E30 Zone

I currently have a Z3 lever which is pretty good. I started refitting it to the bits on my m52 conversion and there is loads of play. Before I go buying new bushes etc does anyone have experience of aftermarket parts?

Of particular interest would be extending the lever whilst keeping the throw short.
So far I have found the UUc and AKG ones along with this CAE one which whilst expensive, looks cool...
http://www.shop.cae-racing.de/index.php?a=35&lang=eng

Anyone have any thoughts, especially with experience?

i did the same...... fitted the Z3 lever but also fitted the bush that goes around the sphere part...... feels brand new

Damn thats an expensive bit of kit ! .

Ive been watching this in my ebay for a while , not as good design ect but good or value conpared to that one i thought .

http://bit.ly/XiZrOe

which gearbox have you got?? if you have the 318is gearbox, the t-piece on that is very small and you have to pack it full of washers (this is what the previous guy did who I bought it off) - I swapped this for my a spare one I had (cant remember if it came of a 325i or e28 535i) and there is no play in it at all

I am using the M52 box at the moment. I know if I replace the T piece at the front and the rubber bushes I can make it feel like new again, I just wondered if any of the upgrades were worth it?

yep - nothing like a nice firm shaft to grab hold of - so to speak!

might as well as its much easier to do now then later

BATTS91 wrote:Damn thats an expensive bit of kit ! .

Ive been watching this in my ebay for a while , not as good design ect but good or value conpared to that one i thought .

http://bit.ly/XiZrOe

This is not a bad price or a bad piece of kit!

it will need a DSSR and but AKG do offer them

http://www.akgmotorsport.com/catalog/ca ... 20Shifters

The CAE one looks very good

I contacted the guys at CAE, they wont budge on their price, which I think is way too optimistic. Their product is worth a maximum of €550 including postage when you take in to account there is no double sheer link rod (you have to use the stock BMW one), there are no light weight components such as nuts, bolts etc and its not even anodised.

Shame really as it looks good, but I feel that €730 could be spent else where on the car for higher gains.

Yup I had a serious case of want on that!!! For now I think I will just do bushes and get it back to 'as new' as it was fine when it had the m30 box on it. Maybe if I do a few track days and decide I need it shorter I can persuade myself to spend some case on the cae and a dssr, at the moment though it does seem too much.
Thanks for your feedback chaps and the call to cae Andrew.

Shame they are not cable shift boxes, just remembered a company called ikeya formula we used to get sequential shifters from in our group A rally mitsi evos, they were great fun!

Yeah, I think Karan showed me their shifters for his Syliva a few years back, I believe they make a manual box feel like a sequential?

Yup that's right.
It is 6 years ago now but I seem to remember we built the boxes with dog gears so the odd clutch less change was possible.

Right, change of heart I think. I haven't bought any shiny bits for a while and it would make life easier to do this whilst it is all apart. Does anyone know of any UK dealers for AKG or am I going to have to order from the US?

Cheers.

I dont know of any UK suppliers

Have to order from the US. I asked them if there were any when I ordered my mounts but sadly not

Neil McDonald (auto mac) is a dealer I think

Just realised I need to fit my poly engine mounts first to double check they fit. As this lever is attached to the body the engine and box need to be fairly solidly mounted (but would prefer not solid!) I might kick Simon off the ramp for an hour at the weekend and drop my subframe and get the mounts fitted then give them a call.

Will Frost at Rally Prep is a UK AKG supplier.

Cheers, I left a message on the phone number listed on Monday and waiting to hear back.

i don't understand why you guys dont use the z3 lever and new bushings......around £40 in total from BMW and feels mint !!!! positive.........really dont have to spend silly money

i don't understand why you guys dont use the z3 lever and new bushings......around £40 in total from BMW and feels mint !!!! positive.........really dont have to spend silly money

gooseygander110 wrote:i don't understand why you guys dont use the z3 lever and new bushings......around £40 in total from BMW and feels mint !!!! positive.........really dont have to spend silly money

Because that set up is crap, drive a car with a properly engineered SSK and you'll understand

Kos wrote:

gooseygander110 wrote:i don't understand why you guys dont use the z3 lever and new bushings......around £40 in total from BMW and feels mint !!!! positive.........really dont have to spend silly money

Because that set up is crap, drive a car with a properly engineered SSK and you'll understand

Kos, I completely agree!

i don't !!! I am 53 years old and been in the motor trade most of my working life ...... I have probably driven more different performance cars than you guys have had hot dinners.......... Are you guys good enough drivers to eek out the .0100 of a second per lap your fancy shifter will give you ? yes it would be nice to have a 700 euro gearlever......but FFS i have a
Z3 shifter with new bushings and plastic cage thingy .....cost me £40 all in ........But .....hey !!! I can't say I've got a 700euro gearstick at the track !!!

gooseygander110 wrote:i don't !!! I am 53 years old and been in the motor trade most of my working life ...... I have probably driven more different performance cars than you guys have had hot dinners.......... Are you guys good enough drivers to eek out the .0100 of a second per lap your fancy shifter will give you ? yes it would be nice to have a 700 euro gearlever......but FFS i have a
Z3 shifter with new bushings and plastic cage thingy .....cost me £40 all in ........But .....hey !!! I can't say I've got a 700euro gearstick at the track !!!

All I can comment on is that after replacing my $80 Z3 shifter lever with the AKG SSK, I would not go back to the Z3 kit. I had been tracking my E30 for years, and the immediate difference the AKG kit made was truly amazing.

Have to agree, the Z3 is only good for the road.

Demlotcrew wrote:Have to agree, the Z3 is only good for the road.

I have to disagree ..... b*ll*cks !!

You can disagree all you want, this topic has been done to death, if you think the Z3 is good enough for you then I'm very happy for you.