This is just the beginning... might as well get used to it.

 

I found this on pcars.com is this the same? Looks like B&M, but it's only listed ad 90+ bucks?

http://pcars.com/porsche_parts/shop....er/p_3003.html

 

Well the one you have posted there looks A LOT like the B&M. I don't think it is the B&M but a copy that was selling on ebay for awhile. The difference that I notice right away is that the "cup" as pictured in the upper left both have a set screw and lock nut on the end of them for adjustment. The B&M kit as I have seen it and how mine arrived only have the set screw adjustment on one of the cups.

I seem to remember someone ordering one over at rennlist. I believe their comments were: The shift lever has a bend to it to position it towards the drivers side of the car. The "knock off" came with the lever bent towards the passenger side. Simply unbolting the lever, turning it around, and re-installing took care of that. The other difference was in the material that the "bushings" were made out of. You will see the on either end of the shifter base "gold" pieces of metal. These are machined of brass. The brass pieces fit into the aforementioned blue "cups". Inside the cups on the B&M shifter are bushings made of Delrin. Delrin is a material much like Teflon, it is very slick and resistant to wear. Delrin is a very dense white plastic like material. I remember it mentioned that the knock off might not be made of Delrin, but in-fact some sort of cheaper plastic material that will not allow for as smooth movement and the possibility of cracking.

All that said, I can not be certain if the unit pictured in your thread is the knock off or not. You may want to try contacting the seller and ask some questions. Most importantly what are the plastic bushings made of. The other things (two set screws, opposite bend) are negligible and shouldn't pose a problem.

This link is to the knock off that I just described. You can see the bend is opposite to the direction one would want. You would have to turn it around to make it useful. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHORT-SHIFTER-KIT-PORSCHE-CARRERA-BOXSTER-911-996-S-986_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQihZ013QQitem Z230192006786QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-Boxster-986-Carrera-996-TURBO-SHORT-SHIFTER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQihZ011QQ itemZ320182513120QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Yet another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHORT-SHIFTER-KIT-996-997-BOXSTER-986-PORSCHE-911-TURBO_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQihZ008QQit emZ180180495862QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

I decided to go with the B&M because they make the OEM Porsche unit and I figured that would be good evidence that if I had transmission problem it was not the fault of the aftermarket part.

Andy

Oh, one more thing I think you will notice that is different. On the B&M piece you will see the shift lever (stainless steel) is machined and has a machined surface. You can see the cut marks on it. The knock offs are cast SS and have a high polished finish and a bit "softer" edges do to the casting.

 

Great Info!! Thank you. I will definitely get the B&M for peace of mind.

 

If this is true he maybe should avoid getting one. Just kidding, if you can drive you should not have any problems.

 

It may not be the exact thing but it is damn near the same thing. Take a look at these;

http://pcars.com/porsche_parts/shop....er/p_3003.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/SHORT-THROW-SHIFTER-PORSCHE-CARRERA-BOXSTER-911-996-986_W0QQitemZ150184541764QQihZ005QQcategoryZ33736Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-986-CARRERA-996-TURBO-SHORT-SHIFTER_W0QQitemZ320184686964QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33 736QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHORT-SHIFTER-KIT-PORSCHE-CARRERA-BOXSTER-911-996-S-986_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQihZ013QQitem Z230194206670QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHORT-SHIFTER-KIT-996-997-BOXSTER-986-PORSCHE-911-TURBO_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQihZ008QQit emZ180183193612QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Notice how they all look exactly the same as the B & M except in color?

I've ordered and installed a 'clone' before. They are made of the same quality as the B & M. The only difference that I could find was the bushings material and shaft design. The shaft was reversed 180 degrees(doesn't stick straight up when installed it leans to the left),probably for legal reasons....but that can be reversed. If you flip the shaft 180 it's EXACTLY the same as a B & M in design and stands up straight. Installed the same way and felt the same as the B & M when installed. Tons of Boxster folk on 986forum have discussed this.

I'm installing two within the next month, if anyone wants me to I can take any pictures of the 'clones' you want to see.


*Just saw the posters info above,there is some good info there.

 

$7000 for new transmission, $60 difference between B&M and questionable knockoffs.
The decision for me was clear.

 

All the short shift kit does is change the degree of the throw. Have you done the install yourself? If so you would see that the short shift kit only connects at the shift linkage location. I have no idea how you could ruin a tranny this way.

The only way you could mess the tranny up with a short shift kit installed would happen if you didn't disengage the clutch before shifting......over and over.

 

You don't think that a month's worth of half-"shifts" would have a negative affect on a transmission, namely the synchros? Very well.

And yes, I've done many of these installs.

 

That wasn't what I was referring to. I responded to the comment;

$7000 for new transmission, $60 difference between B&M and questionable knockoffs.
The decision for me was clear.

I was worried about syncro issue as well.....but truth is everyone that I know that has the B & M or B & M style short shift kit hasn't had an issue.

Here an email that I shared with an employee of Suncoast

We are a Porsche dealership and have installed hundreds of short shift kits in over the years. The problem with wearing of the synchros falls on the driver. The driver normally is trying to rip through the gears faster because he is tracking the car or street racing, and is pulling the shift lever before the clutch is disengaged. A short shifter only changes the degree of throw and other that that does nothing different. If the clutch is disengaged full then shifts then reengages the clutch, there will be no issue.

To be honest if was that big of a potential issue I wouldn't think that Porsche would make it an option.

 

Just had the B&M SSK and Evo linkage installed yesterday. It took 5 minutes to get use to and it feels great! Feels like a race car in the palm of your hands. Shifts feel more like 45% less throw then normal. Before it had a smooth rubbery feel and now it feels like a mechanical snick snick shift. Definitely worth it!!!

 

I have instaled mine today WoW what a diffrence love it. Simple instalation also.

 

anyone find a shift cable adjustment tool for the B&M??

 

It doesn't exist. You best bet is to use a tool on the stock shifter, mark your cables and then install the B&M to the same settings. However, I didn't have the tool before hand to do this, I just marked the cables (as shown in the instructions) and installed. Everything was fine.