Shift Linkage Problem

[E30Strube]

I am putting a ZF transmission with a S54 into my E30 M3. The motor and tranny is in and I'm using a lengthened E30 M3 carrier, E36 linkage, and a B&M short shifter. 1-4 seem to shift fine, but when I go to 5th and reverse, it will stick. Could this be a carrier issue, linkage issue? What should I be looking for?

[328ijunkie]

what do you mean stick?

[Dissembler]

Stick as in you can no longer physically move the shifter? Does it come with a loud, metallic ping? I had an issue with stock E36 M3 shifter w/ ZF trans where my shifter was actually contacting the driveshaft.

[BusyMrE30]

Does it not go into reverse or fifth or when you come out of fifth and reverse does it stay there ?

[E30Strube]

When you push it over to the right for fifth or reverse, it will simply stay there. You can pull it back relatively easily, so it isn't staying there permanently or anything. You can also still get it into fifth, but reverse seems difficult to find. Checked again, and there is a bit of a metallic ping when you move it back to neutral.

[lbreevesii]

Sounds a lot like binding detents. What transmission is it?

[328ijunkie]

Shift detents.

[BusyMrE30]

It might be the shift pins in the side of the transmission it's three pins it happens to the zf tranny all the time all it is is a circlip pull the circlip remove the cover then cover the hole with your hand and shift the tranny into reverse or fifth and take the pin out make sure to do one at a time once the pin is out don't loose the spring then take out the pin and use a light sand paper till the pin slides smoothly donor but new pins only buy the covers from BMW repeat with all three pins docent take long to do so only problem is the tranny might have to come down I'll try to sen a picture of the three pins Hope this helps

[E30Strube]

Looking at the detents issue on other boards, it seems to describe my problem just as you said. This is not a headache I wanted to deal with at the end of the install. Thanks for the help.

[328ijunkie]

:/

[lbreevesii]

and this is why my trans will be making a trip to SC to see Dave at Markert Motor Works before it goes in! haha( they have the proper drifts to do the job)

[samiam3356]

hmmm Dave, you move back to SC?

[lbreevesii]

IIRC the shop is in clemson.

[328ijunkie]

New shop is in lawrencwcille ga