Adjustment of the cables are everything on these cars, with or with out SSK.On my 04 I had to make a few adjustment over time, when i installed my SSK the car was BRAND new.The SSK is the only way to drive this car, but others really don't like it.I think its due to improper cable adjustment.

 

changed my transaxle oil today and car shifts better but not as smooth as i'd like. am going to have to adjust the cables if i can figure it out. i know i am supposed to remove the console, but i've seen on some sites where i need a special tool? how do i change the cable alignment? by hand, turning a screw or plastic housing or something? why did the dealer tell me t was 3 hours labor to install the 997 stock shifter into my car? At $175 and hour. wtf? i thought it was a fairly simple job.

 

They love raping you thats why. My advice is to give it a go yourself - it's very simple and just take your time, if-not search for a reputable indy close to you.

I'm going to be adjusting the cables today bu a notch or two which should clear up the throw issues that I've been experiencing but i don't expect any improvement in smoothness.

 

how do you adjust the cables. someone said:

look below the shifter you will see the shift link. Adjust by turn and play with the plastic end with spring.

is this it? with my fingers?

 

Hey David try changing the transaxle or gear oil. i had it done today at pep boys for $75. The gears have never felt better. even in the cold. 75w90 mobil 1 gear oil. I was at 60k so it was time to change the gear oil anyway. It's so cheap you should do it.

 

on cold days its a ***** to put it into first gear!

 

agreed!! everything tuns good when warm..EXCEPT 3rd gets notchy...or easier to F-up once i run the car harder...this could be adjustment issue...but i am worried about adjusting for just one gear... and affecting the others.

 

yeah itz nutty cus all my gears are fine except for 4th gear where the throw in the gear is way short. trying to find out how to adjust the cables once i get the console off

 

that's a screw job in my opinion. RUF installed mine and they charged for 2 hours of labor and it works perfectly (115/hr).

 

If you guys find shift adjustment tool for the B&M, please share. I have not been able to locate one. Adjustment has to be done with the stck shifter in place with the porsche tool.

Lots of threads on at Renntech.org on this.

jorge

 

As I posted earlier in this thread:

Reinstall your stock shifter and use the Porsche cable aligning tool (I don’t have the part number but it is a $4.00 plastic thing that snaps on to the cables. It will not fit over the B&M unit, so you have to use the stock shifter) to rest the cables in the proper location. Then MARK THEM very accurately. Those little grooves are very small and very close together and just one notch off will make a difference. I recommend painting over the cable ends with a light dusting of paint or nail polish. Lining them up later is very easy that way.

Then reinstall the SSK. Line the cables up with you marks very carefully and you should be good.

 

great advise... I've been wanting to try a short shifter, this site is great.

 

Does anyone have the part no. for the aligning tool and how it's supposed to be used?

 

from what i understand there are possibly FOUR different tools depending on car model and shifter model... so it is best to talk the dealer.... BUT more importantly read through the info on renntech....

 

well i changed my trans axle oil and just bought the 997 GT3 stock shifter for my 03 996 today. I may try to install myself or have it done. i hope the mis-shifts, notchy feel, and increasing difficulty with 4th gear not going into gear at times become a thing of the past. Praying it's just cable adjustment, stock shifter and not synchronizer. Pray for me guys. If it's the synchronizer this things has got to go and it will back to BMW. Spent 8K on repairs on this thing since May.