Play in the shifter when in gear 1-5

[Cause Race Car]

So i bought my first e30 few week ago, 86 325e, and the shifter has lots of play when in gear, was looking around on the forums, and shift bushing kits, which are expensive, also found the delrin carrier bushing. Cheapest kit I found was on pelican parts $109-$115, Whats parts have you guys replaced that fixed your problems? Do I just need the Delrin bushing or the whole kit or both???

[AndrewBird]

Basically you need to replace every bushing and plastic shim in the shifter linkage. The joint attached to the transmission also wears and will needed to be replaced as well.

[Jrey]

i agree with the guy above, happened to me right after i got the valves adjusted last year, you only got a certain amount of time before it goes, if you hear like metal falling and hitting the ground and notice youre grinding gears while playing with the shifter then ya know its your bushings, get em replace now, at this point i wouldnt care about pricing personally

[Cause Race Car]

Ok, I will get the kit from pelican parts, thanks for the input, and ya it does sound like its falling apart. Also, looking at lowering the car in the future, searched the forum, looking for something inexpensive like coilovers or shocks and springs, came across Jom but not for my application, need more options, I have a 86 325e and can't find much of anything for the 325e.

[frankie591]

you can get st springs on ebay for cheap right now cause kw coilovers is getting rid of their stock. like 80 bucks shipped cheap. Pair those with some kyb shocks (~160 for all 4 corners and you will be in business.