Which shifter setup for a trackrat?

[Earendil]

First, I'm not contemplating this because I have a huge issue with my current shifter. I do have slop though, and the thinking went like this:

I need to do my clutch....
I should refresh the shifter bushings while I have the driveshaft/transmission down...
If I'm going to refresh the shifter, I wonder what my other options are, let's look on r3v...
Holy @#$%ing mothing of #$% that is a lot of information!!

Now I've blown 2 hours of my day reading, including the giant 54 page shifter thread, and am not feeling much closer to an answer.

So if someone could just tell me what to do, that would be awesome :)
My requirements:

1. Relatively cheap. I don't need to blow $300 on an AKG shifter right now (though I'd like to). Under $100 would be awesome. Or, no more than $100 between the none OEM option, and an OEM bushing refresh.

2. Works for the track. I don't give a crap about how it looks. It needs to shift, shift well, and be reliable. Because of this and other reasons, I also want...

3. To not have to cut, sand, sheer, or melt anything to make it fit. I could do a little bending, but I really don't want to have to mess with this too much.

Again, the only reason I'm even considering this now is because of the other work I'm doing and how easy the access will be. Sometime a year or three down the road if I am still tracking the car I will rip it all back apart and put in an a more expensive race oriented shifter. For the time being, I'm willing to throw $100 to make it feel better, while the labor is already "paid for".

Thanks for any helpful advice!!

PS, the car is an 89 325i, and when I did the bushings a few years ago I noted that what was in there was not consistant with any single RealOEM diagram, but was instead a mismash of a few different years. That is about all I remember though :sad:

[immajackuup]

z4 2.5?

[jlevie]

For track use, more precision in the shifter is better than a shorter throw. Fresh OE bushings are the inexpensive way to achieve that. The expensive way is to buy a race shifter ($400-500). The in between is replace the plastic and rubber bits with bronze bushings. But that requires machine work.

[Earendil]

For track use, more precision in the shifter is better than a shorter throw. Fresh OE bushings are the inexpensive way to achieve that. The expensive way is to buy a race shifter ($400-500). The in between is replace the plastic and rubber bits with bronze bushings. But that requires machine work.

This is sort of what I expected. It is sometimes hard around here to separate the street desire from the track desire :)

A search didn't reveal anything in the bushing department for non OEM. Are you aware of harder bushings for the OEM unit that are for purchase?

Otherwise I might just go OEM bushings and just refresh it back to stock. Thanks for the advice!

[JGood]

This is sort of what I expected. It is sometimes hard around here to separate the street desire from the track desire :)

A search didn't reveal anything in the bushing department for non OEM. Are you aware of harder bushings for the OEM unit that are for purchase?

Otherwise I might just go OEM bushings and just refresh it back to stock. Thanks for the advice!

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-35...most-bmws.aspx

http://www.akgmotorsport.com/catalog/catalog.php?category=e30%20Shifters

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/St...t=products.asp

[Eric]

akg.

dont waist your time.

[JGood]

akg.

dont waist your time.

I wouldn't consider a stock setup with good bushings "wasting your time". It works fine for many people. Obviously we all want $400 shifters and gold plated engine bays, but that doesn't mean everything else is junk.

[lbreevesii]

for your application i'd talk to the guy who did the X5 shifter. Not that short, good feel.

My car is primarily street, I went with the Z3 3.0 and its a tad shorter/notchier than I wanted. It should loosen up some though. I think the Z3 1.9 would be better suited for me.

For the cost invovled, I would try going this route before you touch aftermarket. Replace the sponge, washers, pivot bushing, and front and rear carrier bushings along with the 1.9 shifter(or whatever you choose) and go from there. <100 bucks and you may be more than happy. If you aren't, sell it to someone else!

[Eric]

I wouldn't consider a stock setup with good bushings "wasting your time". It works fine for many people. Obviously we all want $400 shifters and gold plated engine bays, but that doesn't mean everything else is junk.

ok.


Been down that road before, I've had just about every option out there... Z3, Rogue, UUC, X5, and now the AKG. Just helping somebody to not have to go through all the variations like I have. AKG, or whatever solid mounted shift lever you want to buy is simply awesome compared to the others.

[jlevie]

My personal favorite for a track car is an AutoSolutions Race shifter. But it might be a bit too "buzzy" on a street car. But that is what happens when you go to harder bushings.

[Turd]

AKG is the shiz. For a track ONLY car, why not? It doesn't feel like your stirring a bowl of mashed potatoes as most factory based units do. Its some coin, but it does look really baller,yo.

[Knockenwelle]

I used the Z3 3.0 lever on mine, with a (new) factory carrier and pivot ball. I used the stock rear mount to take up any movement cause everything else is solid mounted, but made some delrin front bushings. Also made a custom DSSR that uses factory yellow rings. It is short, and my buddies find it sorta notchy at first, but it has practically zero slop and is very precise. I don't mind the short throws, and I can still two-finger flick it around. I get nice sharp metallic clunks when gears engage. The rubber in the shift lever takes some buzz out at the expense of feeling like I'm bending something when I grab gears. Overall, I'm very happy with it and would do the same setup again. Being able to use stock shifter boots and knob is a bonus. I think I shelled out about $90 for all the new factory parts, including boots, carrier, bushings, and lever.

[Earendil]

for your application i'd talk to the guy who did the X5 shifter. Not that short, good feel.

My car is primarily street, I went with the Z3 3.0 and its a tad shorter/notchier than I wanted. It should loosen up some though. I think the Z3 1.9 would be better suited for me.

For the cost invovled, I would try going this route before you touch aftermarket. Replace the sponge, washers, pivot bushing, and front and rear carrier bushings along with the 1.9 shifter(or whatever you choose) and go from there. <100 bucks and you may be more than happy. If you aren't, sell it to someone else!

I can't find the 1.9 Shifter for under $120. Were you including that in the sub 100 figure? If so, where are people picking these up for cheap (besides a junk yard) ?

[diegom6]

ok.


Been down that road before, I've had just about every option out there... Z3, Rogue, UUC, X5, and now the AKG. Just helping somebody to not have to go through all the variations like I have. AKG, or whatever solid mounted shift lever you want to buy is simply awesome compared to the others.

I really need a tough shifter for my e30 turbo since I have breaked the OEM unti and two time a sort shifter kit I havewith stainless steel shaft (breaked in two pieces) and I'm sick of this shit.

Every good shifter out there is expensive but I guess it's worth the price. My car is street ocasionally track orieted, so I'm not sure what route go.

What did you feel in difference while shifting between the AKG vs Rogue & UUC ?

Thanks

[scottb37]

z4 2.5?

This guy knows what's up, like 100 bucks and you're dunzo