If you have a manual e36, listen up!!!

[SHAHAB323IS]

ok well this here's a story all about how my life got twist turned upside down...jk

no seriously

i had always wanted to buy an ssk but never really had the money too

i was reading up on some stuff at pelican parts and an article over there gave me this idea

the article states that if you have an e36 and want a shorter shift you can try putting in an m3 shifter or for an even short throw the shifter from an m-coupe/roadster

i asked about this at work(bmw dealership) and they said sounds good, and they told me the shifter lever from an m-coupe would only be $50

a lot better than say $200 for a B&M shifter

so i finally ordered one earlier this week and it came in today

i went and picked it up

i put it in

and well all i can say is i'm very pleased

i'd say it reduced the throw by at least %50

it's perfect, i love it

shorter than a mini

shorter than a 330 performance package

it's amazing

i love it

so basically if you're looking for a shorter throw on your e36 i'd highly recommend looking into this at your local dealership or online if you want

but yeah just letting you all know incase you've never heard of this mod, or were skeptical

it works, beautifully

if you have any questions, i'd be glad to help

later....

-shahab

[dementievafan]

good info shahab, i drove the m coupe recently it is a short throw, so is the lever all you need? is it possible to change the clutch too? and u bought this at ur dealer?

[///M Power]

So it's basically just the lever...and has a reduced height

[drz]

This is old news. Weird, however. When I called my dealership a couple of months ago, they took my order, but then called to say that the part was in back order, so I told them to forget about it.

One note for 328 owners: the 328 already comes stock with the same shifter (and linkage and transmission) as the M3. If you want throw reduction, you will need to get the M coupe shifter.

Search for thekid's thread about this mod.

Also, www.understeer.com has a DIY and sells kits for $85.

[dementievafan]

yes!

[preyash]

CAN u order that shifter at any dealership and how hard is it to install.

preyash

[drz]

You can order it at any dealership. It shouldn't be too hard ton install, but it seems to pose some challenge in terms of maneuvering around tight spaces.

Read Understeer's DIY.

Edit:

You may also find Pelican Parts' DIYs on replacing shift bushings and installing a short shift kit quite useful.

[ldsbeaker]

OR, you can get the parts from BMA, too. This is a popular mod for E30's as well. I used the Z4 shifter. I like.
Highly recommended.

p.s. I did it in my garage, and it took a couple hours because I didn't drop the driveshaft. If you have girlie hands with piano fingers, the shifter will take you about half an hour to an hour. If you drop the driveshaft, piece of cake, for people with MAN hands.

[SHAHAB323IS]

Originally Posted by dementievafan

good info shahab, i drove the m coupe recently it is a short throw, so is the lever all you need? is it possible to change the clutch too? and u bought this at ur dealer?

the lever is all you need and it's not a reduced height, it's actually longer and straighter than stock, that's what makes the throw shorter, it took me about an hour, because i couldn't jack my car up enough to get under there comfortably, plus i didn't wait long enough for the car to cool down so i was really tentative putting my face next to the cat, it was scary lol, but yeah, the only problem i had and i will make this clear to you guys here so you don't make the same dumb mistake,

once you're ready to pull out the shift lever every is removed and detached, you must turn the little retainer thing holding the ball joint, clock-wise from above and counter clock-wise from below and it can be done with a couple of flat heads like they show in those diy's

but yeah it's pretty simple and if you guys need any help or have any questions i'll be glad to help

i can also give you guys the part number so you know what to get, just go to your local dealer and you can order it for 60 bucks, that's what the list price was at my dealership w/o discount, and yes all you need is the lever

good luck if you guys want to try it

[WarNox]

this is a very tempting mod to do but im not sure of which leaver to get.

choosing from the m3, z4, z3 or whatever, which gives the shortest throw? or doesnt it really matter.

thnx...

[WarNox]

oh and yes the part number of the one that you got would be good too, thnx. 'm-coupe', do you mean e36 m3?

[thekid]

I like the Z4 (the higher displacement model shifter).... I made a post a while ago with the part numbers and a diy without pics. Glad you hopped on teh SKK band wagon. Now go make a clutch stop for $2 and you'll be set (another old thread by me.. with link and pics with how to do it).

[WarNox]

what you mean by 'higher displacement model shifter'? im unsure of which out of the two to get.

[mmclaren]

I did the exact same,
But it looks like my Syncro is now going, on a gearbox with only 80,000k

This i believe has been caused by the M Roadster Shortshifter..

I may be wrong

[drz]

Originally Posted by WarNox

what you mean by 'higher displacement model shifter'? im unsure of which out of the two to get.

By 'higher displacement', he means 'higher displacement', as in 3.0 liters instead of 2.5 liters.

Check his previous thread, "Mod Of The Year. Ssk For $50.72"