early or late shifter?

[TimbyMaTombo]

I recently got a 5 speed swap and the guy gave me both the early shifter carrier (proper name?) which is the large plate, as well as the later one that is the thinner rod. Does either one offer an advantage over the other, assuming they both fit? The car is an 88 325is.

I apologize in advance if that's the wrong name for the part.

Peter

[noid]

Do you have pictures to illustrate? I was unaware there was a difference between early and late cars in relation to the shifter.

Subscribed!

[TimbyMaTombo]

I don't have pictures of the parts I have, but here's part diagrams.

Early:


Late:


According to the website I got those from, the first one is from 84-85 and the second is from 86-91. I'm talking about the piece numbered 1 on the diagrams.

Thanks!
Peter

[Roysneon]

If you bought all the parts to swap your car to manual transmission then you need to use whatever carrierfits the transmission he sold you.

[rhE-30]

What year is your car?

[reelizmpro]

Use the alunnum carrier not the sheet metal

[MR 325]

The later style shifter is definitely a better design. Early M20 transmissions didn't have the provision to use the late shifter though. If yours has the mounting locations for it, use it.

[TimbyMaTombo]

The transmission is from an 84 325e, or at least that's what I'm assuming as someone wrote that on the bellhousing of it. It was pulled from an 87 325i and I have an 88 325is, so does that mean I have to use the sheet metal one? If so, is there any way I could modify the transmission in any way to accept the aluminum one?

[TimbyMaTombo]

Since the transmission is from 84, I'm assuming I don't really have a choice in which one I use... Will the transmission being an early one cause any other complications with the swap?

[jlevie]

You can use the aluminum shifter on an early transmission by obtaining part 25112225369. Which is the adapter used on M3's.

[reelizmpro]

I believe I have that U bracket somewhere.

[TimbyMaTombo]

If anyone has that and wouldn't mind letting it go, that would be awesome! I think I remember reading somewhere that the sheet metal shifter actually had less play in it due to three mounting points instead of just two, but I'm not sure on the accuracy of that statement. Either way, I don't think I'd be disappointed as I have nothing to compare it to, this being my first manual car.

Unless using the sheet metal has any inherent design flaws making it difficult and a pain, I wouldn't mind having to use it too much, but if the aluminum is better, I should probably just start with the better one so I won't have to go back and change it later.

[reelizmpro]

I do have the bracket but they aren't that expensive new. You might want to see what you can get it for.