I'm rebuilding all the shift components on my 91 318is, and one of the commonly suggested parts to replace is #14 in the diagram, the "gearshift rod joint", part number 25117503525.
This is an all metal part without bushings - but it does contain a little foam spongy disk that cushions the movement of the joint against the selector arm exiting the transmission casing. On my 22 year, 200k mile old car, the foam piece inside had completely disintegrated into particles of oil soaked crud. There would be the contribution of the #14 joint to shifter slop.
So this was among the parts I ordered for the job. I used realOEM.com to get the part number. What I got, is not what I ordered. I got a bag with part number 25117503525, which is the right number, and inside that bag, another bag labeled 25 11 1 203 682 - which is similar but with a different design. You can see the difference in this picture - old on the right, new on the left.
Two major differences - the new design isn't cylindrical where it attaches to the transmission, using a wire clip rather than a ring-like tension bushing (#19) to hold the dowel pin in place. The other difference is that the welding between the two sections is much stronger on the new part. Both are good changes, but i'm a little annoyed that I bought a tension bushing when I didn't need to, not being informed of the changed part.
So here's my possibly dumb idea.
The joint comes with a new foam pad pressed in (another part, #20, that I ordered separately, needllessly, because the #14 joint itself wasn't shown to come with one from the vendor I purchased it from). The pad will allow some movement, and probably helps to damp said movement. But even a brand new pad will eventually wear, and it can't really take that long.
I popped out the foam pad and dropped in a couple lock washers
they come up to just past the hole the dowel slides through.
If I press the joint onto the selector arm and slide in the dowel, it should create an interference fit, with the tension of the lock washers allowing for some movement (albeit more resistant than the foam) but without vibration, since the washers will maintain contact with the two surfaces at all times.
Because I'm not going to want to redo it, I'm trying to think of reasons why this wouldn't work. Got any?
On the other hand, I'm not going to want to redo it, so telling myself "Bmw used the pad, the pad must work, use the pad" hasn't convinced me, because the pad is not the sort of medium I can see holding up for any appreciable length of time. Age and mileage taken into account, the remnants of the original pad don't show a durable part. And it would certainly numb up the shifter feel some amount greater than none.
This is an all metal part without bushings - but it does contain a little foam spongy disk that cushions the movement of the joint against the selector arm exiting the transmission casing. On my 22 year, 200k mile old car, the foam piece inside had completely disintegrated into particles of oil soaked crud. There would be the contribution of the #14 joint to shifter slop.
So this was among the parts I ordered for the job. I used realOEM.com to get the part number. What I got, is not what I ordered. I got a bag with part number 25117503525, which is the right number, and inside that bag, another bag labeled 25 11 1 203 682 - which is similar but with a different design. You can see the difference in this picture - old on the right, new on the left.
Two major differences - the new design isn't cylindrical where it attaches to the transmission, using a wire clip rather than a ring-like tension bushing (#19) to hold the dowel pin in place. The other difference is that the welding between the two sections is much stronger on the new part. Both are good changes, but i'm a little annoyed that I bought a tension bushing when I didn't need to, not being informed of the changed part.
So here's my possibly dumb idea.
The joint comes with a new foam pad pressed in (another part, #20, that I ordered separately, needllessly, because the #14 joint itself wasn't shown to come with one from the vendor I purchased it from). The pad will allow some movement, and probably helps to damp said movement. But even a brand new pad will eventually wear, and it can't really take that long.
I popped out the foam pad and dropped in a couple lock washers
they come up to just past the hole the dowel slides through.
If I press the joint onto the selector arm and slide in the dowel, it should create an interference fit, with the tension of the lock washers allowing for some movement (albeit more resistant than the foam) but without vibration, since the washers will maintain contact with the two surfaces at all times.
Because I'm not going to want to redo it, I'm trying to think of reasons why this wouldn't work. Got any?
On the other hand, I'm not going to want to redo it, so telling myself "Bmw used the pad, the pad must work, use the pad" hasn't convinced me, because the pad is not the sort of medium I can see holding up for any appreciable length of time. Age and mileage taken into account, the remnants of the original pad don't show a durable part. And it would certainly numb up the shifter feel some amount greater than none.
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