I did manage to get one out, but the other is closer to the top of the heat shield tunnel and hard to get at. Not moving the exhaust makes moving the heat shield a pain, but possible.

Still waiting on my replacement shift kit (my 04 has the 03 shifter), but hopefully very soon. :smile:

 

Pain yes!! My hands are still torn up. I did get the the heat shield off with out taking the exhaust apart. Wish I had a lift. That would have made things soooo much easier .