E30 Zone

Are these any good? Been offered one or a replica cant remember now lol.. How do they compare to the z3/z4 way of doin it?

I'd also be interested in peoples views on the B&M short shifter cause I've got one sitting in my garage waiting to be fitted. Sorry for jumping in on your thread Jhonno

I fitted my BMW Z3 one just the other day and i could not belive how good the mod is. For like Ԛ£24 i got a brand new one from BMW and fitted it in 20min. The throw is a little off centre, IE the throw forward is less than the throw back, but you can hardly notice it, im only saying this because its the only bad thing about the Z3 kit. I bet the one you guys are talking about use the Z3 stick.

I also didnt need to bend anything at all.

Andrew

I have seen and felt (oeerrr) the B&M and it is rather good, very short throw and a good positive feel when you change. I personally run the ZONE Z3 short shift conversion and although the B&M is a crafted upgrade the Z3 isn't far off in feel and throw.

Dale has the B&M on his, he'll give you some feedback I'm sure.

Thing is price...B&M Ԛ£180+, Z3 short shift kit including all the bits you replace was about Ԛ£50 all in.

Makes driving the e30 much better, a very good mod indeed.

Jhonno,

If the price is sub Ԛ£49 then it's not a B&M, or at least not a new B&M shift.
The copies on the market, are similar with a plastic insert / 'bush' where the gear selector rod fits. This also, 9/10 times doesn't allow the 10mm dia. rod to locate properly (particularly laying under the car at the time).
Best of all is the drop this shifter creates - which means you lower the new shift lever right down on top of the prop.
Best off looking at the Z3 component that others have found success with.

TBH if the throw was any less than the Z3 i would not like it, as the gear changes when cold are very stiff and i can just about live with it.

Andrew

Demlotcrew wrote:I fitted my BMW Z3 one just the other day and i could not belive how good the mod is. For like Ԛ£24 i got a brand new one from BMW and fitted it in 20min. The throw is a little off centre, IE the throw forward is less than the throw back, but you can hardly notice it, im only saying this because its the only bad thing about the Z3 kit. I bet the one you guys are talking about use the Z3 stick.

I also didnt need to bend anything at all.

Andrew

Could you tell us exactly what you bought and what was fitted/modified?

Cheers

its all here

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... echnz3.htm

I didnt need to bend my rod.

Andrew

Demlotcrew wrote: I didnt need to bend my rod.

hahahahahahhaaa!! sorry!

Anyway, I'm gonna do this mod, after driving Demlots car after the mod was done, it is awesome. Brilliant value for money!

yes i think for the price its a good mod.

Had an email from Jayson Gumball saying;

If you use the american m3 3.2 e36 shifter you dont need to bedn the trail arm and there is no shift angle difference.
the cost is 18 quid and the drop is 40% shift.

far far superior to the z3 bodge job.


So you might want to try that?

andrew

Why is this better than what you've done?

I'd hardly call it a bodge job! I'd love to have this.

It's great!

Because it has a even throw, forward and back, where as mines has a longer throw back than forward.

Would be good to know MR Dave ?

Demlotcrew wrote:


yes i think for the price its a good mod.

Had an email from Jayson Gumball saying;

If you use the american m3 3.2 e36 shifter you dont need to bedn the trail arm and there is no shift angle difference.
the cost is 18 quid and the drop is 40% shift.

far far superior to the z3 bodge job.


So you might want to try that?

andrew

Is that available from a UK dealer or have to shipped?

Well Andrew, if you are gonna upgrade to the USA one I'll buy the bits you bought off you!!

I'd be happy to have that!

I picked up a Z3 gear leaver today,just need some half decent wheather to fit it !

There's nothing special about the American E36 3.2 M3 lever. It's exactly the same part number as used on all E36's except the 6 speed Euro 3.2 M3.

I think it's nearer to Ԛ£30 than Ԛ£18 as well.

Ian.

... and what's he on about bending a trail arm for? Just goes to show that guy hasn't got a clue what he's on about.

