Re: E28 Shifter problems **Rob

["Rob Levinson" <always_coca-cola@xxxxxxx>]

>From: "Kevin & Dianne Miller" <knmlr@domain.elided>
>Subject: Re: E28 A/C and Shifter problems
>Regarding the shifter,  the nylon bushings need to be replaced.  Follow the
>instructions outlined in the Bently manual.  And since you'll be there, why
>not install a short shifter kit.


        As I have learned, two types of shifter platforms were installed on
the E28 chassis.  Early cars ('82-'85) have a sheetmetal console that holds
the shifter cup/shifter lever.  This sheetmetal console is held in place by
a few rubber grommets and a foam gasket, apparently all in an attempt to
absorb vibration.  The problem with that design is that the rubber and foam
age and soften or shrink, thereby introducing a lot of slop to the shifter
assembly... even replacing all the shifter bushings and cup doesn't cure it
100% and replacing the original rubber grommets is difficult.
        There is one modification that will remove a lot of the free play in
the sheetmetal console.  With the car up in the air, the bottom of the
sheetmetal console can be seen.  At the extreme rear is one very large
rubber bushing that looks like a 1" diameter and 1" tall cylinder with a
pencil-thick piece sticking out from the bottom and top about 1" (it is all
one piece).  The top "pencil" goes into the chassis and the bottom goes into
a slot at the edge of the sheetmetal console.  The slot is just a guide and
the sheetmetal console can be seen moving up and down the rubber "pencil"
when the shifter is moved into or out of gear.  This is a major cause of
slop.
        The "fix" is to use a piece of hard rubber like a big pickup truck
end-link bushing with a bolt through it and a nut w ith lock washer at each
end, firmly attaching the sheetmetal console to the frame in place of the
original soft rubber cylinder.

        Some '86s and '87s (and all '88s) have the newer-style aluminum
carrier that all post-'88 BMWs have.  The way to tell is easy, lift up the
shifter boot, the felt inner liner, and see if there is a rubber inner-boot.
If there's no rubber inner-boot then the shifter lever going directly into a
plastic cup within sheetmetal can be seen.  If there is a rubber inner-boot,
then pulling that up will reveal the aluminum carrier and a short shifter
install will be very easy.  Comparisons of practically every short shift kit
available at www.shortshifter.com .


- - Rob Levinson
'85 535i Turbo

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