The B&M shifter comes with a new o ring & new bushings. The Alta doesn't. The alta doesn't even throw in a little tube of grease. I know that's petty but for $180.00, I would have thought they would have. Do the bushings make a big difference? I have also seen the B&M instuctions and they are way better than the Alta's. I just got the Alta shifter in the mail & I'm a little disapointed in it. I'm thinking about returning it and getting a B&M as soon as they are available for the 2004. Feedback would be great. Thanks

 

So far you reasons for wanting to send back the Alta are a bit silly. I just got back from the Randy Webb pulley party at Yarrowsport were I happen to see Randy install both the BM and Alta shifters into a few MCSs. I asked Randy about the bushings supplied by BM and he agreed that they have little, if any positive effect on the performance.

All of Alta's instructions for all of there stuff are VERY poor to say the least, but that alone would never keep me from using their quality parts. When I installed my Alta SS, I also referred to the BM instructions, but found that they were a bit overboard. I never had to remove my shift box from the bottom of the car and did most work from the driver seat.

As far as greese, well you really don't even need it, but still, don't we all have some somewhere anyway? :smile:

I prefer the Alta myself as it's adjustability gives me the option of tuning this shifter to MY personal liking. It's rock solid and quality built. Don't return it!

 

Their is a little more to it but I tring not to talk negatively about Alta. Thanks for the info about the bushings. If Randy said they don't make much of a difference thats good enough for me. The Alta does look like a nice piece. What setting are you using and does leaving off the cover worry you?

 

>>>......and does leaving off the cover worry you?<<<<

It worried MINI enough for them to put it on the car to begin with. That said, you probably won't run into any short term problems, but it could cause one in the long run.

 

I have a B&M SS and I havent had any problem's with it at all. Except for a broken shifter cable(mainly because of banging gears to hard ). And im not saying Alta is a bad choice either because I have some of their parts on my MCS.

 

Randy Webb recommended the Alta over the B&M because of the broken shifter cable. I have the short shifter now and I am just waiting for Alta to come out with the adapter to be able to use the Whalen ****.

Earl

 

I run my Alta at the last line, so about as short as they have it marked. I might go a bit shorter.

Leaving the bottom of the box off does not bother me in the least. The exhaust shield completely protects that area and when I removed it to do the SS, it was very very clean under there.