I just had a B&M SS install by my dealer and I m finding it kinda weird. First is the stiffness, I know this is normal and I'll just have to get used to it. (How long does it usually take for it to break in and loosen a bit?) Second, when I move the shifter around, I hear clinking sounds from underneath the car, the gears I guess. But what is weird is the when it is in neutral and I just move the shifter left and right without actually put it into any gear, there are still clinking sounds, as if it was going into a gear. Third is when I shift I hear a louder sound, almost like grinding type, then I used to with the stock shifter, a lot louder, to the point when I can even hear it with windows closed, music playing, and moving. Can anyone help me out and tell me if these are abnormal and might be the problem and how it could be fixed. Thanks in advance, I really appreciate any help.

 

first, the shifter wont necessary loosen up, you just need to get used to the change. reduced leverage=harder shift. as far as the noise, the shifter linkage is probably scraping on the heat shield. you can just bend this slightly out of the way so it doesn't hit anymore. that is a common problem with short shifters, it happened with the BnM and the kartboy on 2 different cars i installed it on. its easy to fix though. good luck

 

I have the same shifter, and noticed that it was harder to shift than the stock one. It has since "loosened" up, or I got used to it. I had to bend the heat shield away from the shifter because the lower ball joint is slightly longer than the stock shifter. You can easily fix this yourself if you have a jack and jackstands. The metal is fairly soft, and you should be bend it by hand with no problems.

 

if you do find that its the heat shield.....the next time you think about having your dealer do work for you....think twice....for right in the instructions that come with the B&M shifter it specifically tells you that you need to do this or the shifter will hit and make noise...

another way to 'adjust' it so that it won't hit the shifter is to remove the two screws that hold it to the bottom of the car near the front...and just put a stack of washers under it to make a "stand off" for the heatshield.....