Z3 2.8 lever is in!!!

[Geeman]

Just spent half an hour putting my new Z3 2.8 lever in the Sport.

I've already done the Z3 1.9 lever change on my old convertible and on the track car... a REALLY good mod. But it got me thinking. Could it be any better? So I bought a Z3 2.8 lever.

It's a lot different to the 1.9 unit. It's lower mounting point, where the selector rod fits in, is a LOT lower then the 1.9 unit. The whole lever is straight, where as the normal E30 and 1.9 units have a kink backwards in them . (see later pics)

So, is it any good?

Wow! The gear shift is really short. You can't ram it into gear though (not that I ever did), it takes a delicate touch, needing a two part action: out of one gear into neutral... THEN into the next one. The box becomes very close, but once moving, the change is great. Very slick. Along with the new gear selector union, the box is a joy to use now.

It won't suit a lot of people I wouldn't have thought, the 1.9 unit is probably the better 'all rounder' to go for.

But as a side issue, on removing the old lever fom the Sport, I noticed that it was a little different to the lever I removed from my 320i Convertible.

Top = original Convertible lever - Bottom = original Sport lever


The main body of the Sport's lever is different altogether, and is a little shorter. I though ALL E30 levers were the same. Maybe this is from another model of BMW... who knows?

But apart from this, I think it's led a hard life... check out the sideways bend in it! That can't be good.



Any questions about the 2.8 lever, then ask away.

Giles.

[gazm3]

Maybe the previous owner was to busy listening to the ice in your car, forgot to change gear then realised and threw it up a gear!.

Nice job!.

[johnono]

would they have a different canter(?) for lhd and rhd cars so the stick would face toward the driver?

i dunno, but i have a lhd, and the stick isnt dead straight out the gaiter if u know what i mean, or mabey not

[Geeman]

Yeah, but they were both out of RHD cars... I think that the lever was the same for LHD and RHD cars as when they're new, they're supposed to be straight...

Anyway, 2.8's in now and it's great.

[johnono]

wasn sure anyway
was the peice expensive?

[Geeman]

same as the 1.9 lever...

[johnono]

cool

[bullitt]

A quickshift can totally destroy the synchro on the box.
The syncro hub can only change gear as fast as the baulk ring allows it, all the quickshift does is cause a faster wear rate due to the change in leverage and the faster movement

[Moofles]

Any questions about the 2.8 lever, then ask away.

yes, tell demlot how to put it in! lol! he had my old 2.8 lever off me after i switched to uuc ssk, and i don't think he ever put it in

[Davenotouring]

So Giles.....

I understand what you're saying about 'two movements'.....

Doesn't this then partly detract from the aim of putting on the quickshift, in that you can't actually change any quicker because of this?

Or is the feel that much better to warrant doing it anyway?

I think the 1.9 lever would be better for me, as I like my quick changes, although reading what bullitt wrote above is a bit worrying...

[Geeman]

Dave... like I said, it's not really a quickshift, more of a 'less movement' shift...

It's not a case of changing gear faster, more that it allows less movement at the top for the same movement below. It DOES require the 'two movement' technique though, no 'speed' shifts, though it is really nice to use. I suppose it is a faster shift as you don't have to move the distance across the gate to select the next gears though, and if you're a good driver already and shift when the engine revs and road speed are right, it almost chnages gear itself...

I think you're right though, the 1.9 lever will still show significant reduction in throw for you from standard. I was amazed at what a difference the 1.9 lever made in both the convertible AND the track car. I just wanted to experiment how the 2.8 lever would work...

[M5pilot]

So what do you have to buy exactly to do the conversion?

[Geeman]

Sal, just the Z3 2.8 lever and the collar. Same as the 1.9 set-up, just a different lever. You may also need some new circlips and washers, but mine had just been changed while having a new selector rod and union fitted, so I didn't bother.

You've read the technical article on how to do it...?

[M5pilot]

I actually changed my lever yesterday because the old one was on its absolute last legs. I used one off a knackered gearbox I had sitting around. Its well easy to do. The circlips and everything were fine.

I only need to change the lever itself, how much did you pay for it?

[Geeman]

Erm, it was a good few moths ago, but I think it was about Ԛ£30 inc. VAT from the dealers.

Remeber you'll have to bend the selector rod for it to miss the prop dampener thingy.

[Rich_W]

I did the 1.9 conversion on my M couple of weeks back. Its great actually, and not as difficult as you'd think it would be. (Once Id worked out that the old plastic bush has a O ring round it.)

Makes a real noticeable difference. And given it was less than Ԛ£50 for the parts. Id say go for it.

[Geeman]

I think the most difficult ( or annoying ) bit is either getting the rubber boot off, or getting the old plastic bush out without breaking it. You'll need a new one anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter.

4 down and I still haven't got one out in one piece!

[Si316]

Whats it like for selecting reverse Giles?

be rude not too get a short shift in there when my engine comes out lol

[Geeman]

It's absolutely fine.

Got in it today and forgot it had been done! Naaaah, not really. Like I said, it just needs a lighter touch than with a normal lever. It's really nice when you're on the move...

[Si316]

awesome, have you got a part number for the z3 2.8 leaver mate?

[Geeman]

I think it's 25 11 1 222 884 - you'd better double check it with the dealers when you order it though...

G.