Took me 2 days but I finally installed a B&M short shifter. The install is very difficult. I was able to do it with the front of the car on jack stands but you really need a lift to finish this in a timely manner.

I've had a Dieselgeek Sigma 6 for a few months now and I think it is awesome, but I wanted to go even lower, so I decided to install the B&M ALONG with the DieselGeek (Yes, you can use both of them at the same time. One replaces the mechanism on the transmission side in the engine bay and the other replaces the actual shifter). I notice shorter shifts and tighter/heavier feeling gear changes (Would not call it notchy at all) with the addition of the B&M. The shifts feel very comparable to my buddy's S2000 in terms of heaviness and shortness (maybe a tad shorter though).

In all honesty, I'm not sure if I would do this again. The install is just too damn difficult and the effects are not as pronounced as I wanted them to be. In addition, you loose the ability to adjust the shift linkage (check pictures for more info) which means you will have to reinstall the old stock shifter to adjust the linkage or play the trial and error game IF your linkage cables on the transmission side ever fall out of adjustment. Not likely, but possible.

A good/simple alternative to the B&M are the shift ***** Raffi sells (www.autoaesthetics.com). They follow the TT's interior theme and they have deeper thread holes so you can shorten your shifts by 1-2" inches (comparable to B&M). Also these ***** are 1000 times easier to install. He also sells ***** specifically for B&M short shifters, so if you want to go super low, you can install a Raffi **** along with a B&M Short shifter and a DieselGeek short shifter.....

BTW: Make sure you get the updated B&M Shortshifter model# 45146 if you're going to get one.....


The B&M short shifter weighs 1 lb 4oz (left) whereas the stock Audi TT 225 6-speed shifter weights 1 pound (right). So a 4 oz difference...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0010.jpg"><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0012.jpg">

The height differnce between the stock 225 and the B&amp;M shifter is ~1.5" inches:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0021.jpg">

The B&amp;M short shifter does not come with the shift linkeage adjustment hole, so if you are planning on installing a Dieselgeek (etc)Shortshifter in conjunction with the B&amp;M, make sure you install it before installing the BM Shortshifter.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0018-A.jpg">

Here is a visual comparison between. The white sections on the stock shifter are all plastic:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0015.jpg">

Those two shiftplate screws (the stock Audi ones look a little different) have THREAD LOCK on them from the factory, so be VERY CAREFUL not to strip the torx heads on them. They are VERY difficult to remove and even more so once the screw heads are stripped.....
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0025-A.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0028.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/95500/pict0031.jpg">

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.........


fkacct
01TT225QC

 

and then I installed the dieselgeek... since the locking hole is not present on the B&amp;M mechanism, adjusting the linkage is a pain... had to be creative with rope and the interior door handles...

 

It took me most of a day to get it installed. The most difficult part being removing and reinstalling the heat shields.

 

between a B&amp;M Short shifter and a DieselGeek short shifter? It almost sounds like you can have both installed at the same time?

I'm the product of the public education system and exactly what you can expect from a lowest-bidder education. So please excuse me if I completely missed something here.

 

just under the shift ****. They work completely differently from each other, and can be used together.

 

Thanks. That clears it up.

 

<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/tt/msgs/952140.phtml">Old post on the B&amp;M</a></li></ul>

 

you installed this thing in three hours....holy cow. BTW: I didn't have to remove the Haldex driveline to remove the shifter box door, I just pulled it out from the side.....

fkacct

 

It probably took me about 4 hours.. but I took several breaks along the way.

 

been faster if I hadn't stripped the head on those shifter plate screws.


fkacct