<E36> Lets short shift a '92 325is using a 148 shift lever

[RonStygar@xxxxxxx]

  Saturday, Steve and I short shifted his '92 325is using a 25 11 1 434 148
shift lever.  This lever is the stock lever from a Z3-1.9.  Robert Szypicyn
from the ti list put me on to this.  This lever retails for $52.50.  It is an
excellent substitute for the M3-328 shift lever if you are unable to purchase
a used one.  I have been unable to find the part # for the M3-328 shift lever,
though I haven't given up yet.
   I bent the stock selector rod midway downward at the rear 7/16" to
accommodate the additional 7/16" length of the 148 lever.
   Connect to Dales image page: http://www.eskimo.com/~dalus/bmw/images/ 
and check out shiftm4 and shiftm5 to see the before and after selector rod.
   There is no need to bend the 148 shift lever.  Its neutral position is
within 1/16" of the stock lever.  As expected this mod came out really nice.
There is no notchiness and the increased force is not noticeable.  If you
would like to ask Steve what he thinks of the experience, contact:
Steve@domain.elided.
   The stock lever in the '92 325is is the same (dimension wise) as the stock
lever that was in my '97 318 tis.  See the following post I made to the ti
list, created from checking things in my ti.  Although the ti interior is
different, which means the measurements are different, the relationship of
change between the various shift levers is similar.  Since the '92 325is does
not have a vibration dampener, you can ignore all references to it in the
following.
>>The following is a comparison of four shift levers to the stock one
in my '97 318tis.  All measurements are approximate.  The measurements were
made to a fixed point on the dash and the passenger side door.  The
measurements were made between these points and the top center of the shift
lever with the knob removed.  The M3-Z3 
measurements, do to interference with the '96 and later ti's drive-shaft
vibration dampener (VD) were made with the bent selector rod, bent to
accommodate the M3-328 shift lever that I installed in my ti.     
  * The below M3-328 dimensions increased by ~1/8" with the bending
of the selector rod.  The selector rod vibration dampener (VD) clearance
returned to the stock value with the bent selector rod.  I bent the M3-328
shift lever forward ~1/8" to return it to the stock position in neutral.

 Stock = 25 11 1 221 978
 069 = 25 11 2 228 069
 148 = 25 11 1 434 148
  M3-328 = ? 
 M-Z3 = 25 11 2 228 384                                  

Lever:          Stock       069        148        M3-328     M-Z3      

Neutral           7          7 1/16     7 1/16   * 7          6
Fourth            9 5/16     8 7/8      8 3/4    * 8 9/16     7 1/16 
Third             4 1/2      5 1/8      5 3/8    * 5 3/8      4 3/4
To pass. door    25 1/4      "          "          "         25
Lever height      ---        + 5/8      - 5/16"    Same       - 5/8"
3 > 4 Throw       4 13/16    3 3/4      3 3/8      3 3/16     2 5/16 
Less than stock   ---        1 1/16     1 7/16     1 5/8      2 1/2
% Reduction       ---       22.07      29.87      33.77      51.19
Selector Rod
VD Clearance      
Third             .325       .195       .195     * .150         0
Fourth            .325       .130       .130     * .65          0  << 
 
 RonStygar@domain.elided FLY BMW
  http://www.eskimo.com/~dalus/bmw/bmw_ronstygar.html    
   

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