Installing SSK

[BMWM5LOVER]

Ok here are my Questions/concerns. ( i searched but didnt find exactly what i was looking for).
First, i have the z4 3.0i parts (as described on r3v). How difficult is it to changed my current Stock shifter, to the new one? Do i need to bend anything? Is there anything ion particular thats difficult? Do i need to put grease, etc in the little white ball cup? Are there any sites that have a how to, that i can follow? Anything i should change while im in there?

Thanx
Terry

[Jon325i]

I don't know if you are required to bend the carrier bar to clear the harmonic balancer on the driveshaft with the Z4 set up. I had to bend the carrier bar when I installed my UUC Evo SSK. There are some users on here that have done the Z4 SSK....hopefully someone will chime in on this.

As for the rest of the installation process, you will have two clips to remove in order to get the stock carrier bar removed. Of the two, the forward end is a real picnic to remove (being facetious here...). There isn't much room to work in this area at all....its almost a feel-only situation since its very difficult to actually view what you're doing. It may seem like extra work (because it is) but it made it much easier for me if I removed my rear exhaust hanger and let the muffler/cat section drop a couple inches and then loosen the tranny mounts and driveshaft support bearing as well then lower the tranny with a floorjack. Doing these extra steps permitted me an extra 3+" of work space and I could actually see what I was doing. Some folks may have alternate solutions on how to approach this where it isn't as involved as my method.

For the rest of the install, get some good grease, perhaps lithium if you have some laying around, and apply some around the pivot point in the socket. Good luck with the install....let us know how it goes.

Jon

[Mystikal]

You will only need to bend it if your car has a harmonic balancer. Mine didn't, so it was a straight swap. I didn't do it though, it took Charlie about 15 mins, maybe less.

[rwh11385]

You will only need to bend it if your car has a harmonic balancer. Mine didn't, so it was a straight swap. I didn't do it though, it took Charlie about 15 mins, maybe less.

How did you not have one?? Weird. Not my twin.

[BMWM5LOVER]

You will only need to bend it if your car has a harmonic balancer. Mine didn't, so it was a straight swap. I didn't do it though, it took Charlie about 15 mins, maybe less.

what in the name of red spaghetti eating batman is this harmonic balancer u ppl speak of? what does it look like, so i know whether or not i have it///

[rwh11385]

You will only need to bend it if your car has a harmonic balancer. Mine didn't, so it was a straight swap. I didn't do it though, it took Charlie about 15 mins, maybe less.

what in the name of red spaghetti eating batman is this harmonic balancer u ppl speak of? what does it look like, so i know whether or not i have it///

it's that big think round part on the driveshaft.

[Nick325is]

The harmonic balancer is a big circular piece of steel that sits around the guibo on the driveshaft. You will know if you have it when your drive shaft is a bitch to take off.

Nick

[rwh11385]

you just got to rotate it around and it'll come off, but it makes it more bitch to come off, yes.

clearer picture:

[BMWM5LOVER]

damn, maybe ill just take it to Charlie to do it...

[BMWM5LOVER]

Hmmmm... I dont see how it would interfere with the driveshaft at all.. Ill take a pic of the parts i have, and posted, maybe im missing something. Ill ive got is the rod, some clips, plastic washers, a white cup like thing, and a rubber thing that looks like it has something that goes through it....

[Mystikal]

Hmmmm... I dont see how it would interfere with the driveshaft at all.. Ill take a pic of the parts i have, and posted, maybe im missing something. Ill ive got is the rod, some clips, plastic washers, a white cup like thing, and a rubber thing that looks like it has something that goes through it....

Trust me, it does.

Poopy head?

[tonytony]

off topic, but was does is the harmonic balancer really needed?

and a rubber thing that looks like it has something that goes through it....

what does that peice do? or is it just a piece that was needed for the z4 cars?

[Hubbert]

This shows how the rod and balancer are, it's not completly installed but you should get the Idea ! This rod came with the UUC and is crimped were it meets the balancer, I don't know if a factory rod is ? Cheers ...

[Hubbert]

OOPs forgot pic, here it is .

[Schniddy]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Short_Shift/E36-Short_Shift.htm

and while your at it..

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Shift_Bushings/E36-Shift_Bushings.htm