E30 Zone

To put it simply;

Which one to go for? ( heard good things about z3 2.8 )

How much?

How long to fit? Do-able for a novice?

Best place to buy from?

Oh and I have a 318i converted to a 2.5 sport if that makes much of a difference.

Thanks in advance,

Nick

you should have done it when you had the gear box on the floor,

changing for a short shift is pointless if all the bushing on the actual linkage are worn!! it will be short, but slopy which will annoy you even more!!

i when fot the B&M shifter on mine, as i dont like the way the Z3 ones sit, they can hit the centre console when going to reverse, 1st, 3rd an 5th, especailly with worn bushes

other than that, to change the actual leaver its simple enough!!!

Never fitted one but i recently bought a 325 with a Z3 short shift and it makes a massive difference its so precise and smooth. I drove another 325 today without one and it didnt feel anythin near as tight as mine.

Good look

Hi NIX,i went down the z3 route with a 1.9 stick,and i really love it as it makes a massive difference on the road.It tends to be a little bit notchy compared with standard but i got used to it in no time.I believe the 2.8 stick is shorter still and a bit more notchy than a 1.9,but again you should get used to it.Mine cost me about £20 from a main stealer(including new plastic bearing,shims etc) and it was good to fit as well.I dont doubt kos 's experiences with em hitting console,but mine is bob on

My comment echo what csl says.
the 1.9 is plenty short enough I was having reservations but I think the 2.8 would be far too short a throw!
It really is the best cheap mod you can do and worth every penny! i think it's about £27 for the stick and new bush well worth doing

I went down the z3 1.9 route too, I also used e21 323 linkage. very direct and easy into gear..

Ditto the above two posts!! I seem to remember reading the the 1.9 gives 40% and the 2.8 70% reduction in "throw". Best 20 notes you can spend IMHO.

Nick: Go for the 1.9 one. Thats what I fitted to the iS. Neil fitted the 2.8 to his E36 and I'd say it ruined the feel..Plus the 1.9 needs no modification to fit, I think the 2.8 needs to be bent.

Jai

Ive just bought the z3 2.8 one to go on my IS but i never reilised you had to bend the linkage on only the 2.8 and not the 1.9 is this true??? i might go back and swop it for the 1.9

I bent my linkage wasnt hard to do tbh mate

Thats ok then i thought that if i wouldnt have to bend alinkage it would be better an so i would swop my 2.8 for a 1.9 but if you have to ben them both al stick with the 2.8

i got my e30 after my brother had finished with it, he had put a z3 quick shift on it, and it is quite nice and solid, but i dont know any other though so i have no grounds for comparison, just thought id say that.

Hi guys,

Sorry for late response. Thanks for all your comments!

At the moment my gear stick is very wobbly i.e. has a lot of play in it but still goes into gear ok although can seem just a little bit cluncky going into first but the clutch pedal doesn't seem too heavy, hence why I think the bearing and shims etc need to be changed? So thats why I thought I may as well go ahead and change to a short shifter while I'm at it. Does this sound right? Or does it sound like what Kos said needs to be done?

If its just a case of changine the gear stick along with the gubbins it comes with, I take it I just go along to a dealers and order a z3 1.9/2.8 gear lever with all the stuff for about £25? And how long do think it should take to fit, if i just went for the 1.9 lever?

Thanks!!

Nick

takes about 30 minutes to fit if you know what you are doing.

check this out, hope it helps...

that helps. could do with a E30 on there as well to compare lengths

I have a 1.9 buddy...spot on

Pal

pal, are you going to ace on monday 28th? if you are, would you mind if i 'shifted your stick'!!!!

coz i been in a couple of Z4 3.0i lately, and the throw doesnt seem any shorter than my iS

ive just orderd the 1.9 shift what a bargain 21quid including shims and vat

benjy wrote:Ditto the above two posts!! I seem to remember reading the the 1.9 gives 40% and the 2.8 70% reduction in "throw". Best 20 notes you can spend IMHO.

Z3 1.9 gives a 30% shorter throw, 2.8 gives another 30% over the 1.9 so ~ 40% reduction in total (E36 M3 shifter gives ~33% reduction so 1.9 very similar).

The shorter throw the heavier / notchier the change will be.

appletree wrote:Ive just bought the z3 2.8 one to go on my IS but i never reilised you had to bend the linkage on only the 2.8 and not the 1.9 Shocked Sad is this true??? i might go back and swop it for the 1.9 Confused

The Z3 2.8 / Z3M shifters (anything which is much longer below the ball) will have to be bent to ensure the gear stick doesn't foul the drive shaft.

