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elsmith
Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 13
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: best short shifter for the money |
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What's the best short shifter for the e30?
metric mechanic?
z3/modified oem parts
uuc
b and m
opinions? |
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Quincy56
Joined: 03 Jan 2002 Posts: 2634 Location: San Marcos, CA
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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I've only tried one, the Z3 1.9 (#25 11 1 434 148). Nothing else needs to be modified, except maybe a bend in the selector rod. Reduces throw about 25% and is inexpensive.
John _________________
92 325ic - Isabelle
91 318i - Oscar - RIP
89 325i - Otis - RIP |
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e30_325es
Joined: 17 Jul 2002 Posts: 1159 Location: Annapolis, MD
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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One of the factory upgrades. There is a picture going around that shows the difference so you can find the shift throw you want. $50 or $60 for one of these is waay better of a deal than spending $200+.
(I can say this because I do own a UUC Evo 2 short shifter, and if I had known about the factory upgrades, I would have gone with one of those first.) _________________
86 325es The Super Eta.....
07 MCS The Daily |
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Gary Scheffe
Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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Ok - At the risk of being banned from this board, I'm going to be the first to "come out of the closet" and admit that I installed one of these on my 87 325...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Short-shifter-e30-e36-e46-e34-e39-318-325-328_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQitemZ8053287303QQrdZ1
I know, I know, it's kind of hokey, but I wanted to see what the short shift felt like, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money in case I decided that I like the orginal feel better. I've only had it installed for a few days, but so far I really like it. Seemed like a simple design concept and was easy to install - everything lined up, no bending required, and I didn't have to risk giving myself a black eye pulling off my shift knob . Hard to say how long it will hold up, but for now it's working great.
Is there anyone else out there with the courage to admit that they've installed one too? |
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85-325e
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Posts: 4712 Location: Southampton, NY
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I'll admit that I've looked at those auctions frequently, and even sent him an email asking if that was "all there was!"
I'll have the courage to admit that I just bought the STOCK shifter as a replacement, cause after 21+ years of driving my car, I just liked the way it felt all along! But, two summers ago, I replaced ALL of hte bushings and mounts for my shifter and still had slop, so a new selector rod and new OEM shift lever is on their way and I'll be very happy with the standard but tight throw... _________________ Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive...
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999 Posts: 3087 Location: Seattle, WA USA
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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I only use the oem Z3 shift lever. It works very well for me. For around $60 total, a good solid, inexpensive option.
Dale _________________ http://www.unofficialbmw.com
UnofficialBMW.com Webmaster
dale@unofficialbmw.com
sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta |
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little herculesE30
Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 241
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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If you REALLY wanna keep it real, go with the homemade weighted selector rod.
Talk about quick and painless shifts with the short shift and a rob knob?! Sweeet!!
http://www.understeer.com/cheapwsr.shtml
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jamminjames
Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Wilson, NC
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Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:50 am Post subject: |
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Gary Scheffe wrote: | Ok - At the risk of being banned from this board, I'm going to be the first to "come out of the closet" and admit that I installed one of these on my 87 325...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Short-shifter-e30-e36-e46-e34-e39-318-325-328_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQitemZ8053287303QQrdZ1
I know, I know, it's kind of hokey, but I wanted to see what the short shift felt like, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money in case I decided that I like the orginal feel better. I've only had it installed for a few days, but so far I really like it. Seemed like a simple design concept and was easy to install - everything lined up, no bending required, and I didn't have to risk giving myself a black eye pulling off my shift knob . Hard to say how long it will hold up, but for now it's working great.
Is there anyone else out there with the courage to admit that they've installed one too? |
Gary - I'll come out of the closet too... I bought one of those last summer and it's still going strong. When I had to replace my tranny a couple of weeks ago I had a chance to inspect it and it seems to still be in pretty good shape. I think e30_325es can back me up on the shift feel - he checked it out last summer when I was up there for a meet.
I made sense to me - longer arm on the bottom equals shorter throw on the top. We'll just have to see how long it holds up.
Whew! I feel better...
"Hello, my name is James, and I'm a cheap bastard. _________________ Some say time is the fire in which we burn.
--Dr. Soren
91 325ic "Tasha" 145K
04 X3 2.5 "Yet Unnamed" 45K
95 Dodge Neon "Beater" Work Car 125K |
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wazzu70
Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 838 Location: Issaquah, WA
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Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:53 am Post subject: |
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Has anyone used the IE one? The only reason I would consider using it over the Z3 like dale mentioned would be the collar weight on the shift rod. Its not a bad price either and I dont know of any IE products that have left me wishing it was better. _________________ -Nick
1984 BMW 325e
1991 BMW 325i
1976 Honda CB400F Super Sport
"The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" |
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Gary Scheffe
Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Aahh...so there are some others out there who have installed the cheap shift kit - or at least have thought about it.
85-325 - You have slop in your shifter? Are you telling me that the parts that you installed back in 2004, which you made from a plastic milk jug, have finally worn out???
James - "Hello, my name is James, and I'm a cheap bastard" That's HILARIOUS! Maybe we should form a support group. Glad to hear the the part is still holding up.
Herc - The homemade weighted selector rod looks like a clever idea. Have you encountered any problems with it? |
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Soviet Sniper
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Posts: 1081 Location: Edina MN
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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I've done one recently, used the same set up as Quincy.
Replaced all bushings and selector rod because it was worn, spent 2 days on it, extremely difficult without taking anything off the car. But, possible %)
Shifter is perfect so far,.. I would not go with cheap ones, my repair cost somewhere around $150, the most expensive are the shifter itself and the selector rod. _________________
1988 325is | 199k+ | First car (now s52 powered)
1992 Saab c900 | 200k+ | Winter vehicle
1982 Virago xv920j | 25k+ | |
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little herculesE30
Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 241
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Soviet Sniper wrote: | I've done one recently.... |
Hope ya didn't do it in the apartment complex parking lot...... |
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Soviet Sniper
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Posts: 1081 Location: Edina MN
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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=)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
That's exactly where it was done And hell I'm proud of it. I was laying under the car for hours trying to snap all that clips back on with my skiny hands, simply trying again and again, untill I finally got them. I had kits and bloody scrathes on the outer sides of my hands after I was done %) but, it was worth it. _________________
1988 325is | 199k+ | First car (now s52 powered)
1992 Saab c900 | 200k+ | Winter vehicle
1982 Virago xv920j | 25k+ | |
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Quincy56
Joined: 03 Jan 2002 Posts: 2634 Location: San Marcos, CA
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:38 am Post subject: |
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Yes, getting it all out without removing the driveshaft, exhaust, etc. can be difficult, but as Sniper says, possible. It is easier if you have had experience doing it the easy way with everything out.
I replaced mine on Otis the same time I replaced the clutch, but when I went to drive the car, the selector rod was hitting the vibration dampener and I had the shift lever in backwards, so I had to take everything apart again. Since I had experience taking the clips off and the selector rod front clip (which can be tricky) I think it was a lot easier for me.
John _________________
92 325ic - Isabelle
91 318i - Oscar - RIP
89 325i - Otis - RIP |
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