Question on BMW 3-Series E36 Shift_Bushings

Does the main rubber boot also need to be stretched over the ridge on the main shift arm from underneath? I only connected it to the cockpit opening with the sheet metal flange in the rubber, thinking that I could later stretch the bottom part of the rubber over the shift arm from underneath the car. But, it was too late - it was squished in above the shift arm and I couldn't pull it over the round, upper part of the shift arm that holds the ball cup bearing. Will water get into the cup bearing from underneath, or will the tight, flush fit be enough to keep water out? Should I take the rubber out again to do it right? Looking for advice. The instructions never mentioned that the lower part of the rubber boot needs to be stretched over the shift arm ball cup area, and I never noticed before I took it all apart.

My ball cup bushing tabs didn't entirely fit in the openings, rather the top of the tabs were still slightly above the top of the openings in the metal of the shift arm? However, the cup bushing still seemed to hold, and the only way to remove it was to rotate it. I did hear a click, so I guess it's ok; just it seems strange, because I was under the impression that the tabs had to fully fit into the openings in the metal. Perhaps the plastic design holds in some other way?

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[Nick at Pelican Parts]

It should go back as you removed it. This photo shoes the boot before it is attached : http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Shift_Bushings/pic17.jpg

You'll want to connect it on the bottm also, as shown here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Shift_Bushings/pic04.jpg (ignore the arrow)

- Nick