Just installed the B&M short shifter on my G35 coupe. Installation was a bit tedious but not technically difficult. Hardest part was getting the boot straight during retightening of the stock shift **** on the new shifter.

The shifter is solidly made and build quality is excellent--perfectly finished and everything fitting precisely. The shift feel now is noticeably shorter, quicker, firmer and absolutely positive. In other words, you know exactly where the shifter is going every time you use it. Reverse, too, is precise with the right amount of downpressure required.

Vibration in the shifter is definitely less than stock although sound transmission through the mechanism is slightly louder. I find this to be better auditory feedback of syncromesh engagement without being at all bothersome. When gunning it hard, there's a slight rattle at certain RPMs that immediately quiets when I ease off the gas pedal. I wonder if this is the chamfered spacer for the stock **** that I left on instead of removing like the directions said to.

Overall, it's exactly what I had hoped for in a short shifter. I purposely avoided the Rogue Engineering shifter because it doesn't shorten the throw enough to be worth the cost and hassle (20% shorter than stock as compared with B&M's 33%). In addition, the B&M through Intense Motorsports was only $159--a bargain compared to the RE which requires you to spend an additional $10 on a replacement Nissan socket--a rather cheap plastic part that doesn't have the solidity of the B&M's beefy T6 aluminum socket.

Regarding the "break in" myth that several posts mention, there is absolutely NO break in because the resistance and firmness in shifting is the result of the transmission itself and not the lever which moves very smoothly in it socket right from the start. This is actually the case for any replacement shifter.

So I'll give the B&M shifter a thumbs up.

 

good info

 

Nice write up.

I have to say I loved the B&M when I got mine in and everyone who has tried it says is feels a lot tighter then stock. I have only had problems with the Sparco Race Globe I put on. It rattles at certain RPMs, but I am sure I can tighten that down.

 

Ok--I finally pulled out the chamfered spacer that I mistakenly placed on the new stick and completely eliminated the rattle. Now that I've driven for a few days, I really like the feel of the short shifter. It's really quite simple: by raising the fulcrum of the lever towards your hand, the throw is shortened and the feel proportionately made heavier. With the heavier, "notchier" feel comes increased control and sensitivity. This is not unlike the difference in feel between the overassisted power steering of a big car compared with the much tighter, less assisted, sharper steering of a sports car.

 

does anyone have any experience with using an after market shift **** and a short throw shifter? i was told it didnt work well but was wondering if anyone had first hand info on this and if they liked it or not. Thanks

 

There shouldn't be any problem but avoid heavily weighted *****. They can mimic the effect of resting your hand on the shifter when not shifting. This accelerates wear on the syncros.

 

As I said below, I have the Sparco X Globe on mine. I love it.
We had some mounting problems, but otherwise the feel is like night/day compared to the stock feel.

 

Good write up!

 

Hello,

Great overview. Thanks for the write-up.

 

Thanks! Feel free to put any of those comments on your site. I think you guys do an excellent job.

 

Hello,

Thanks again!