bmw short shift
 

To all you guys thinking of buying a short shift kit here is some info for you

the Z3M SSK here's the part numbers

- 25.11.7.527.254 = Shift lever £38 x1
- 25.11.1.220.600 = Shift lever bearing £5.70 x1
- 25.11.1.220.439 = Spacer ring £0.14 x 4 (in case you lose 2)
- 25.11.1.220.379 = Circlip £0.28 x2 (in case one is lost)

The shift lever does need to be bent slightly before fitting

This will be of help to when you come to fit, Though the part numbers above are the ones you need, as some have been superseeded since that write up.

http://www.understeer.com/shiftlever.shtml

BMW used different levers in different 3-series models for various reason such as the different tranmissions. The trick is knowing what lever to swap in to your car to reduce the shift throw. For an E30 or E36 318, 323 or 325 you can use a Z3 1.9L lever to get a 29% reduction in shift throw or you can use a 328/M3 lever to get a 33% reduction. There are about a million used 328/M3 levers out there because so many 328/M3 owners have upgraded. BMW no longer sells new M3/328 levers so if you want one you've got to buy it used, expect to pay £15. A new Z3 1.9L is £32 at the dealer. Some 318's have a damnpening ring attached to the driveshaft that may contact the selector rod when you install a different shift lever. If so you'll need to bend the selector rod slightly to clear it. No biggie, it's easy to do.

For a 328 or a M3, a stock M-Roadster lever will give you a 35% reduction in shift throw and will run you £32 at the dealer. The only issue is that the M-Roadster lever does not have the same "bend" to it that the other levers do. If you don't bend the lever then the knob position will be a little farther foward and to the right of normal.

Was this a cut and paste? I don't agree with the part about bending the shift lever.

Ive heard this bending thing in others places on the net and forums, i believe its true and documented.

I did this install myself, didn't bend the shift lever, and the lever sits dead center on my car.

yes was off the e36 forum thought it would be of interest to u

there are some on there who have fitted it and if they did not bend it it sat to the right and a bit high like near 5th

i dont know my self yet as im only getting the parts to do it this week
then i can tell u

but they do say it shortens it a hell of a lot

Let me elaborate. The shifter will be off center, if you don't make adjustments. Since the instructions say to bend the selector rod and the shifter, why not accomplish both by bending only the selector rod. Bending the shifter isn't easy, bending the selector rod is.

Put in the shifter as is, put in the selector rod as is. See where the selector rod hits the damping ring of the drive shaft, make a bend. Then see if it sits center. If not, bend the SELECTOR ROD to get the shifter centered.

thank u mate do u notice the difference and have u got the normal one or the m one

I have the MZ3, and it makes a huge difference. It also feels solid, with no sloppiness between gears.


Neutral
http://www.geocities.com/l84thsky/Neutral.JPG
Second gear.
http://www.geocities.com/l84thsky/2ndGear.JPG
Third gear
http://www.geocities.com/l84thsky/3rdGear.JPG

found this

This product is 100% brand new and has never been installed on or used.
BMW E36 E30 E39 E46 M3 Short quick shifter.
Made from T-6061 billet aluminum and polish finished.
Roller bearings means this product will last a long long time even when vehicle is driven hard.
This item will reduce your gear shift by 40%.
Professional installation is recommended, no installation instructions.

£19.99
Postage costs: £9.99

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E36-E46-E3...QQcmdZViewItem

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sel...ges/SS-E36.jpg

Notice this part does not have the locking groove to hold your shift knob on? It would require one of the fancy M style collet or set screw locked shift knobs...

Looks nice otherwise...

Dave

Unless my eyes are fooling me, this shifter looks very short on the bottom of the pivot point. That means the upper portion will have a long throw. Can't see how this reduces anything. That is unless the blue piece slides up the handle.

tried this "cheap" shifter mod, what a load of bother. i've just wasted £37. i did bend the shifter rod but still couldnt select 1st or 2nd. i dont like ebay but i'm buying that kit above.

I have those shifter and is the best to me, first i use a ///m one but feel softly i foud this one on ebay (the blue) and i buy it first i look the same, the under part is too short but is because the shifter have the pivot point upper than stock, so with those metod the sifting poins are close and the end of shifter not touch the any other part under the car and the long of the shifter is like oem