If you have any questons regarding shift lever choices, or short shifters, or shift linkage in general - take a brief look at this thread - it's FULL of VERY useful information. ENJOY!
I want to finally figure out just what shift lever to get. I also want to try to find the picture I once saw that had a bunch of Z4, Z3 shift levers all next to one another.
I think I found here - lots of info here: http://www.mz3.net/articles/143.html
Amazingly Detailed Thread on rebuilding your own linkage: http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/dri...ift_lever.html
Another Amazingly informative link: http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e30/dri...fter_slop.html
Miscellaneous Pictures Relating to Shift Levers: http://savarturbo.se/~mattias/motor/pictures/shifter/
Very Informative Graphic - compares different shift levers
Another Graphic - compares the Z3 bent levers with the stock 325ix lever
The basic choices for now:
(note: when I get a chance, this list will be full and will have prices from BMA Auto Parts and Pacific BMW on each piece)
Z3 ? SSK
1x . . . 25 11 1 434 148 - Z3Shift lever - $43.81
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings (two extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
Z4 2.5i SSK
1x . . . 25 11 7 507 964 - Z4 2.5l Shift Lever $43.81
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
Z4 3.0i SSK
1x . . . 25 11 7 516 160 - Z4 3.0i Shift Lever
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
M Roadster SSK
1x . . . 25 11 2 228 384 - M Roadster Shift Lever
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings (two extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
I basically wanted to compile everything we knew about short shifting into one thread.
I have the Z4 2.5i shift lever installed in our 87 325. It's really nice. The throw seems near perfect. Problem is, I think a bend would help a lot when it comes to shifting.
However, lets start by listing all our options here - let me know if I miss anything:
Z3
none
Z4 2.5i
Sean - Shortened throw a lot. Hard to tell with linkage the way it is, but it seems really notchy. Lever itself is very short and precise, seems to be a perfect height for shifting. I think a slight bend in the right direction would make it perfect. The short bottom end helps to keep the shifting somewhat easy.
Z4 3.0i
DanGillianReview of the z4 3.0 shifter in my 1990 325i: I installed it last friday, installation was very straight forward. At first I installed it without bending the selector rod, it was close, but I thought it could squeeze by without bending it, it worked, just it make rubbing noises and was hard to put in reverse, that's about it. So i took it apart and dropped the tranny a little to get to that bitch clip at the other end of the selector rod, stuck it in a vise, bent it, put it back together and enjoyed. The throw is very short! and i couldnt have asked for better. It is really precise and perfecly notchy (which I like) A heavy knob is definately on my list as it takes a little more effort to shift, but none the less I would reccomend this to EVERYONE! 100%
kencopperwheat - I just installed the Z4 3.0 lever into my '84 318 today. It took a bit of modification to get it to work. I had to use two of the lower plastic retaining cups to keep the lever from hitting the drive-shaft.
The throw is WAY shorter. It's much notchier than the stock lever, but I really like it. Overall I'd recomend this lever 100%!
Randomtask37 - well after swapping in a z4 3.0 shifter i found it was a world of difference. after i first installed it, it felt incredibly short and very notchy. i was happy about the shortness of the shift although it was VERY difficult to change through gears and i was beginning to become skeptical of wheather or not i was going to keep the swap. well after about a week the shifter really loosend itself up and i was very pleased after that. it is a bit tighter, stiffer and notchier than stock, but the throw is like nothin else. one more thing, since the throw is rather "stiff" my stock shifter knob wasnt quite fit for the job. i had the stock rubber one and every time i went to shift gears (even after it loosend up) i felt like i was shifting with a, well... rubber shifter. so i upgraded to an ///M3 knob which is very stiff and i love it. i would never go back.
Positives: very short throw
Negatives: upgradeing your knob to something stiffer is almost a neccessity. Must "modify" the linkage for it to fit; as in bending the selector rod to clear the driveshaft's harmonic balencer.
Neutrals: tight, knotchy, stiffer shifting than stock. shifter is cocked slightly to the right compaired to the stock shifter as it doesnt have a kink in the shifter. it is strait.
Spoon e30 - I have the z4 3.0l ssk in my 1991 318is and i didn't have to bend anything. It fits just fine with ablsolutely no modifications. (no harmonic balancer)
Rob - I have the Z4 3.0 in my car, and couldn't be happier. Like above, it was very notchy at first, but broke in slightly. However, I prefer a notchier, more precise shift action in my cars, so this shifter fit the bill. When used in conjunction with my RK3, there is not too much slop and I can pretty much rip through the gears
Brew - I have the Z3 3.0 shifter in my car and I love it. I first had it in my 86' 325e and it was very, very notchy. When I installed on the 325is, it became a little bit sloppier and smoother and I had to bend the selector rod. Not really a big deal at all. The only thing that was kind of a pain was removing the front clip holding the selector rod, as you have to reach around the harmonic balancer to get to it and there is almost no room for any tools.
M Roadster
M42Tecknik - I have the M Roadster shifter in my car. It takes two 'clicks' to shift, and is very notchy, not as smooth as the Z3's shifter. I love it, and it sits at a much, much lower stance. You do need to bend the selector rod in order to place this in without rubbing against anything, and I reccomend you take it to a shop to have it installed.
UUC SSK
If you have something, post a reply, and a review with it. I can edit this and add it to the list. Hopefully this thread will become quite informative about just what shift lever to get depending on what a person wants.
