B&M Sport Shifter Install (04 5.7 M6)

[ne0fiend]

So let me start off by saying I truly love B&M products.
I have had many applications in many cars; from internal kits to shifters, linkages to load bearings.
Having said that; I was seriously unimpressed with this product.
I'll explain as we navigate this post -

So, my shift-knob broke...



That alone pissed me off, considering it broke at the exact spot the upper-forward bar's half way mark is.
MAKE IT STRONGER, PONTIAC.
Anyway, I was going to buy an OE replacement part to fix it...
Shopping for better than a week, the cheapest OEMR part I could find was just under $200.00 - (lol?) So I decided to just get a short-shifter/sport shifter.
I decided on the B&M 'Precision Sport'.

The shifter's look is really neither here, nor there considering it's hidden by the heat cloths and rubber boot, but I liked the style and colored aluminum.



Anyway, lets get started:
I removed the plastics and had a look at the shifter its self under all the jazz...



It was strange to me that Pontiac would use Hex heads for the transmission cap, and torx for the shifter's plastic protector.
Nevertheless, I pressed on...

I needed to raise the car a foot or so off its squat
to be able to reach the RIDICULOUSLY placed boot retaining nuts.


If you're like me and have fat fingers and hands, drink an extra beer before you start this or it's going to ruin your afternoon.
This step, bar: none, took the longest because of the bullsh*t locations and my fat fingers.
...Also my girlfriend was texting me while I was doing this part, but that's alright because she's super beautiful and makes me laugh.
I suggest having my girlfriend text you also if you decide to install this shifter - it'll take the edge off. But you can't have her. :P
Hahaha anyway!
The two rearward nuts were easy, of course; but the forward nuts were tough and a pain in the ass. The 'Tough' one is just infront of the X-member, RIGHT above the yoke. Have fun... The second is crammed above the yoke, behind the mount, between the T-tunnel and what I assume is the VSS.

I won't waste your time with any more redundant pictures; we'll just assume you understand the concept and can take it from here alone.
It's not too tough - I didn't mean to make it sound hard there.
On a 1 to 10 scale, I put this install at a 3.
Why?
Tools *
Time *
Bolt-up ease *

So now let me get to the reasons why I don't like this product, bros...
The God damn base plate that B&M machined for this thing LOOKS great - but for the '04 5.7 M6, THE HOLES DIDN'T MATCH UP RIGHT!
Check it out...

Yeah, you're seeing it right - The passenger side hole is off-center.
LOL?

I don't know if I got unlucky with it or what, but I was so pissed, it turned into laughter.
Anyway, when it's all installed; AFTER you drill out the base plate
it works like a charm.





-ne0

[cammed goat]

Looks pretty good. Did you use the zip-tie to hold the boot to the knob?

[ne0fiend]

Looks pretty good. Did you use the zip-tie to hold the boot to the knob?

Yeah, I had some slightly thicker black ones laying around.
I tried using a powder coated black hose clamp, but elected it looked a bit too tacky.

[cammed goat]

Get used to the shifts. All in the wrist. Ya don't have to use your arm to shift.