Re: BL/SS and ERK??

[Miranda Joseph <mirandaj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Many thanks for such a complete story on this. I just joined the digest a
month or so ago -- just got my Bimmer in Sept. I'm off to the website to
check out the shifter... see you on the digest, MJ

At 2:54 PM -0500 11/2/98, Calvin Hare wrote:
>>From the lurking shadows, Miranda queries:
>
>>
>>Okay I'm seduced -- have been reading too much positive stuff on
>>here about the BL/SS with ERK but... I don't know what BL stands
>>for, nor ERK. (I do know what a shortshifter is.) Could someone
>>clue me in and tell me where I can order one.
>>
>
>Miranda, Miranda where have you been hiding!  You have missed out on the
>biggest thing to hit the digest at least this year and maybe forever.
>
>The BL stands for Ben Liaw, inventor of the "Ben Liaw / Short Shifter"
>(BL/SS).  Last spring, Ben was dissatisfied with his E36 M3 shifter
>after trying the "shorter" shifter in the new (at that time) M Roadster.
>Being the master of the cheapo upgrade, he discovered that simply
>fitting the shift lever from the M Roadster into the E36 M3 yielded a
>short shift result very similar to the $1000 ACS short shift kit.  Cost
>of the lever - about $60.  He announced his discovery on the digest and
>a short shift frenzy began.  One digester coined the BL/SS moniker and
>BL/SS'd cars became known as blessed".  ShifterFest events were soon
>born where Ben would spend a day installing BL/SS's for eager local
>Bimwads, first in Ben's home area (NJ) and later on the road in Orlando,
>FL (here) and the Bay Area, CA.  (event pics can be found at
>www.bubbaclub.com/ben)
>
>After scores of installations across the country and an endless barrage
>of questions as to what works in what BMW model, Ben decided to take the
>guesswork out of it and put together a commercial product that would
>suit any bimwad's needs.  He and partner Bubba Rob started UUC
>Motorwerkes to accomplish this task.  Since the original BL/SS frenzy,
>they have worked diligently to constantly improve their product and
>deliver the best short shift solution.  One of their recent additions is
>the ERK (Effort Reducing Kit) which raises the fulcrum of the shift
>lever to deliver an ideal angle of attack for the selector rod,
>resulting in nearly effortless, notchless shifts.  I have one and it
>WORKS!  In fact, a ACS SS owner (who shall remain nameless) tried my
>BL/SS ERK out the other day and remarked that it seemed "smoother than
>his ACS with about the same throw".
>
>Now that I've rambled on, all the information you need can be found at
>their website www.shortshifter.com.  I must add that I have no
>affiliation with UUC Motorwerkes and am simply a satisfied customer who
>appreciates their efforts and their product.
>
>Good luck,
>
>Calvin Hare
>Orlando, Florida
>'96 M3 - BL/SS'd at the "original" road shifterfest... Orlando, FL
>
>
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