BL/SS/ERK Hath Arrived -- Follow-up (Longish)

["Phid Bombadier" <phid_bombadier@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay, as I had posted earier, I was going to install my BL/SS/ERK kit on 
my 96 328is this weekend.  Well, after burning the midnight oil for 
about 4 hours, it's done, and well worth the pains I had to go through 
to put it in.

Anyways, so here are some problems I encountered.  That may help future 
BL/SS/ERK home installers...

First off, I had the car up on jackstands, but I didn't have the pins, 
so I had them at the lowest setting (tripod jackstands).  This proved 
painful because just having enough clearance to slide/wiggle under the 
car gives you very little room to maneuver and usage of your hands are 
greatly reduced.  I had to contort my arms into all sorts of "condusive 
to cramping" positions.  So my advice would be to get it up and stable, 
perhaps some ramps (supplemented with jackstands) or hell, even a lift.  

Now after taking off all the interior shift lever stuff, I proceeded to 
slide/wiggle myself under the car (another tip, cold dirty concrete is 
not your friend.)  And thorougly greased myself up from all the crap 
under the car.  Anyways, when I finally got to the middle, I noticed 
that although there is room to get to the carrier, there's the huge 
driveshaft sitting right smack in the middle.  So those of you with 
large hands, like myself, it's gonna be a b*tch to get in there and get 
the job done.  After some contorting and wiggling, I got out the 
shifter/nylon cup.  The UUC remover tool is definately key here.  (tip, 
make sure the handle is firmly secure before getting under there, mine 
came off and I had to stop, slide out, re-attach, and slide back under.) 
(regarding the clip. try and get it out with some controlled force, I 
managed to launch it into limbo...)

As for the quick, and easy ERK install method, I couldn't get the 
carrier detached from the trans housing.  Without elfish sized hands, 
I'm not sure how this would be done, I must have spent almost an hour 
locating and trying to get/pry it off.  Luckily there are other sets of 
directions for the "harder" method.  I opted for that one.  

So after giving up on the "easy" method, I found that installing the 
screws for the ERK were easier from the bottom rather than the top.  
Once the screws were started, I tried to use the allen key (included) 
and found this to be near impossible.  So I slid out and busted out the 
dremmel.  I cut off about half of the short side of the allen key.  This 
helped out immensely.  So after getting all 4 screws semi tight, I hoped 
the loc-tite would do the rest.  

Now I lubed up the new lever ball and slapped on the nylon cup.  (to 
remove the old cup, once off the ball, the cup has a rectangular notched 
section for the bottom of the lever.  You DON"T have to force it out.)  
I reassembled the rig and then had to go back under.

Putting the clip thing back on was a pain in the arse.  Since there is 
litte room to play/apply force, I proceeded to use my knuckle to get it 
on (which inevitably lead to a small gash on my finger).  Well with a 
lot of pressure and some help from the gods, I finally got it on (I 
think!?)  (I'd recommend getting/borrowing a pair of clip pliers as 
shown in the manual)

So, looking back, if I knew what I knew now, I could have done it in 
about an hour or so vs. the 4 hours it took because I had to keep 
"trying" different/ impossible for me things.

Regardless of my little problems, it is definately well worth it.  Now 
shifting is substantially shorter than stock and I enjoy the uniform 
notchy feel.  It's like Click, Click, Click, Click, Click now whereas it 
was like Shlosh Click, Shlock click, Shlock grumble-click, shlock click, 
long-arse shlock click before.

I find that the shorter throws also help me drive smoother/faster.  
Since I can shift faster, the RPMs don't get to drop off as fast between 
gears therefore IMHO smoother shift/acceleration, and a more powerful 
feel (staying in the power band for just a little longer then droppin 
out of it)

Welp, that's my take on it.  Just wanted to say thanks again to Ben and 
his UUC guys who made this possible. Thank you for your support.

Oh, if you're wondering about my tech level.  I'm just the average joe.  
I was doing my own oil changes, brakes, plugs, wires, rotor/cap, 
radiator flush, shocks, kinda stuff back when I had my 86 325.  (I'm 
still under warranty so I let the shop boys play with my new baby, for 
now...)  So I don't think my 4 hours is due to lack of tech ability, I 
just need smaller hands when doing some of this stuff... 

- --Mike "Big Hands"
  96 328is BL/SS/ERK
  BMWCCA NJ


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