Me Too - had terrible time going into first - would invariably be in third. The B&M with a aluminum shift link fixed it.

 

In my case, shifting into first would need a bit more effort. Others are quite effortless. This is with an Agency link installed.

 

Go with the B&M, Works great after a year of very hard use...

 

I have a 996 and I've read that a lot of people have trouble in colder climates with short shifters like B&M (even porsche factory short shifters) shifting into first or second... but goes anyway once warmed up. Personally, I'm loking at putting in the 997 version. You can buy at suncoast for around $200 USD.

http://www.suncoastparts.com/product//997SCU.html

 

I've had 2 B&Ms. Both crap. Get the EVO SSK or 997 SSK.

 

I have hte B&M it works great, I had trouble when cold to put it in third gear with the stock shifter, saem with B&M. I think a lot of people start to have problem with cold gear changes and start blaming the short throw shifter but it is two separate issues.

 

My B&M snapped like a pretzel in the middle of the shaft. Too notchy and crappy feel.

 

please contact me at wex1021@gmail.com as my post count is not high enough to pm.

 

I have had the B&M for 5 years and no problems. However, when people talk about sloppiness in the shifting this is often not the shift mechanism but the shift linkage that attaches to it. The OEM is a cheap plastic one that wears and gets loose resulting in a lot of play and "sloppiness." I put in the Agency Power linkage which is billet aluminum with a better socket for the ball on the shifter, no play at all. The B&M shortens the throw but really does not effect the play in the system, IMHO.

 

Honestly I wouldn't get it from ebay if i were you. If your shifter don't snap your bushings would wear out quite quickly. :P

 

I had SharkWerks install a B&M and I have to say I'm VERY, VERY happy with it (and them too). One of the things I did not enjoy was the long gate of the 6 speed while in traffic. Sometimes I would question in my head...was it in gear or was it really in 6th or 4th etc?!
With the new kit it is so much easier to shift and it clicks into gear, so I know I'm in gear. With the kit I feel like it is definitively shifting into gear versus me questioning is it in gear or did I pull down enough.
I highly recommend doing this. I was a little nervous after reading these types of threads, but SO glad I moved forward.
$ VERY well spent.

 

+1. I put a lot of time trying to decide between the B&M or the 997. I'm happy with my B&M. When I first tried it out, it felt so short. Now that I'm so used to it, it feels stock, meaning I kinda lost the sensation of it being a short-shifter on feel alone, until I physically see how short the lever moved. Just imagine how it would feel going back to a stock 996, or even a 997, shifter. Over time, it just feels so smooth now that the notchiness going into 1st that I had previously mentioned is no longer in existence.

 

...factory 997SSK with a billet shift link added at install.

Never been happier with the feel of a short shifter. It rocks.

 

I have the 996 OEM SSK which was dealer-sold and installed for prior owner ($512.41 part and $189.98 labor on the service records). [Prior owner was apparently dealer-oriented and price-insensitive as he had dealer put in PSS9, GT3 adjustable sways, AP adjustable links, etc. + dark wood instrument panel surround, center console horseshoe, door pulls and door pockets ($$$) on an already heavily-optioned car ($92M+ window sticker without all those add-ons)].

Shifter requires a good deal of effort to go into first when cold, does loosen up a bit as it warms up; all other shifts are fine. I do like the "centering" effect when you put it in neutral (or travel through neutral when shifting) -- the default point is between 3rd and 4th, so you always know where you are.

Have added a solid aluminum billet linkage to replace the plastic and wire linkage and seems to be a bit improved, so worth doing for the relatively small amount of $$; real upgrade would be to Cup cables [see threads on subject]

Actually, the $200 997 link you give is only for the base 997 shifter -- it it NOT a short shifter (tho it is a bit shorter than the basic 996 shifter), nor is the 997 GT-3 shifter Suncoast offers on the same webpage for $350 [GT3 is same as base 997 shifter except bushings are metal instead of plastic). The 997 SSK (http://www.suncoastparts.com/product..._Code=996Trans) is $430 (marked down from $500). Ric at Suncoast can discuss with you and explain differences.