Shift Lever and Short Shifters

[Stephen]

I've got a z3 1.9 in my eta, bushings replaced, then topped off with a UUC rk2 knob [somewhat weighted]

and a clutch stop too, might as well.


throw is shorter but still relatively smooth, i personally think i could go shorter and notchier but this is a DD car, and i really like the 1.9s feel


..highly recommended

[rThor432]

^^My shifters are centered. I've had none of the "normal" issues.

[RobertK]

I swear I dont understand why everyone has to bend their levers.. I havent had to bend one to work after installing them in about 15 cars. Even my eta with the big guibo has plenty of clearance.

You don't have to.. but your shifter won't be center either.

[rThor432]

I swear I dont understand why everyone has to bend their levers.. I havent had to bend one to work after installing them in about 15 cars. Even my eta with the big guibo has plenty of clearance.

[HST]

I got the Z3M coupe shifter and love it. I modified if some though. First I bent the shifter. To do this I used 3 large sockets and a big vice. Place two sockets on one side and one on the other where you want the bend to be, then tighten the vice untill you get the desired bend. Next I took a blow torch to the upper paet of the shifter and heated it until the ruber got soft, then pull until it comes apart. Remove rubber with a knife. Cut off 1 inch from both paert of the shifter. Take quick steel or mighty putty and fill the upper part with it and push it onto the lower part, I highly suggest placeing a shift knob on it first to make suer everything lines up right. Shifter complete. Next you need to add weight to the selector rod. This is easy. Wrap the rod with soldering wire. You can get two layers on it. Then wrap it with electrical tape. This takes away some of the notchy-ness. The weighted M knob helps a lot as well. I also suggest getting delerin bushings for the carrier arm.

[JoeP]

OK, I bent the lever so that it sits centered in the console at neutral. Ahhh. Refreshing.

How did you bend the lever? I'd like mine to sit centered as well, but I don't want to screw up the pivot ball by throwing it in a vice or something and marring it.

[Twiggy114]

The part number for the Z3 3.0 is 25111222884 since i didnt see it there.

[Tsweers89]

Did you replace the bushings when you did your shifter?

If this is refering to me i have not touched anything yet

[rThor432]

ok guys. eta here what do u recommend??

I have an M Coupe shifter in my Eta. P/N #..254.

I recommend it.

[Danny]

Did you replace the bushings when you did your shifter?

[Tsweers89]

My shifter is just terrible, Its got a lot of slop. when i put it in first i think im going into reverse, and to go into reverse you are hitting up against the counsle. Is this just a bushing issue or do i have to get a whole new shift lever or what?

Any info would be appreciated. Its getting to be annoying.
thanks

[bimmer_E30]

ok guys. eta here what do u recommend??

[rThor432]

So would you say a 100K + shift rod is a failure waiting to happen

No. It's not going to fail. At the very most it will be slightly worn. The two ends are surrounded by plastic, which will wear long before the metal.

I always reuse the selector rod when I do my shift linkage rebuilds. My shifters feel great.

[Mastrcruse]

So would you say a 100K + shift rod is a failure waiting to happen?..I am just going to buy new, I have done everything else basically new. I guess it was a dumb question, I know theres going to be wear but I didn't know how much would be on a 100K shift lever.
Thanks

[nando]

Quick question: Do shift levers wear out? I am guessing yet but I have a guy by me that upgraded his 2.8 Z3. He is willing to give it to me for $5 but it has just over 100K on it. Yes or no? Or should I look for a certain wear

Thanks

yes, because the stock selector rod is single sheer, which ovals out the hard plastic "bushing" in the end of the shifter.