Shift Lever and Short Shifters

[30secE30]

if you install a short shifter do you need to remove the exhaust. how do you replace it??

[iwantspeed]

helpful information

Here we have a picture overall of what we are working with.



A picture of the selector rod
the bitch clip/guide pin
and the shifting arm


The bushings for the carrier arm. that go on the end closest to the transmission. They are made out of delrin and can be purchased from Akg.

http://www.akgmotorsport.com/e30products.html

A close up of the bitch clip, thanks to UUC


Here is a picture of someone who modified their selector rod.

The selector rod can be modified by adding 2lb plumbers solder wrapped tightly all the way across and then wrapped in electrical tape. Be careful with clearance issues depending on what shift lever you choose and if you have a harmonic balancer and or have an eta with a bigger guibo when compared to the regular I engines.
The selector rod in this picture has not been bent, depending which parts you choose you may need to bend the selector rod.



I am going with the z3 1.9 shift lever or the e36 m3 shift lever I have not decided but I'm leaning towards the z3 1.9
anyone have any input to persuade me One over the other?

I have a 1987 325e with an aluminum carrier
no harmonic balancer
large version guibo



new bitch clip/guide pin
PART number 25 11 1 221 849
cost 6.50


The bushings for the carrier arm. that go on the end closest to the transmission. They are made out of delrin and can be purchased from Akg.
In my opnion this should help take out a lot of the slop

http://www.akgmotorsport.com/e30products.html

cost 15.00



New selector rod joint is the other most loose item in the e30 shifter in my opinion.
part number 25-11-7-501-309-M200
cost 15.75
25-11-7-501-309




needed to complete the new shifter swap is the nylon bushing
part number 25 11 1 220 600 or 25-11-1-469-397-M92
cost 5.00





z3 1.9 shift lever
PART number 25 11 1 434 148
Cost 40-60

Rear carrier bushing and bracket
PART number 25111220707
cost 27.50

New selector shaft seal( might as well do it since your in there)
23-12-1-282-394-M30
or
23121282394
cost around 3.00



Instead of using the yellow spacer rings
part number 25 11 1 220 439
You need 4 washers
I have read that some people recommend a brass or steel washer instead of the yellow ones because
A, It tightens up the feel.
B, It won't degrade over time.
C, you can take the old yellow ones out and go to a hardware store and find ones that are the same thickness and similar diameter and done deal.
D, if anyone knows the outer diameter and inner diameter and the thickness, post up



I do recommend getting new circlips just in case you destroy the old ones on there way out.
Part number 25 11 1 220 379
or try this part number on pelican parts 25-11-7-571-899-M9
You need two circlips
Cost 0.75 cents each


I hope this information has been helpful to all.
As the 40+page is a lot to get through. I tried to condense some of the part numbers and tips all into one post, as best as I could.

[cobraken]

Has anyone heard of autosolutions and the shifters they make?

[blueapplesoda]

attempted to install my z3 1.9 shifter today but failed due to grinding against the drive shaft. You think BMA auto will accept it back and return me a new one or a different one?

It should not grind on the driveshaft. You may have to remove the harmonic balancer.

[blueapplesoda]

Found this thread again :-)

most unimpressive part about eBay shifter is it's sitting in by two rubber O-rings, and I couldn't stand for that. It's one thing having your shift knob fly off in between gears, and whole other thing having entire shift lever do that.

The old style ebay shifters (NOT the one I just recently posted, but the earlier style with the small blue cup) are supposed to be secured with a large circlip underneath the shift carrier, preventing the cup/shifter assembly from flying out. the Orings are just bushings to take up slack.

^

I purchased the new style full carrier shifter from a guy named "Kazespeed" on eBay, maybe get in contact with the seller and see if he can get that item. If he can't get it anymore, or doesn't want to, I can look into it, but I may have to buy a small quantity, so my prices may not be as attractive as the $50 kaze had them posted. It may even be cheaper, too, we'll see.


Have yet to install it....but the ebay item # is 310119049822, although no listing is available, you may be able to use that number for reference when emailing the seller.

[PAKMANe90post]

any help?

[GotCone?]

I was messing around with the new ebay ssk today and found that:

1. You can fit a stock nylon bushing (I was testing with an e36 bushing) and use a oem shift lever with this raised shift carrier.

2. It is very difficult to get the stock lever and bushing back out of the carrier because the snap ring groove catches the nylon tabs.

So choose the right lever and buy an extra bushing if you're gonna use the stock setups.

Do you have it installed yet and are you using it?

Thoughts/feedback?

I like this route w/ the braze or even solder of the joints.

However am wondering how you like it. Installed pics would rock too.

Cheapest I see this similar design online is $89.99 now. Care to share which seller you got yours from for $50?
item # would be even more helpful

[PAKMANe90post]

attempted to install my z3 1.9 shifter today but failed due to grinding against the drive shaft. You think BMA auto will accept it back and return me a new one or a different one?

[cobraken]

What about those guys at autosolutions.net. I saw there add in Bimmer mag and I talked to a guy on the phone and he seemed very knowledgeable. He said around $260 for everything for my 86.

Does anyone have that shifter?

[brn2ply7]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E36-M3-3-2L-96-99-Short-Throw-Shifter-Shifters_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZalgoQ3dSIQ26itsQ3dIQ252BCQ26ituQ3dFICSQ252BUAQ252BUCIQ26otnQ3d15Q26poQ3dLVIQ26psQ3d54QQ_trksidZp3907Q2em263QQcategoryZ33736QQitemZ230342965780

Is the same shifter that blueapplesoda was using?

[MrSpectre]

jack the car up and undo the circlip that's on the end of it connected to the selector rod then take two smaller flat head screwdrivers and place them in the slots on the top side of the white bushing that holds the shifter in and make them cross like an X shape and rotate the screwdrivers a bit and you should be able to rotate it enough to get the clips off that hold that in and it should be ready to pull out. It's sort of hard to explain but it will make more sense when you get there.

[BTP325ic]

does any one have a rite up on how to put a Z3 shifter in a E30 ?

[ron1999]

Just installed a Z3 1.9 shift levere,
one of the best <50$ upgraders done to my car :)


installation went like charm -
twist the nylon mount 90 degree, pull up the lever, place the new one, works like charm

Ron.

[bimmer_E30]

any good reviews about the Bavauto ones?

[Aptyp]

Found this thread again :-)

most unimpressive part about eBay shifter is it's sitting in by two rubber O-rings, and I couldn't stand for that. It's one thing having your shift knob fly off in between gears, and whole other thing having entire shift lever do that.


Also, I've given my Korman SSK to a friend and installed z4 3.0L shifter. Adjusted all the way down (to barely not touching driveshaft in any gear), Z4 shifter still has a shorter throw than Korman's.