B&M and clone short shifter 2nd gen eBay Megan [Merged 3-7]

[IslandTSI]

Those companies couldn't make as much profit of a $35 shifter. They are businesses in the end.

I have the cheap b&m rip off ebay short shifter. It fit together perfectly bolted in perfectly and I have run if for 2 years now without a hitch. No reason to buy the real version.

 

[wicketdreams]

I agree, they couldnt, but even if they sold it for $50, they would definitely sell it in quantity which would offset the minimal profit..so I have to conclude that there must be a reason other than price/profit...but like I said in my first post..some have it and like it...so have it and don't..it's a personal judgement call..

 

[knighteclipse1]

Bought mine off e-bay and its just as good as a friends high dollar original, I really can't tell the difference between them.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

After seeing both knockoff and real, the only time I could see myself buying the real one again is if i cared about brand names. In other words the knockoff is fine

 

[kain_99gs]

I have had the knock-off in the gs for well over a year. It didn't come with a package of lube. That is about it. Works great.

 

[mattdev]

Well, when you think about it a shifter is definitely not a high detail/technicality item. I'm sure starving children in Africa could make one out of stone. So a guy w/ a metal shop could make one for sure. So for a shifter I don't think it matters much (or exhaust piping or any other basic mechanical device). So I'll be getting the basics on eBay!!

 

[Locke]

I installed a knock-off B&M ebay shifter. I had to press in a bearing and grind some metal off to fit. Took me about 45 minutes start to finish. Most of that time was grinding and test fitting.

Too easy, works great. Will purchase another if I get another DSM.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I wish I had a picture of mine. My install was similar. But I ended up grinding of just a hair too much materiel from that purple block thing so I ended up with some slop. My solution was to stuff washers in the part where I ground and it's as firm as can be.

Lame it didnt fit right away, but I'll buy 5 of these things before coming close to the price of the legit B&M.

Oh yeah, and it works great

 

[Locutus78]

I bought my knock off B&M shifter and metal bushings from eBay (boneheadperformance) and I love it. Throw is exactly the same as friends car that has the "true" B&M, he got kinda pissed...

 

[sjk9671]

is this like the one you guys are all talking about? is th shiter height shorter than factory?

 

[guitarhero14]

is this like the one you guys are all talking about? is th shiter height shorter than factory?

Only by barely an inch.

 

[sjk9671]

hmm i wander if you could cut it down a touch then. but SS is harder to weld right

 

[vr4gasmtt]

Wow, there seems to be alot of people that are saying it shifts very similar to a real B&M, but all the people (from searching) said that a B&M shifts differently.

I was just about to purchase a real b&m for $80 but if I can get something brand new, and its pretty much the same thing, I'll probably get it.

What modifications did you guys have to do to get it to fit? If you can supply a link to the one you got, I heard some people say they bought it and it fit perfectly without any modifications, any link to that one?

 

[2point3Tsi]

I bought a shifter from obx and still had to grind it down to fit, and add a washer

 

[vr4gasmtt]

I bought a shifter from obx and still had to grind it down to fit, and add a washer

What exactly needs to be grinded off? What are you using to grind it off?
How does it feel after you installed it? Any slop, grinds?

If anyone got a SS on ebay and it fit perfect first time, can they post a link or the name of the seller?

 

[guitarhero14]

What exactly needs to be grinded off? What are you using to grind it off?
How does it feel after you installed it? Any slop, grinds?

If anyone got a SS on ebay and it fit perfect first time, can they post a link or the name of the seller?

I ordered mine on ebay from 4caroption and it fit perfectly. There is a product review for this exact shifter here.

 

[Locke]

There is an aluminum block that raises the fulcrum. (hence shorter throw) The block will rest on the top of the side-to-side factory lever. (rail selector, which will stay) The lever is stamped and folded steel, and as high tolerance is not required here, the distance from the pivot pin and the top of the lever vary.

Grind the aluminum block where it interferes with installation, until it fits.

I used a bench grinder until I was close, then finished with a flat single cut file.

BTW- I am talking about the eBay knock-off B&M, others probably differ. The height is near stock. Maybe half an inch lower, MAYBE. Welding stainless is not to hard, you just need to use the correct wire. Though I might add, cutting down a shifter with an already short throw will add to the effort required to change the gear. I am happy with the 50% reduction.

There is almost no slop, and I haven't ground a gear in ten years. Noticably more notchy. I like it.

 

[Defiant]

The lever is stamped and folded steel, and as high tolerance is not required here, the distance from the pivot pin and the top of the lever vary.

Not on the B&M, nor on the clone. On both, the lever is machined and solid.

 

[MyÜberFastGSX]

Generally in life, you pay for what you get. But on rare occasion, you can get a deal. From the sounds of it, this is a deal.

 

[thekellbeast]

I got the real thing before I knew about the ebay knockoffs. Oh well.

 

[sd_ff22]

http://www.dsmparts.com/customer/product.php?productid=645&cat=20&page=1

thats the one I'll be buying. think about it this way, if you buy something from ebay they usually say you can only return it if it has not been opened. then how would you know if it fit like crap??
If you buy from a reputable online store, they accept returns and exchanges much more easily.

 

[Gamble97]

http://www.dsmparts.com/customer/product.php?productid=645&cat=20&page=1

thats the one I'll be buying. think about it this way, if you buy something from ebay they usually say you can only return it if it has not been opened. then how would you know if it fit like crap??
If you buy from a reputable online store, they accept returns and exchanges much more easily.

I got the same one off ebay for $40ish, and it was the EXACT same thing. It's perfect!!
I bought another one (not a megan) for $30 on ebay and it's pure garbage. I had to modify everything to get it to fit correctly.
If you get it off ebay, make sure you the megan one.

 

[pooker]

Mine has been holding strong for over a year now.

 

[agarcia892003]

Im looking for a short throw shifter for my car and there's a lot of them to choose from..will any of the ones on ebay for 26 dollars do the magic or should I go ahead and buy the B&M for 145 dollars? what do you have in your car, and how is it working for you? thanx for the replies guys.

 

[joesansone17]

Alot of guys use ebay short throw kits and like them, my frined bought one for his mx6 and it was kind of lose feeling, so he went with the b&m one and that is nice and tight. So the b&m would be nice to go with unless the ebay kits are better on DSMs then mazdas.