It's driving me INSANE

[Shaheenk]

right , I have just about had enough of this car now.

Decided today to do the SSK (short shift Kit) using the parts supplied in the wiki stuff and wanted to refit the rear quarter wndow trim.

Problem 1, it seems I do not have a standard shift lever thingy mabob. My gearknob was held in place by a circlip and has a metal ring and spring setup. Please tell me I can still SSK my car. Cause I cannot fathom how to take the ring and spring unit off the old one and transfer it to the new gearknob.

I cannot use the white ring stuff either as the housing is not the same.

So I figured bugger this , will ask people in the know.....and let me move to fitting the rear trim.

Not a chance, it simply will not go into the new rubbers, so the question is, do you fit the trim then put the windows into the car or fit the trim on the car.....

[bmw9818]

what part of the trim?

and what model?

[Grrrmachine]

It might help if you put up some pics. I edited the Wiki article and fitted my own SSK and I have no clue what you're on about.

[Shaheenk]

Ok. Will put up some pics tomorrow. But ingot it fitted.

Will also update the wiki. Seems the per facelift cars came with a shifter carrier that is different To the plastic bumper variant.

The ring that holds the gear lever in place is not the same as the in pictured on the wiki. This is too narrow for the post facelift setup.

So setup was quite a lot simpler , there are 2 rings which sit in the hole, they are held in place by a circling and a brass ring. The ring also holds down a spring.

You need to do the following to do a ask kit on the car.

Remove the old gear lever by taking out the circling, the view from the bottom is the same, still a single rod connecting over to the gearbox. Undo the clip and the selector rods slips out the washers are not needed with this setup.

On the old gear lever you will now be left with a plastic ring on the top, then a metal ring and then a spring, all these need to be transferred to the new lever. We cut the old lever as there is air clip which again holds it all in place and you won't get the rings off without cutting down the metal ball.

To fit the items onto the Z4 lever you need to shave off a little of the inside of the plastic ring so it slides down the rest of the parts all slide down the lever, fitting is the reverse of removal.

It's the carrier that makes things fussy. Also the metal sheet carrier sits higher then the alu one which means no need to bend the rod.

As for the trim, it's the ones which go around the quarter glass, looks like a D when removed. Got them off but I have new window rubbers and the groove they are meant to press. T seems to be a tad tight.

[Shaheenk]

So can anyone assist with the trim question.

To clarify, this is the trim that goes around the rear quarter window. Not the part that clips into the bodywork.

It has the section of the b pillar with the 2 size 8mm nuts whilch hold it in place. I am also not sure if this should be riveted to the other pieces.

Please please I need to get this fitted.

[daimlerman]

I usually find a bit of lubrication helps things to slide into place.

Soft soap,the sort of stuff that tyre fitters use,brushed around the rubber should help.

[Shaheenk]

Tried soap , tried Q20 , tried Silicone spray .

I am just about to try KY cause its Screwing me over.

[daimlerman]

Tried soap , tried Q20 , tried Silicone spray .

I am just about to try KY cause its Screwing me over.

What on earth is KY?

[Shaheenk]

Ky jelly. It's lube.

[pacerpete]

Ky jelly. It's lube.

Handy stuff . I have some in my toolbox/lunchbox/wallet !