[Bhozar]

Following on from my Proflex bushes and mounts (http://www.mini2.com/forum/engine-dr...es-mounts.html) I decided to try and further improve gear shifting by fitting a B&M Short Throw Shifter.

I decided against the Alta and other ones as I think they shortens the shifter too much and you are unable to put the bottom cover back on the shifter box. I wanted to retain this bottom cover to prevent any dirt or grit getting into it. I also figured I wouldn’t have any problems with aftermarket exhausts if it all fitted into the same space as the OEM shifter.

Fitting took me three hours. Fitting should only take an hour but I was watching TV at the same time, which led to me making several mistakes. Nothing major, I just had to take the entire shift box back out of the car three times. Make sure all the plastic bushings are fitted correctly and firmly BEFORE you put it back into the car and attach the shifter cables folks! It is a fairly easy job, just needs a bit of brute strength for some parts of it.

Disappointingly the shifter came with photocopies black and white instructions. I downloaded some colour ones, which were much easier to see.

So how is it in the car? Pretty good. I haven’t missed a gear when using it in anger so far. The shift is much more 'sure.' It’s much quicker and smoother and feels so much better than the stock shifter, which in comparison now feels sloppy and far too relaxed. The stick is slightly shorter, but not by much. The shift is quicker because the lower bar under the pivot is longer, meaning you move the shifter less to get the same amount of movement on the shift cables.

It did take me a couple of days to get used to it, but once I was used to the differences I was much happier with how the car shifted. Wouldn’t surprise me if the shifter and Proflex mounts will improve my time down the 1/4 mile when I next go.

On the track it’s awesome. You spend so much time driving you don’t want to move your hands from the steering wheel for any longer than you have too. Knowing that with a quick flick you are in to the next gear you need is great.

I bought the kit from GTT.