E30 Zone

guys im thinking of getting a short shifter installed in my E30 325i.

how much are they going for?
are they hard to fit?
where can i get hold of one for my bmw?

how much differance does it make to the changing the gears and is it worth the hassel?

Use a lever from a Z3...1.9 version is short, 2.8 is shorter but may need the linkeage bent a little

use the 1.9 z3 lever it cost me £21 from the main dealer really easy to fit took me an hour and im a mechanical donkey lol

cass1_5503 wrote:use the 1.9 z3 lever it cost me £21 from the main dealer really easy to fit took me an hour and im a mechanical donkey lol

Did you have to bend it or was it a strait swap? Did you ned any other parts?

mine (z3 1.9) was a straight swap. i also replaced the linkage on the 'box as they wear out. all in, it's about £45 to do it right iirc.

if the shift doesn't have much 'slop' then you'll get away with just the new stick. if there is slop, it'll be notchy but loose and will frustrate you! the stick can be changed easily but the whole lot needs the exhaust dropping and, the front heatshield removing and the gearbox dropping down a bit (one mount) to get at the top and it's a bare knuckles job. well worth it though.

Well thanks guys for your replys i think im gana get a z3 1.9 lever
and hand it all over to my mechanic let him install the new clutch and fit the new linage in.

cheers

i didnt need to bend anything just put in new shims and clips i thought it was going to be notchy but to my suprise it was smooth good luck

This is what i'm hopefully gonna do too!

I have just fitted a "short shifter" to my Sport I was recomended to use the following Parts
25 11 7 525 255 E36 M3 Evo gear leaver
25 11 1 220 600 Gearbox bush
25 11 1 220 379 circlip
The gear leaver is the main part and as you see is not an E30 part. The bush and the clip are, worth getting a new clip just incase loose the old one. You need the bush its nylon as I found it breaks getting it out. Most can be done from the top just need to get under the car to remove the clip. It seems very good to me I have not tried any others so not sure of the "lesser movement" but feels very good to me. No need to bend any thing just remove the old gear leaver and fit the new. Cost about £45 got mine through friend at the dealers with a discount so it was cheaper than that.


Ron

[quote="325iRon"]I have just fitted a "short shifter" to my Sport I was recomended to use the following Parts
25 11 7 525 255 E36 M3 Evo gear leaver
25 11 1 220 600 Gearbox bush
25 11 1 220 379 circlip
The gear leaver is the main part and as you see is not an E30 part. The bush and the clip are, worth getting a new clip just incase loose the old one. You need the bush its nylon as I found it breaks getting it out. Most can be done from the top just need to get under the car to remove the clip. It seems very good to me I have not tried any others so not sure of the "lesser movement" but feels very good to me. No need to bend any thing just remove the old gear leaver and fit the new. Cost about £45 got mine through friend at the dealers with a discount so it was cheaper than that.


Is the m3 gear lever shorter then the z3 2.8 as someone has told me it is also short...
thinking of going into bmw sytner on monday soo before then i wana make sure i know what i want.
as this is my first time guys soo what do i need to complete the full fitting?

which ones would be better/most suitable then ?

z3 2.8 or e36 m3 ??

I have fitted the 2.8 z3 one to my 325i touring and found it a little notchy sometimes difficulty in engaging fourth when coming from fifth
but i have also fitted the z3 1.9 one to a mates 320i se it wasnt notchy and a huge improvement over standard but not as positive as my own. and i would still go for the 2.8 one.

guys i went to syner told them im after a short shifter for a bmw z3 2.8cc..the guy on the counter was'nt sure what i was going on about then i told him in detail what im intending to do and he wasnt sure what i was after..
soo i warked out there, brought my self a bmw performance mag rang a place up who got short shifters for E30 apperently they got one which is a -35 throw and that is a stright fitment in to my E30.
quoted me Ԛ£130.00 includeds all the bushes il need and the clips.
is that a good price? and if you did get your self a short shifter for your E30 were did you get it from and how did you pay for it??
im having problem getting around this short shifter issue soo any help and advce would be great..

cheers

Hussain
Sorry its a bit late in replying been busy. The M3 Evo gear leaver is the same length I think its the throw thats differant. Havent got the parts to hand but will check them out to find the what the differance is. It does seem to me to to be very good just not sure what the percentage of differance is.

Ron

have a look at this thread
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=43004