B&M Short Shifter Install problems

**BacTeng** · 04-21-2008 01:12 PM

I just finished installing a knock off B&M short shifter for my 2000 audi s4 that i bought off ebay. Before anyone starts flaming, all the materials included looked exactly like what B&M had in their pdf installation file. i installed as the B&M instructions said but now i can't find 1st 2nd or reverse. I can fix not finding 1st or 2nd but no matter what i do i can never get into reverse. also there's a lot of slop when i'm in gear. While in gear, the shifter moves from side to side like its in neutral. anyone have a B&M shifter w/similar problems?

**Jung** · 04-21-2008 06:33 PM

is it hte one you get for 85 bucks? I have the same kind, except its genuine bm... well when you cant get it in reverse can hyou get it into all the other gears? if so, you may want to take everything out again (pita) and make sure that that little metal pin thing that you put loctite on is on the right way and in ALL THE WAY... if not, it is not going to catch reverse. also, did you remember to tighten that hex bolt that connects to the shift linkage to as tight as it could possibly go and put loctite on the threads?
after the install, everything was a LOT more crisp and direct. much more composed. you did follow the instructions exactly right?

**SoSlow** · 04-21-2008 07:28 PM

my b&m is for sale..

**jlyv3845** · 04-21-2008 07:48 PM

hey man i feel your pain. I had a B&M before JHM (and ill never go back) and it was AWFUL. Yes it worked...just not well. For a while it was kinda nice because the few people that drove my car were like wow i can't find reverse and i felt special because i knew how to get into it but then i couldnt get it into reverse one day without having a fit with it. IMO, just scrap it and go with jhm or some other reputable brand. If you want a genuine b&m (that i bought from AWE i believe) I can give you the whole set up for like $30 or something small like that. Let me know if you want it because it's just sitting in my garage doing nothing.
-Josh

**BacTeng** · 04-21-2008 08:05 PM

it looked like a b&m knock off. got it for $33 w/shipping. wasn't branded as b&m but i went to b&m's site & downloaded the pdf instructions, it had all the same parts as listed by the instructions so it does appear to be a knockoff.

right now, i can only get to 3rd & 4th but i can adjust that. when i first put it in, could only get to 1st, 2nd & 4th. was never able to get it into reverse. will try to readjust again but i'll probably end up taking everything out & putting it back in. when you put your b&m shifter in, did you set the black shift housing to the midway point on the gold rails? right now, mine's all the way toward the front so i think that's why i can only get 33rd & 4th.

the bottom bar w/the silver plate, how far does that need to be when i screw everything back?

**jlyv3845** · 04-21-2008 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by BacTeng

it looked like a b&m knock off. got it for $33 w/shipping. wasn't branded as b&m but i went to b&m's site & downloaded the pdf instructions, it had all the same parts as listed by the instructions so it does appear to be a knockoff.

right now, i can only get to 3rd & 4th but i can adjust that. when i first put it in, could only get to 1st, 2nd & 4th. was never able to get it into reverse. will try to readjust again but i'll probably end up taking everything out & putting it back in. when you put your b&m shifter in, did you set the black shift housing to the midway point on the gold rails? right now, mine's all the way toward the front so i think that's why i can only get 33rd & 4th.

the bottom bar w/the silver plate, how far does that need to be when i screw everything back?

Nah, put the shift housing atleast to the middle or all the way back because if you put it too far forward, the bottom of the linkage at the elbow/pivot point will hit the bottom of the rubber unit the assembly is encased in. The silver plate basically sits in the same place the entire time for the most part (but moves with the bottom shaft), it's just the bottom shaft connected to the elbow that can be moved farther in or farther out (of the that black rod that disappears into the abyss of your transmission) which in turn, moves the plate and angles the actual shaft (the part you see at the top) either farther forward or farther back. Hope this helps.
Josh

**AB18** · 04-21-2008 09:40 PM

I HATE the b&m shifter for the b5 S4. I had a real one,and it was horrible. It caused a mishift from 3rd to 2nd that could have blown my engine. I can't express the difference between the b&m and JHM.