RUF vs B&M Short Shift

Does anyone have any advice on the pros and cons of each of these? Many thanks, Damian

RUF doesn't make an in-car short shift kit. RUF short shift kits are tranmission mounted. Several mechanics have told me that the transmission mounted kits can damage the synchros. B&M also makes a transmission mounted kit that looks very similar to the RUF kit although I haven't seen it for sale in a while. A lot of members of the forum have installed the B&M in-car short shift kit and are very happy with it. It is almost identical to the Porsche OEM short shift kit at about half the price. By the way, welcome to the forum. Is that your car in the avatar? How about posting some full-sized pics (it is our tradition that new members post pics.)

Does adding a B&M Short shift impact your warranty? If you use Porsche SS, would that make it less of a warranty issue? Same tone...would adding X74 suspension impact warranty? Would love to do some adds but don't want to impact 6 year--100K warranty. any inputs here?

Many thanks for replying Programmatore, just the type of information I wanted read. I was a little concerned about the transmission mounted devices as they seem to do nothing as regards shortening the gear lever. In answer to your question, yes that is my Lapis Blue Carrera 4S in my avatar. The initial picture taken from a group taken at Spa last September during a frantic few days where a group of us spent some time at both Spa and the Nurburgring. Here's some more pictures: Instructor instructions!!!!! View from the top of Eau Rouge Load the front left corner Great view...... Damian

Oh to have tracks like that here in the States!

Reguarding the warranty issue, if you bring the car in for a tranny problem, they will ask you to remove the B&M shifter from the car, so they can check if the cables are adjusted properly, other then that no issues that i am aware of, the reason they ask for it to be removed is because the tool they have that snaps on the shifter does not fit the B&M one.

My dealer (Pfaff) sold me and installed my RUF shifter, it was flawless and I loved the feel of it.

BTW you can't reinstall the stock shifter w/o spending around $130 b/c you will cut out the stock bushings!

Just put it back in with the BM bushings. You can also buy the plastic ones from porsche. Ruf also makes a in car, 500$, identicle to bm, just painted red. They actually have a memo re aftermarket shifters and warranty claims. I swapped my bm (better) for the p ssk, worth it to me as the tranny is a nonsvc item, 8k. BTW, how did your c4s do at the spa/ring? Nice pics, x73? Chris

Damian - so did you take Eau Rouge flat out ...sans lifting? Appears awesome on F1 coverage...does it live up to the billing?

Hi C4S Surgeon & Bill_C4S, Spa really is amazing, nothing prepares for the beauty, the 155mph straights, the g-loading on Eau Rouge, Pouhon, the Bus Stop etc etc. Eau Rouge, flat out? Not quite, I dropped from 4th to 3th to load up tyres/suspension take it to 105mph, change up to 4th, accelerate hard up the 'hill' and don't lift off at the top! Although now there is plenty of run-off area set aside for the unexpected. Then floor it all the way up to 155mph before braking hard......so much fun! The C4S at Spa was exceptional, well balanced, cornered as if she was on rails, the grip on Pirelli Corsas only compromised by the 'rubber' left on the track from a heritage race the previous weekend, resulting in me pulling large chunks on molten rubber of the sticky tyres! Probably did around 60-70 laps that day (sounds about right, two refuellings OMG!). Only downside the C4S's slight understeer on normal suspension settings (all European cars are RoW X73) but I've had that altered by running 235 on front and 2 degrees of -ve camber. The 'Ring......scared me s**tless, very frightening, every bend a mystery but one of life's must-do things. I'm back there in May to do the same again! Damian

I didn't realize all euro c4s's had the x73, I thought just a different spring than the us cars.

My mistake C4S Surgeon, got confused over the US spec vs the European spec, it's 10mm lower than a standard 996 so the same as a Turbo.

Chris, what do you mean by a nonsvc item, 8K? -Dell

I installed the B&M shifter and I love it. Definitely helped with autocrossing as well as Club Racing my 996.

Dell, nonservice means it can't just be fixed/rebuilt, they must be replaced with a new unit. It is essentially unfixable, no parts available, nothing. Having said that, there are a few racing shops in the south that are delving into rebuilding these gearboxes. That's why I pussed out and got rid of my BM and put in a P ssk instead. Good Luck Chris BTW, how was the track?

If the ssk is an in car unit the B&M and PSSK are the same right?

The blue is BM, the black is the Porsche unit, identicle.

Chris, the track was a blast. I'm hooked. Wish there was one ever weekend. The wife loved it so much....yes you heard correctly, the wife loved it so much she suggested buying another P-Car so that we each have our own at the DE events! She's a great wife!

Chris is right, Porsche does not sell parts for the tranny, it requires a special press to work on it. The good news there are some racing shops starting to work on them ( JimB would be a good resource, he races a 996) and they are very similar to the G50 internally. As more 996s trickle down to the race track I think you will see more availablity of parts.