M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: D. Clay on December 26, 2006, 06:04:57 PM
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Anybody know anything about this or the company?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E30-E36-E46-E39-M3-M5-Z3-RACING-SHORT-THROW-SHIFTER_W0QQitemZ270072126499QQihZ017QQcategoryZ33736QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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For the money buy it, if it breaks , buy another one,
itīs a B&M knock off, identical in all ways, except maybe parts quality, but then again, itīs 10times cheaper then a single B&M kit, so you canīt loose buying this a 10kits are surely going to last while ;)
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Materials are probably different and the reliability and tolerances are unknown.
If you want to do it correctly the first time and never touch it again, I have a new B&M SSK that is for sale.
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I got it and tried to put it in today. Long story short - it don't fit. Called the ebay seller, Option Racing. They don't have a clue. They e-mailed the directions for another brand of shifter. Everything is right where it should be except the lower part that goes through the shifter housing and holds it all together with a snap ring. It's just a little too big for the opening. Completely useless.
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I got it and tried to put it in today. Long story short - it don't fit. Called the ebay seller, Option Racing. They don't have a clue. They e-mailed the directions for another brand of shifter. Everything is right where it should be except the lower part that goes through the shifter housing and holds it all together with a snap ring. It's just a little too big for the opening. Completely useless.
I've learned never buy cheap knock off s h i t. I’ve done that same. You get what you pay for. The Z4 shifter works great.
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Does anyone have the part number for the Z4 SSK?
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Another hurrah for the z3 1.9 kit. I have used it several times in 6cyl and 4cyl e30s and currently have it still. No regrets. No hassle. Plug and Play mods are oh so nice.
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Does anyone have the part number for the Z4 SSK?
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=41971&highlight=short+shift+kit
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/drivetrain/e36_replace_a_shift_lever.html
http://members.dodo.com.au/~wawawa/ (http://members.dodo.com.au/%7Ewawawa/)
I had some time on my hands and searched the road kill and litter on the information superhighway. I'm considering the E46 328-330 shifter with a ratio of 4.74-1. It's between the Z3 1.9 and the Z4 3.0. It's a little shorter and faster then the Z3 1.9 and also curved. The Z4 3.0 is ultra fast, short and straight.
BMA sells a kit:
http://bmaparts.com/epcgetspecials.epc?cookieID=1Z90V5YPI1ZK1BPBIK&clientid=bmaparts
and Alpine003 on this forum has a new B&M ( highly rated) for sale.
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I'm using the z3 1.9 one and I like it. The z4 one that I tried in a friends 318is was way too short and notchy for my like.
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I have had experience with a few ssk out there, either personally or friends. (UUC, B&M, Factory Z4/Z3, and recently ebay one)
All of them work to a good degree but what you're paying for is really the feel.
In the ranking, I would rate UUC and B&M in one class and all others in another class. Of course with ebay versions, it's always a gamble on fitment, quality, reliability, etc.
If it wasn't the fact that I wanted to stay with the whole "OEM" theme on my car and if I didn't have my old M3 shifter laying around, I would've installed the B&M as that comes very close to the UUC at a fraction of the price. Materials are top notch and you can definitely tell it is very robust based on the weight, movement, tolerance, materials.
Edit: if you plan on going the OEM route, pick one that feels best to you. Some of the shorter throws are more notchy and I know some people don't like the notchy feeling. In all honesty, the short throw distance between most of the OEM upgraded shifters are negligible at best.
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ive installed the z4 (not sure which model) ss and I love it. it is notchy and it takes a bit more force than stock but that is why it is great. it it well worth the $40 i paid for it! definetly do it. i cant comment on the B&m or other ss but the z4 works awesome.
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I'm using the z3 1.9 one and I like it. The z4 one that I tried in a friends 318is was way too short and notchy for my like.
Same for me! My bro had a super notchy one..
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I have the B&M and love it!
I like it better than what my M roady felt.
Hence, I sold the roady and kept the 318is! :D
Well, there were other reasons as well. :rolleyes:
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Tomorrow I'm puttin in a 95 m3 shifter in my e30. I'll let y'all know how that goes once done.
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Tomorrow I'm puttin in a 95 m3 shifter in my e30. I'll let y'all know how that goes once done.
It should be a good combination of shorter throw and slightly notchy feel but not as notchy as the Z4 or Z3 units. I have a '98 m3 shifter that I'm currently using. Been tempted to install the B&M unit but I want to stick with the OEM theme.
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what do you mean by notchy?
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what do you mean by notchy?
Probably hard to put into gears at times. I know mine is like that.
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Just that it takes a little bit of effort to get in and out of gear.
Ive had a Z4 3.0 for about 3 months and i love it takes about 200 miles of city driving to wear in but i will definatley recommend to any one that is looking.
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You beat me to it lol
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the notchiness of the z4 3.0 shifter is the price you gotta pay to have the shortest throw. i wish there was somethin smoother than the 3.0 but close to the same throw. how short is that b&m one?
