Upgrade Options for Early Model Shifter

[twright]

I have been using Garagistic's upgrade kit for E30 shifters. This kit incluces common wear items and upgraded bushings. But this kit isn't available for the early model (sheet metal carrier) E30 shifters.

What has everyone been using to upgrade these earlier shifters?

[moatilliatta]

You can upgrade your shift console to a late style?

Auto Solutions has some really nice shifters. I think maybe the best on the market.

[twright]

You can upgrade your shift console to a late style?

Auto Solutions has some really nice shifters. I think maybe the best on the market.

I don't think you can change the shifter to the later style. The early transmissions have a different mounting feature for the shift carrier to the transmission than the later models.

[Panici]

I don't think you can change the shifter to the later style. The early transmissions have a different mounting feature for the shift carrier to the transmission than the later models.

My Getrag G260 trans out of an '86 325e has mounting provisions for both.
Swapped from the early plate style to the newer arm style when manual swapping my '87.

The other option is a chassis mount shifter.

[e30austin]

there's nothing wrong at all with the early style, sheet metal shift carrier. the bushings and wear items are all available from the dealer. if you want a shorter throw shift lever, look into the Z3 4 cylinder shift lever, or e36m3 shift lever. both are compatible with the early style shift carrier.

[e30davie]

Yer I replaced everything consumable with oem new on my early model setup and its pretty nice. Not that expensive from the dealer even here in Australia (the home of the euro ripoff)

I did the same to the late model on my old late model gearbox and it felt pretty much the same....