I started by adding my review of the Z4 2.5i - please reply with any input. I need to decide if I should stick with the Z4 2.5, or go with another one! :D
I want to finally figure out just what shift lever to get. I also want to try to find the picture I once saw that had a bunch of Z4, Z3 shift levers all next to one another.
I think I found here - lots of info here: http://www.mz3.net/articles/143.html
Amazingly Detailed Thread on rebuilding your own linkage: http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/dri...ift_lever.html
Another Amazingly informative link: http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e30/dri...fter_slop.html
Miscellaneous Pictures Relating to Shift Levers: http://savarturbo.se/~mattias/motor/pictures/shifter/
Very Informative Graphic - compares different shift levers
Another Graphic - compares the Z3 bent levers with the stock 325ix lever
The basic choices for now:
(note: when I get a chance, this list will be full and will have prices from BMA Auto Parts and Pacific BMW on each piece)
Z3 ? SSK
1x . . . 25 11 1 434 148 - Z3Shift lever - $43.81
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings (two extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
Z4 2.5i SSK
1x . . . 25 11 7 507 964 - Z4 2.5l Shift Lever $43.81
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
Z4 3.0i SSK
1x . . . 25 11 7 516 160 - Z4 3.0i Shift Lever
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
M Roadster SSK
1x . . . 25 11 2 228 384 - M Roadster Shift Lever
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings (two extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve (could be replaced with UUC Delrin Bushings)
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra)
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Nylon Shift Bushing - $4.00
I basically wanted to compile everything we knew about short shifting into one thread.
I have the Z4 2.5i shift lever installed in our 87 325. It's really nice. The throw seems near perfect. Problem is, I think a bend would help a lot when it comes to shifting.
However, lets start by listing all our options here - let me know if I miss anything:
Z3
none
Z4 2.5i
Sean - Shortened throw a lot. Hard to tell with linkage the way it is, but it seems really notchy. Lever itself is very short and precise, seems to be a perfect height for shifting. I think a slight bend in the right direction would make it perfect. The short bottom end helps to keep the shifting somewhat easy.
Z4 3.0i
DanGillianReview of the z4 3.0 shifter in my 1990 325i: I installed it last friday, installation was very straight forward. At first I installed it without bending the selector rod, it was close, but I thought it could squeeze by without bending it, it worked, just it make rubbing noises and was hard to put in reverse, that's about it. So i took it apart and dropped the tranny a little to get to that bitch clip at the other end of the selector rod, stuck it in a vise, bent it, put it back together and enjoyed. The throw is very short! and i couldnt have asked for better. It is really precise and perfecly notchy (which I like) A heavy knob is definately on my list as it takes a little more effort to shift, but none the less I would reccomend this to EVERYONE! 100%
kencopperwheat - I just installed the Z4 3.0 lever into my '84 318 today. It took a bit of modification to get it to work. I had to use two of the lower plastic retaining cups to keep the lever from hitting the drive-shaft.
The throw is WAY shorter. It's much notchier than the stock lever, but I really like it. Overall I'd recomend this lever 100%!
Randomtask37 - well after swapping in a z4 3.0 shifter i found it was a world of difference. after i first installed it, it felt incredibly short and very notchy. i was happy about the shortness of the shift although it was VERY difficult to change through gears and i was beginning to become skeptical of wheather or not i was going to keep the swap. well after about a week the shifter really loosend itself up and i was very pleased after that. it is a bit tighter, stiffer and notchier than stock, but the throw is like nothin else. one more thing, since the throw is rather "stiff" my stock shifter knob wasnt quite fit for the job. i had the stock rubber one and every time i went to shift gears (even after it loosend up) i felt like i was shifting with a, well... rubber shifter. so i upgraded to an ///M3 knob which is very stiff and i love it. i would never go back.
Positives: very short throw
Negatives: upgradeing your knob to something stiffer is almost a neccessity. Must "modify" the linkage for it to fit; as in bending the selector rod to clear the driveshaft's harmonic balencer.
Neutrals: tight, knotchy, stiffer shifting than stock. shifter is cocked slightly to the right compaired to the stock shifter as it doesnt have a kink in the shifter. it is strait.
Spoon e30 - I have the z4 3.0l ssk in my 1991 318is and i didn't have to bend anything. It fits just fine with ablsolutely no modifications. (no harmonic balancer)
Rob - I have the Z4 3.0 in my car, and couldn't be happier. Like above, it was very notchy at first, but broke in slightly. However, I prefer a notchier, more precise shift action in my cars, so this shifter fit the bill. When used in conjunction with my RK3, there is not too much slop and I can pretty much rip through the gears
Brew - I have the Z3 3.0 shifter in my car and I love it. I first had it in my 86' 325e and it was very, very notchy. When I installed on the 325is, it became a little bit sloppier and smoother and I had to bend the selector rod. Not really a big deal at all. The only thing that was kind of a pain was removing the front clip holding the selector rod, as you have to reach around the harmonic balancer to get to it and there is almost no room for any tools.
M Roadster
M42Tecknik - I have the M Roadster shifter in my car. It takes two 'clicks' to shift, and is very notchy, not as smooth as the Z3's shifter. I love it, and it sits at a much, much lower stance. You do need to bend the selector rod in order to place this in without rubbing against anything, and I reccomend you take it to a shop to have it installed.
UUC SSK
If you have something, post a reply, and a review with it. I can edit this and add it to the list. Hopefully this thread will become quite informative about just what shift lever to get depending on what a person wants.
I started by adding my review of the Z4 2.5i - please reply with any input. I need to decide if I should stick with the Z4 2.5, or go with another one! :D
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