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I love the feeling that the m3 unit gives. It's notchy but still really easy to get into gear. About as short of a throw as I want. I wanna stick w/ OEM theme as well, so next step is an s14 and possibly dogleg.
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Im using the UUC short shifter its expensive but i didnt pay for it
2 years ago my dad got it for me as a Xmass present when i was still a young'un
its got a super nice feel to it even 2 years later i havent felt and slack or sloppiness develope like i have seen with buddies and their short shifters
if i need to get another would i buy a UUC? no
way to expensive for what you get... Bav auto offers a kit that seems almost the exact same but for the price of B&M, i would also look into them, If you can get a UUC kit for cheap go for it but i dont recomend paying close to 400 for everything
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I am really impressed w/ just the factory parts and doin a ssk w/ a m3 unit. I like it a lot and it's real notchy and much more cheap
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-------------Ratio---------Part #
E30 OEM----7.23:1-----25 11 1 221 178
Z3 1.9------5.13:1-----25 11 1 222 873
E46 2.8-----4.74:1-----25 11 1 434 113
Z4 3.0------3.28:1-----25 11 7 516 160
Finally picked the third one. Pretty fast, curved to the left and back like the OEM E30 and Z3 1.9. Also same height.
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can't see those pics...
use the uploader in the advanced view of the post editor.
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It was warm today down here in Texas so I put the short shifter in. I bought the kit from BMAParts.com. You specify the shifter. Now I know why the clip on top that holds the shifter housing is called the "bitch clip".
No. 3 in the pic:
#2 does take out some play on a 200,000 mile car. The shifter is from an E46 2.8-3.0 part# 25 11 1 434 113. It's great. Same height and position as OEM but "snicky" and about half or less the distance.
To do the "bitch clip" I had to take out the trans mounts and take the front guibo loose for room. The trick is to push a little screw driver like from an eyeglasses kit, under the clip from the rear.
I like my car!
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I only replaced #6, 7, and 13 in that pic and everything is tight. A friend just put his hand under and found everything, took 5 mins. I take no credit for doing it, lol.
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I only replaced #6, 7, and 13 in that pic and everything is tight. A friend just put his hand under and found everything, took 5 mins. I take no credit for doing it, lol.
well the shifter sloppiness usually comes from the worn bushing (#2)
clay, have you had any other knob installed? i have a feeling that the e46 knob is quite similar to the Z3 1.9 lever
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I have an old school knob - round, leather covered, with BMW logo. $21 from BMA. AFAIK all the BMW knobs are the same.
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I have that knob and I HATE IT with a passion :rolleyes:
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At least you feel passionately about it. Good thing they're so cheap, huh? I've had several including a leather M type that finally wore out and a rubber one that didn't feel good. Other than being OEM on E30's I like the way this one feels. I think I will put a 5 speed pattern medallion in it though.
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Other than being OEM on E30's I like the way this one feels. I think I will put a 5 speed pattern medallion in it though.
That is what I have. Not really a shift knob snob so don't really care at the moment. Maybe later when my car is all done up this will be something I'll consider changing.
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-------------Ratio---------Part #
E30 OEM----7.23:1-----25 11 1 221 178
Z3 1.9------5.13:1-----25 11 1 222 873
E46 2.8-----4.74:1-----25 11 1 434 113
Z4 3.0------3.28:1-----25 11 7 516 160
Finally picked the third one. Pretty fast, curved to the left and back like the OEM E30 and Z3 1.9. Also same height.
I installed the z3 2.8 lever in my m42 e30 today... very pleased with it! only wish BMA offered the E46 pre-bent 2.8 lever you have pictured here as the z3 is a strait lever and puts the knob in an unfamiliar place... otherwise sheer bliss of an ssk for 85 bucks from BMA
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OK I've been reading the forums and there's so much information and my eyes are bleeding...
OK so I can buy any of the above shift levers and install them onto my car with no modifications right? Also, I should replace parts 2, 6, 7, and 13 in the diagram while I'm in there. Correct? It all seems so simple but I'm somehow confused...
I went to bmaparts.com and can't find the kits. Did you look it up my the 318 m42?
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I have UUC and love it.
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Probably worth mentioning: A previous owner of my car replaced the "bitch clip" with a bolt, washers, and nut... It was a breeze to remove and install.
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Another cheap ebay item but I'm very supprised by it as I would not buy cheep knock offs but it was a present from my bro so decided to give it a go because my bushing were soggy. Had no fitment problems, its secure with no rattles, quility is great, looks good works a treat and i really am well impressed! Big thumbs up. BTW this isnt my first short shifter so i have the experience to say i would'nt buy another rip-off priced unit again and would like to hear some more feedback from anyone else that has used this shifter.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140385458940
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that looks damn near identical to my B&M thats in the Is. but at a 1/4 of the price.