I didn't know the trailing arms had anything to do with the gearshift, I think you'd have trouble bending one of those

Andrew, did your prop have a vibration damper, it's strange because some people need to bend their selector rods and others don't. I'm thinking perhaps some props may have a smaller vibration damper on them.

Also mine seems to shift equally forwards and backwards, which Z3 lever did you get, what it the 1.9 roadster one?

Yes Adam the prop does have a vibration dampner, but the selector rod has a kink in it at the Gearbox end, so it doesnt need bending. I think the ones that are just straight need to be bent.

I went for the Z3 1.9 M44 one the same P/N: from the article. Im just being picky its noting you can notice much.

Andrew

you picky no! another mod along with a big bore TB that needs doing my thinks

Fitted my Z3 1.9 gear leaver today,the throw distance is reduced nice but its a bit notchy going to and from 1st and 2nd.

Is this normal and does it settle down/bed in after a while ?

Andy335Touring wrote:Fitted my Z3 1.9 gear leaver today,the throw distance is reduced nice but its a bit notchy going to and from 1st and 2nd.

Is this normal and does it settle down/bed in after a while ?

No this is the way it is with short shifts. Like i said if the throw was any less then i would not live with it. I think the 1.9Z3 is the best of both worlds. You want to feel Wils you need to be heman to shift in his car!


Andrew

how many secounds would the z3 shifter take of 0-60u think compard to the standerd e30 325 sport shifter i do it in around 6.5secounds in mine,or does it just depend on the driver no lie will take it to santa pod and time it there when i get tb lol and i dont have bored out TB yet its been timed with a stop watch

What leaver does Wil use ?

I Think will has some custome jobie cause of the M50 and box thats hes ussing.

Andrew

put ATF in your box it will help shifts and is much better for the box.

Andrew

andy 325 touring what do u mean by notchy when changing from 1to2nd gear???????????????? is the throw the same forward and back??? i think im gonna get this mod done!!!

Demlotcrew wrote:
put ATF in your box it will help shifts and is much better for the box.

Andrew

Cheers mate,i'll try that.

My linkage is chopped about as well but it was fine before i changed the leaver,i aint changing back though !

why not change back?

Andy335Touring wrote:What leaver does Wil use ?

One that fits an E39 sport box! Not sure what the muscular engine has to do with my short shift tho Have a peek at it the next meet if it interests you.
Mine feels a bit notchy now im used to it... Id describe notchy as it feeling a bit hesistant when shifting gears, you can feel stuff working against each other.

mr_bmw wrote:andt 325 touring what do u mean by notchy when changing from 1to2nd gear????

Half way in between gears as you shift to or from 1 or 2 you get a bit of a notchy resistance,nothing big,it'll just take a bit of getting used to.

Demlotcrew wrote:why not change back?

The notchy feeling isn't that bad and i like the shorter throw that i have now.

I'll have to give it some time to get used to it and keep the old lever just in case i change my mind.

what do u mean hesistant is it hard to tell its in gear and have to give it a good push in cause the throw is very short??or does it feel if the gears are not wanting to go in?or it doesnt feel like a solid gear change could u explan it please i am really thinking of this mod but dont want to regret it once done the throw is less witch speeds up gear change but does the notchy feelling slow the gearchange down a bit ?????????

if you have a E30 with a E30 engine you should do this mod! wil and andy dont have E30 engines thus slight problems.

Andrew

I rang BMW today and asked for the z3 shifter and they said the germans are holding the shifters back for some reason they stop selling them for now and dont know when there gonna start sellin again and the price is Ԛ£51.00 some people had to bend ther rod ive got a e30 with e30 engine would i have to in my case and will the throw back and forward the same or is it not centre????down gearing is important as well lol.

i rang bmw today and asked for a price for the z3 shifter BMW said the germans are not selling this item for some reason and dont know when they are going to start selling them again the price is Ԛ£51.00 why do u think bmw is not selling because there is a fault with them and recalling them?

i got mines last week, they are not telling the truth.

Did you give them the correct part number?

Andrew