Gearshifter difference

[jb1]

Can anyone confirm if the gearshifter is different on a pre face lift 316 compared to a facelift 325?
Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

Up to mid '85 (?), E30s used a completely different type of gear lever assembly to later cars.
After that the 316 and 325 assemblies are the same except for two parts - the fixed and moveable links between the lever and box.
There was also a modification made sometime during post facelift production, where the bearing between the gearbox selector shaft and the linkage bar was made much wider.

[jb1]

Thanks for the response. I think the 316 is an 87. If this 316 had the different shifter would there be a difference in the grove on the top of the shifter? I.e would the grove have the same orientation as the hole at the end?

The reason I ask is I had a short shifter fitted to my car which I decided to remove and then sell. The purchaser has said that when fitting to the car the gear knob isn't correctly aligned, it's a few degrees out.

Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

Groove that aligns the gear knob? No difference whatsoever.
In any case the knob is round and the legend on top just pushes in, so what's the problem?

[jb1]

Yeah for the gear knob alignment. I can't see why it wouldn't fit this model car or why there would be such I minor difference that is being claimed. I wonder if they are having trouble in trying to fit it.

Cheers

[jb1]

So this is a pic of the shifter from the guys 316, also looks like the throw is quite short already.

[Brianmoooore]

looks like the throw is quite short already.

Distance from the ball to the linkage end is short. That makes it a LONG throw lever.

[jb1]

Yeah I see, my mistake having looked back at the pic of the one I sold. It looks like the orientation of the groove and the linkage hole are correct and match. Just can't see what the difference would be, causing the gear knob to not locate, unless it wasn't fitted correctly.

[jb1]

Is the standard shifter 2 piece? If so is it possible the top section and bottom be loosened and then twisted?

[jb1]

It would see there something about the setup on this 316 that is very slightly different. I can only think that the linkage rod has a bend in it and the original shifter has been adjusted to compensate? Is this even a possibility?