You don't need to bend the Z3 1.9 lever (that's what I've fitted, easy job took 30~40mins including jacking the car up etc.)

essbee wrote:What do the figures on the barrels mean????

Should be the ratio of the length of the lever above the 'ball' (pivot point) over the length below the ball. Shorter = less travel on top to get same travel below (travel below being the distance required to change gear, fixed by the gearbox, linkage, etc.), less travel = short shift.

Though when changing just one component you do reach compromises i.e. shorter lever does give a shorter throw but also means less leverage (torque) to change gear and hence the shift will begin to feel notchy or heavy (exasperated by worn linkage / bushes / clutch).

stuartgallafant wrote:coz i been in a couple of Z4 3.0i lately, and the throw doesnt seem any shorter than my iS

Throw depends on more than just the lever, change just one component and you can compare apples for apples, change multiple components and what are you comparing?

The likes of the B&M shifter changes both lever and linkage, the combination gives you a shorter throw without compromising the weight of the shift - or so they say, never used one myself but that's where the extra money is going on these things. Kos, is that right? You're the first person I've know who has fitted the B&M kit. Is it good?

I went for the Z3 1.9 'cause it was a good compromise between shortening the shift, maintaining driveability (don't want to f*ck up 'cause I can't get her down to second whilst tramping on into a hairpin... ) and price!

stuartgallafant wrote:pal, are you going to ace on monday 28th? if you are, would you mind if i 'shifted your stick'!!!!

coz i been in a couple of Z4 3.0i lately, and the throw doesnt seem any shorter than my iS

Don't know if i'm coming this monday, although i wanna!! It's my son's birthday!

If I do, of course you may "shift my stick" My big fat Reefer Stick

Pal

nice one gary! i was gonna get the shifter and the selector rod too, anyway!

nice pal!

B&M only do a "technic" shifter (which includes the lower links ) of new BMW's

i have the actual B&M leaver with new bushes,and its for an e36!! is shorted than a ZM coupe if i'm correct!!

it is notch and annoying to start with but i'm use to it now and realisticly it now bedded in a bit its fine!!

sal and the zone shop have developed some weighted gear nobs to counteract these effects of thses notchy shifers!

check out the e30 zone. ARTICLES,TECHNICAL MENU.
for pics,instructions and part numbers.

You don't need to bend the Z3 1.9 lever

My 1.9 won't fit without bending the rod or removing the vibration damper.
That's why it's still in my shed.

G

cass1_5503 wrote:ive just orderd the 1.9 shift what a bargain 21quid including shims and vat

was that from your local dealer?

is that the only place to get one from really??

yeah from rydale in cardiff i collected it at 4 oclock today and it was fitted by 5:30 the best 21 quid ive spent highly recomend it

Just a quick thanks to all those who have added to this thread. Hopefully others have found it as useful as I have.

Nice one!

GDBN wrote:

You don't need to bend the Z3 1.9 lever

My 1.9 won't fit without bending the rod or removing the vibration damper.
That's why it's still in my shed.

G

I'm surprised, my Z3 1.9 lever went on no bother - no fuss, no bending...

cass1_5503 wrote:yeah from rydale in cardiff i collected it at 4 oclock today and it was fitted by 5:30 the best 21 quid ive spent highly recomend it

Sounds like cass had no problems either...

What car you got GDBN?

i had no problem at all went straight on my 318i lux

I've got a 325 cab from 1986.
At the time, and after hearing the stories on here from you guys, I gave myself 2 hours to do it. (had to go somewhere later that day) Thought that was plenty enough .... first took that clip off that holds the connector rod to the stick ... shot off somewhere never to be seen again! Then put the new stick in after fucking about with the white cup for 30 mins ... rubbing on the vib. damper. And then could I get my hand around the clip on the other end of the rod ??? Nope .... so I gave up and I didn't fancy bending the rod anyway.
So if oneof you would like a weekend in Copenhagen you can pop round and fit it for me !!!

G

essbee wrote:Not totally 100% on this, but I think it's only 325i's and M3's where the rod fouls on the doughnut.

Fits my 325i fine

Guys I think I might go ahead and get the 1.9 z3 short shifter. I have had a look in the technical help article where it tells you about fitting short shifters. As far as I can make out I have to order 4 separate parts? Is this right or is there just one complete set I can buy? If so, anyone know what part number I have to ask for?

Cheers,

Nick