Recently, the slider mechanism (covering the shifter gate) broke on my 05 CGT (a common problem from what I see). While I did replace the entire mechanism (EXPENSIVE), I kept the damaged unit and disassembled it completely. Bentley doesn't sell components to this assembly, only the complete mechanism. You will probably be amazed as to the number of pieces required to make this assembly. I am still trying to determine the best way to replace the sliding cover (it is basically a membrane glued onto plastic ties that slide in a channel, very much like the "roll-top" storage compartment tops). Before you attempt to disassemble your own unit, recognize there are hidden magnets on the plastic trim piece that fits over the shift lever. If you dislodge these magnets, you will get an error on the dash gear selection display and the paddles won't work. I have included 5 pics. There are 2 more pics in subthread.

 

I am only allowed 5 pics per thread so, here are the final two pics of the assembly. These show the circuit board and the broken slider. Note: all components snap together. There are no screws or bolts.

 

Interesting photos!

Thanks for posting them up.

 

Have you come up with a. Fix for this yet?
How much did the replacement cost?
Maybe worth machining up a couple parts for a fix

 

I'm still trying to determine the best material. Either I keep the ties/rails and add a new rubber membrane or, eliminate the ties/rails and replace them with a solid piece of rubber matting cut to size. The challenge is to attach either solution to the plastic center piece (with the magnets) that goes over the shift lever. If the slider is too thick it will bind...if it is too flimsy it will break again. I'm still investigating materials. I'm wide open to suggestions on how to attach the replacement pieces. I don't think tape or glue will be sufficient as there isn't much to grab onto and a car sitting in hot sun will quickly detach anything flimsy.

RE: price...local dealer wanted $1290.00 + tax (shudder) in Canada. I sourced the assembly from Scuderia Systems in the UK for approximately half (including shipping).

 

the sliding cover on my 04 gt has broken too. anyone have a fix?

 

I found an excellent membrane material (very similar to the original rubber -based). I found it in the inner lining of some old luggage. The only solution to the attaching issue is to run an entirely new membrane the full length under the old one and pray it doesn't bind (particularly under the center piece surrounding the gear shift). Given that winter is coming here and I have some time, I may try it on the spare that I have. As you know, I ended up buying a completely new assembly. Have you got yours apart yet? It's a very frustrating problem that quite a few owners experience.

 

very interesting - and thanks for the pictures.
On my 04 occassionally the paddles stop working on the dash displays all gears 1 to 6 simultaneously.
I suspect a similar problem in that the plastic bit has broken and the magents dislodged a small bit.

 

if you get all six gear indicators lighting up on the dash, your paddles definitely won't work. As you suspect, it's all about that little nasty magnet. When you start taking apart the center console to get at the shift cover, go very slowly. I trust you have the IETIS service manuals which explain the sequence. Interestingly, there are no bolts...everything is snap together with the exception of the shifter sub assembly which is bolted down but detaching it is self-evident as the side bolts are clearly visible. (LarryR) Which end of the slider cover broke...from the shifter forward or from the shifter back?

 

PMS, broken from the shifter back. i have appointment friday with a bentley tech to fix. he said he has tried glueing that has not worked.

 

Just curious...did your Bentley tech have a fix (other than to replace the entire sub-assembly)?

 

replaced the entire assembly. he also found the short that was blowing out my courtesy lights so all in all a worthwhile fix

 

...Hello PMS...just reading your excellent write up on subject of "Shifter Gate Mechanism". Bentley shop would probably ask $2000 to replace unit. Where was the failure point...was the membrane backing tearing the cause. Where are the magnets, looking at the second picture, is there a magnet behind each of the 7 button like indicators. How are the magnets attached, are they glued to the plastic. I love repairing and reusing old broken things that are often discarded, especially old American made tools, having the luxury of time to do so...very questionable statement at 85...when the membrane tears and rollers separate is that what causes the Shift Lever to jam...do you think Bentley is currently using the same system...I presume you accept my apology JimB

 

This is a tricky problem Jim. The structure that fails is the sliding cover which consists of a set of rails that are held together by a membrane. The membrane is the visible part of the cover while the rails allow the membrane to slide forward and backward via the shifter arm itself. The rail ends fit in a narrow slot in the top metal covering plate. The membrane cracks and no longer move with the shift assembly. The broken ends (above or below the shifter) either fall into the shifter cavity or jam.

In the picture of the broken rail/membrane assembly, you can see a square beside the shifter hole and (what looks like a camera battery) slightly lower. The lower one is the magnet. As the assembly shifts, this magnet makes contact with specific points on the electronic control board. This contact serves to provide electrical connectivity with certain functions on the control board. Most notable of these functions are the shifter paddles and DIP (small center screen) indicators showing which gear you have selected. To the best of my memory, the key contact is with the shifters as no other transmission-related events are affected.

The magnet was originally glued in place, but over time it simply resides in its pocket without any attachment and may or may not fall out during the disassembly process. If the shifter cover fails and the magnet remains, nothing other than cosmetics is affected (you have gaping holes in the shifter gate allowing you to see the mechanics of the shifter assembly). If the failure causes the magnet to dislodge, it will inevitably fall into the shifter cavity. From what I have seen this rarely happens. In most cases the magnet dislodges during disassembly.

This design exists with several VW cars and with the exception of the Bentley, you can buy the membrane/rail assembly for very little money. Bentley insists on replacing the entire shifter assembly in order to replace the membrane/rail component. Several forum members have tried gluing the membrane/rail component back together, but anything that adds to the depth of the membrane causes the shifter to jam in the slide rails. Early reports of this problem (by forum members) suggested they were successful with glue. Follow-up reveals that no one (to my knowledge) has been able to repair this successfully.

This revelation speaks to your wish to get forum members to report on the success/failure of a repair...not just find or suggest a solution and then disappear. I agree with your wish to get final resolution.

There is a fair amount of force applied to the membrane/rails when you pull the shift arm and any attempt to overlap the broken membrane ends (you can't end-butt them) will cause binding when the shift arm moves.

As I mentioned in the early discussions on this topic, I kept the old assembly and the broken bits. I am willing to experiment with any suggestions on how this issue can be resolved as it shouldn't be this expensive/complicated to solve. On a positive note, the replacement seems to be fine several years after replacing it. I suspect ambient heat may cause the problem with the membrane. My car resided in Florida prior to me importing it.

Hope this answers your question. If not, let me know.

 

Sorry, I don't know if the later cars have the same design. I would be interested in knowing.