Unofficialbmw.com

[elsmith]

What's the best short shifter for the e30?

metric mechanic?
z3/modified oem parts
uuc
b and m


opinions?

[Quincy56]

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
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92 325ic - Isabelle
91 318i - Oscar - RIP
89 325i - Otis - RIP

[e30_325es]

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.)
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86 325es The Super Eta.....
07 MCS The Daily

[Gary Scheffe]

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?

[85-325e]

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...
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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...

[dale]

I only use the oem Z3 shift lever. It works very well for me. For around $60 total, a good solid, inexpensive option.

Dale
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UnofficialBMW.com Webmaster
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sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta

[little herculesE30]

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

[jamminjames]

[wazzu70]

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.
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-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"

[Gary Scheffe]

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?

[Soviet Sniper]

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.
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1988 325is | 199k+ | First car (now s52 powered)
1992 Saab c900 | 200k+ | Winter vehicle
1982 Virago xv920j | 25k+ |

[little herculesE30]

[Soviet Sniper]

=)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

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.
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1988 325is | 199k+ | First car (now s52 powered)
1992 Saab c900 | 200k+ | Winter vehicle
1982 Virago xv920j | 25k+ |

[Quincy56]

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