E30 short shifter fittment

[Finny]

Hi all,
i have recently purchased a shortshift for my 325i to eliminate that huge throw.

My friend bought one of these and when he fitted it, it caused the linkage to touch on the propshaft balancing weight type thing just below the linkage.

I am sure that i read on here or got a link from here which explained a small modification to the linkage to get them to fit ok.

Does anyone here have a short shift on a 325i? (as other models do not have the balancing weight i dont think there is a problem on them.)

What problems did you com across and what was the solution.

Cheers

Mark

[Cloggy Saint]

The solution is pretty straight forward, smack it with a hammer a few times and put a slight bend in the shifter so it clears the prop' balancer. There is a more subtle explanation in the tech' articles.

[Finny]

cheers mate il have a look at that now, that was pretty much what i thought to be honest.

Its a bit awkard under there aint it! those fiddly little clips

[Cloggy Saint]

Its a bit awkard under there aint it! those fiddly little clips

Tell me about it

[Finny]

So have you got one fitted then?

If so do they make a big difference? Iv only just ordered it but cant wait to give it a go.

[chu346]

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

Have you read that?

I didn't need to bend anything with the 1.9 Z3 shifter.

[Cloggy Saint]

I fitted one about 6 months ago. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't eliminate any of the play in the gear stick, but the throw was definitely reduced. A cheap mod' that's well worth the effort.

[chu346]

I took up the little play I had, but now its worn in/got used to it I feel like getting a shorter stick.

[Finny]

yeh to eliminate the play you have to change the bushes for the selector.

Its a gearbox off job that i think.

They do mention that in that article but it doesnt tell you how to do it it just says that its 8 hours work.

it does list the parts you need to do it though

[RICHIE74]

Hi Finny . I did this mod on my Sport about 6 months ago . I used the Z3 1.9 shift lever . It clears my prop with no modifications required at all . There is a little play left to be honest but it is a lot better .

[RICHIE74]

Hi Finny . I did this mod on my Sport about 6 months ago . I used the Z3 1.9 shift lever . It clears my prop with no modifications required at all . There is a little play left to be honest but it is a lot better .

[Finny]

Unfortunatly im not using a Z3 shifter, im using one of these aftermarket fabricated ones from e-bay.

Think the distance between the pivot and the connection is grater resulting in it being lower down causing the catching.

[toby_touring]

Yes I had mine bent and flattened it slightly in the vice and kept checking that it would select all gears and that it would clear that vibration damper on the prop shaft before I connected it permenantly back together.

It made a real improvement.
Enjoy
Toby

[GDBN]

I bought the Z3 1.9 for my 325 cab .... tried fitting it a week or so ago.
I had rubbing issues too but I couldn't remove the clip that holds the selector rod the other end. So I gave up in the end. I also had another problem trying to attach the new lever to the selector rod. There was no room for the new lever and the two new yellow washers ... could not get the clip to go on. There was room just enough without the washers.

G

[Matt_T]

There was no room for the new lever and the two new yellow washers ... could not get the clip to go on. There was room just enough without the washers.

G

Couldnt get the washers on either, its a tight and fiddly fit

[Brianmoooore]

Simple answer to this problem is to remove the vibration damper and bin it. It's a left over solution for an earlier problem with the material that the first guigos were made out of.
To eliminate the gearlever play, you need to replace the arm that links the bottom of the gear lever to the gearbox, and the joint that connects to it that fits on the selector shaft.
Both these parts were modified in later production.

[toby]

Simple answer to this problem is to remove the vibration damper and bin it. It's a left over solution for an earlier problem with the material that the first guigos were made out of.
To eliminate the gearlever play, you need to replace the arm that links the bottom of the gear lever to the gearbox, and the joint that connects to it that fits on the selector shaft.
Both these parts were modified in later production.

Ah, I wish I'd know this when I did mine as I changed the prop guibo donut at the same time and I'm assuming if you remove this vibration dampner you wouldn't have to remove the exhaust (to access bolts with air gun) to replace the guibo again. Or indeed bend the gear selector lever.

Perhaps the (very well put together) tech article could be ammended to reflect this?

What was happening with the early rubber donuts then Brian? Too soft and causing vibration?

cheers
toby

[Brianmoooore]

All I know for sure is that you can remove the damper without any noticeable ill effects It had to go on my M50 conversion for reasons I can't remember, and the E36 M50B25 engine and box I've recently bought doesn't have one anyway.
The bit about the early guibos is something I read somewhere. Can't vouch for the accuracy of it.

[toby]

The bit about the early guibos is something I read somewhere. Can't vouch for the accuracy of it.

Don't worry Brian - I've got to say that I would trust your judgement and from what you say it seems logical. I'm sure that the earlier guibos had to be installed with one of those big clamps around it first (according to haynes manual or some such thing) so perhaps the old rubber was weak.