re: Short Shifter

["Andrew Pridham" <Andrew.Pridham@xxxxxx>]

Check out my posting in V9 #486.  Most of what I said will apply to post 
'86 Bimmers as well.  Please note that unless your car is nearly new, you 
will want to eliminate the play in the shifter that is inevitable, and will 
probably welcome the opportunity to replace the tranny selector shaft and 
output shaft seals that always seem to leak (good time to go to Redline MTL 
as well).  I know I will be corrected if I am wrong, but the BL/SS kit does 
not include the majority of the components that MUST be replaced if you are 
to eliminate that play (selector rod joint, shifter tray mounting bushings, 
various o-rings, etc.).  These are very cheap to buy (from BMW), moderately 
difficult to install, but essential.  As I stated earlier, I rebuilt my 
entire shift mechanism (reducing shifter throw by 30% ) AND eliminated all 
leaks (for now) for less than $100 US, using OEM parts.  This is 
substantially less than what the same project would have cost using a 
combination of BL/SS and OEM parts.  I will be able to rebuild shifter 
parts as long as BMW exists, using their parts.  As an added bonus, the 
lever I used is about 1/2" shorter than the original lever which looks and 
feels better.  Why has no-one ever addressed the impact of the BL/SS ERK, 
which raises shift lever height by about an inch?  I guarantee that the 1" 
will be immediately noticed, and not appreciated.  The words "sticks out 
like a sore thumb" comes to mind.  Finally, yes, by moving the pivot point 
of the shift lever down 1/2" in my setup I do move the angle by which 
pressure is applied to the selector down from what was approximately a 
straight push, but the ever so slight upward and downward pressure that is 
now exerted on the selector shaft should be easily tolerated.  BTW, shift 
effort in my setup was not noticeably increased (even before I went to 
MTL), but maybe I was too happy shifting to notice.

Andy
'84 318i
Short, Tight, CHEAP Shifter Upgrade
Guiness (in the can or on draught) Drinker 

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