Help: short shifter vertical play

[alas]

Hello All,

I'm pretty new here and I recently purchased a 1989 325i coupe!

I haven't done anything to it yet but it had a short shifter installed from the previous owner.

Tonight I noticed my shift knob pop off so I tried to shove it back onto the short shifter after looking up how to properly reinstall the knob.

Unfortunately when forcing it back on my shifter sunk a good 3" and now it has this vertical free play.


I took a couple of videos directly after it happened and I popped off the boot to show the insides of it as well.

YouTube links:
Shifter boot on (https://youtu.be/k64o0-VTXk0)
Shifter boot off (https://youtu.be/3REA1cnEW0s)


Has anyone experienced something similar?
Will I just have to go in there and investigate further?
Anyone recognize that short shifter? I wouldn't mind replacing it.

[SkiFree]

Well..... the lever is kaput as the ball has apparently disintegrated. Looks like it could be one of those chinese B&M-knockoff ebay shifters you can get for $20 bucks, but I don't see the little cup that comes with it.

Get yourself a new decent lever and shifter cup bushings (along with a rear shifter plate mount).


Enjoyed your gesturing in the first video.

[alas]

Thanks for the info. :(

Does the B&M short shifter come with shifter cup bushings and a rear shifter plate mount?

If not, can you recommend me a place to get those? Perhaps ecsTuning.com?

[Robbartt Neerro]

Hi Pretty,
fist to congratulation for purchasing 1989 325i coupe.
i don't know to your problem, but i want to suggest you to go to the Service center for this problem. it is the right place to solve this problem.
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Top Ten Classified website

[Kershaw]

The UUC/IE short shift kit is really nice. I'm really impressed with mine.

sales@blunttech.com
fcp euro
ecstuning

If you want stock parts, these companies will take care of you for parts. I prefer blunttech.

[alas]

Thanks I'll have a look.

[AndrewBird]

Here is a ton of great info on the various factory BMW shifters available:

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=72458

A lot of people like the Z3 1.9, but there are also several other options.

One thing I found was even a brand new shifter had a lot of slop in it where the upper part is joined to the lower part. The rubber that bonds the two parts didn't adhere to the lower section of lever. I dripped some high strength super glue down inside the gap and let it dry. Now there is ZERO slop and a much tighter shifter.

[alas]

Thanks guys. I got a Z3 1.9 and boy is it crisp!!