Poll To End It All: B&M vs. X-Metal Shifters

What Do You Prefer? B&M or X-Metal Short Throw Shifters

  • B&M

    Votes: 25 48.1%

  • Gen I or II

    Votes: 5 9.6%

  • Gen II or Gen IV

    Votes: 5 9.6%

  • Gen-X

    Votes: 9 17.3%

  • The Stock Factory Shifter

    Votes: 8 15.4%
  • Total voters
    52
I have had all 3. The stock one tended to miss 3rd gear under hard acceleration:mad: , the B & M would go into a mystery 3rd gear under hard acceleration:confused: . The X-Metal Gen X took a little getting used to but is by far the best I have used & my 12.77 @ 110 mph :D is proof of that.
Al
 
I couldn't say much except I don't have trouble hitting 3rd with my Gen II. But the noise from the shifter gets on my nerves when rolling with the tunes off. I don't know much about functionality of the B&M except that it looks nice in some of the trucks I've seen. I think ARRESTmeRED04 has a B&M short throw. :dontknow: I could be wrong though.
 
My truck has the xmetal in it now. I drove arrentmered04's truck and he has the BandM. The BandM has a much shorter throw. I just bought a bandm from anothe member, so we'll see. Also, I think the xmetal has more noise
 
Carlwalski said:
EH! Sounds complicated but I know it won't be that bad as actually doing it. Still, that sounds like a lot of "extra work" for an upgrade. I have the ball being a ball shifter guy so I know it won't be as bad as the T-Handle shifter. Guess for me, it will be when I get my hands on the truck to decide. To tell you the truth, I may have jumped the gun and am already leaning towards buying a B&M shifter with the 8" Hurst lever someone was talking about. Factory look, aftermarket performance. Will test the Gen-X out first though (obviously).

:)
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I have the B&M with the straight 8" Hurst lever and use a "T" handle. B&M apparently does not offer an 8" straight lever. I like it a lot and it looks great. Will try to post some pics today or tomorrow (with Jimi's help):rock: :rock:
 
Wow, it sounds like you guys are giving your truck hand jobs.
Thats why I bought an auto...although it has been prone to miss shifts as well!
 
I have had stock and the Gen4 X-Metal.I almost never miss 3rd when racing (my fault,not the shifter) and NEVER miss during normal driving.Mine has a very slight amount of noise over stock.The twisting motion is barely noticeable after a few weeks.I didn't like the twisting either at first,but you soon forget about it.Also,several members have broken the B&M handles.I haven't heard of anyone breaking an X-Metal handle.Just my .02
 
FATJACK said:
I have had Hurst (stock), Gen X and B&M. I took the Gen X out and sold it after several months of trying to like it. Put the B&M back in and happy as a queer in jail.:D :D
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that is pretty dam happy
 
Stock :rock: :rock: , Hurst has been around a heck of alot longer than B&M and the other brand i will not mention. I have had all three also, and can hit them better with the Hurst.
 
does that mean the truck is gettin near to be ready??????????
 
Stinker said:
I installed mine and before I got to the mopar nats it was out and gave it to one of the guys that went with us, and he actually loves it:D
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That would be me. I noticed a slight twisting motion to the Gen-X. It kinda walks it's way from one gear to another. If you use a ball shifter handle it's barely noticable. It is actually kind of cool the way it snicks into gear. It is very slick. Even riding shotgun my wife commented on how smooth the Gen-X was and encouraged me to get it. The Jedi shifter handle is quiet too.

I am one that can speak to the B&M too. I ran one for awhile before I had the chance to try the Gen-X. I liked it too although while making a run at Rockingham, I did the 1-2-1 shift (driver error). Haven't run the Gen-X at the track so I don't know what results I'd have. At $250 the B&M is a great shifter. I'm just liking the Gen-X better right now.:rock:
 
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i have the B&M and the throw is MUCH shorter than the X-metal that i drove

also you won't break the B&M anymore they fixed it, comes with a steel handle now not alu.
 
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I have the gen 1 or 2, not sure which but it was from his second batch and as far as I'm concerned its light years better than the stocker. Yes it has a little tranny noise, but no biggie. I have never felt the need to try another one. Its been in my truck for nearly 3 years now. Stocker was horrible, wouldnt downshift properly, missed third many times, second to first at WOT!!!! Nasty, dont do that!!!

patrick
 
i had a gen 2 before i purchased the gen x.'

i love the gen x but you cant have lazy shifts for every day driving.

you have to make sure it is in gear or you will grind it.

i dont think of it as a twisting motion but more of a roll. the shifter rolls to the next gear. use the factory shift knob and it rolls in your hand.

i like the short throw and i have the lever set at the lowest setting, there is like 3 or 4 different heights you can select.

it is noisy but if you turn the volume knob to the right you wont hear it.

when you are racing you have to put the center console up or it gets in the way. slow91 showed me this after he drove it around and "learned" the shifter.

it is work though "no lazy shifting" you eventually get used to it i guess.
 
aac426 said:
I have had all 3. The stock one tended to miss 3rd gear under hard acceleration:mad: , the B & M would go into a mystery 3rd gear under hard acceleration:confused: . The X-Metal Gen X took a little getting used to but is by far the best I have used & my 12.77 @ 110 mph :D is proof of that.
Al
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That mystery 3rd gear is reverse!!:rock: :D
 
x metal shifter

how can you guys say that third is hard to find with the x metal shifter. the purpose of the shifter is so you dont have to guide it into third, you just push foward from second and it automatically guides itself (through ball bearings) into third. i slamm gears gears with my gen IV and i have never missed third or any other gear. a little hard to find reverse in a hurry, yes, but hey, in my truck i drive foward more.:rock:
 
I dunno if this was asked by anyone or by me on this thread somewhere but, is the B&M as noisy as the entire X-Metal repertoire?
 
Venom Power said:
I dunno if this was asked by anyone or by me on this thread somewhere but, is the B&M as noisy as the entire X-Metal repertoire?
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I've had all the versions Anthony and my B@M was the quietest, not super quiet, but the least noisy of all.
 
Stinker said:
I've had all the versions Anthony and my B@M was the quietest, not super quiet, but the least noisy of all.
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If I roll with no tunes and windows up the sound is embarrassing..:( Not good for a date-mobile.. That's why the 300SRT is in the stable..

But since I always have to have tunes and the windows down with the 10 it doesn't bother me as much..
 
Aww come on damn it. How many times do I have to post about making the shifter quiet? Mine makes NO noise, none, zero, nada, ziltch!

Bill.
 
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