Shift Lever and Short Shifters

[Den]

The horizontal rod("selector shaft / rod") that attaches to the transmission needs to be bent in order to clear the harmonic balancer ring on the driveshaft of some models.

[LikeCDoos]

I just installed my Z4 2.5 lever and love it alot. I kept my harmonic balancer on and didn't have to bend or modify anything to make it fit. Here are the pictures.

Before:


After:

[Gus]

what is the z3 M lever like compared to the Z4 3.0? the z3 looks like it would sit higher, and therefore closer to your hand...??

[KenC]

what is the z3 M lever like compared to the Z4 3.0? the z3 looks like it would sit higher, and therefore closer to your hand...??

The throw of the Z3 M lever is nearly identical to that of the Z4 3.0. The Z3 M knob will sit a bit higher, and thus the lever below the fulcrum will be a bit longer.

[Gus]

i would like a higher gear knob....are both the levers straight, or bent sideways like the e30 one?

[///M Powered]

review:

i installed the z4 3.0 lever into my 1984 318i yesterday ( this thread really helped thanks guys) The throw is very much shorter and notchy as hell ( driven my car 4 tiems since the install) and i love how it feels.

problems : the plastic shift bushing i ordered did not fit because the radius was too big. Since aaron had replaced his, we used the one from his cabrio ( sanded to make it fit).

other than that, we didn't encounter any major problems. One other thing was we had a problem getting the selector rod back on, but that's because there was a big washer we didn't see :P after it was removed it fit well

i'll post some pictures when i have a nice camera avaiilable

[MR 325]

So if I install the Z3 ///M shifter, will that feel the shortest because it's longest on the bottom [below the ball]?

[EtaSport]

So if I install the Z3 ///M shifter, will that feel the shortest because it's longest on the bottom [below the ball]?

I cannot speak for the other levers, but I have driven both an M roadster and an e30 with the M roadster lever. Installed in the e30 it was the shortest throw shifter I have ever used. Seems like 1/2 the distance of the throws in the actual roadster. It sits a little higher than the other levers, but shifts will be ultra fast. I am expecting mine in any day now, and I will hopefully be able to comment on the feel.

[BS87]

So after reading this thread, and looking at this picture :


The Z3 2.8/3.0 should be almost the same throw as the Z4 3.0, but sit higher?

[Rob]

yup, you got it. but keep in mind, since its taller, the knob will move more as well, but it wont be a huge difference

[MR 325]

Just talked to BMA and ordered a Z4 2.5 kit, can't wait!

[Sean]

Just talked to BMA and ordered a Z4 2.5 kit, can't wait!

Post up a review when you got it installed. ;) Enjoy!

[nd4speedm1]

overall which would people say is the best kit to get? and also whats the contact info for BMA

[KenC]

overall which would people say is the best kit to get? and also whats the contact info for BMA

There is no 'best'. It's just what you like. Just remember that shorter doesn't equal faster.

BMA has a link a banner ad on this site.

[FrustratedMunky]

I don't know if this is a load of crap, but my friend tells me that he's heard that ssk's are bad for the tranny. In my opinion, I honestly don't see at all how this would be true, but can someone clarify that for me? Thanks