Author Topic: Short Shift Bargain of the Century! (Read 3761 times)

sijef · « **on:** June 11, 2009, 12:06:39 PM »

I have 'legitimate' BMW short shift kit that I was going to install in the 318is.
I wasn't looking forward to having to remove all that stuff to get to the install. One day I was scanning through E30bay and found this thing made by Cartoka. It was very cheap, about 30 bucks, but install looked a lot easier. I bought it, more to test out whether or not I would even like a shorter shifting car, but also because I was interested in it ... and it was cheap!
This piece required no driveline or exhaust disassembly .. took all of 20 mins to put in.
It's excellent! And it's made really well; those are roller bearings where the extension stud pivots. The first thing I noted was how little movement the stick now had. It really is switch-like. The second thing I noticed was that the system got more notchly, but that's due to the 180k that my car had on the existing bushings. After a few hundred miles the system has smoothed out nicely ... or maybe I got used to using a 'switch' shifter. Clicking through the gears is lightning quick now, making it easy to keep the m42 in its perfect range. I now do not mind that it takes two shifts to get to 60 ... it's FUN!
BMW sourced kit went to a friend and I spent the extra funds on gas.

1991 E30 M42 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2009, 12:23:26 PM »

Quote from: sijef;73459

This piece required no driveline or exhaust disassemble

You do not need to do all that to install a shortshifter, take the pin out of the shifter mount at the tranny #3, take the clip out if the selector rod #15-17 and disconnect the reverse switch wires #21 and the whole shifter assembly comes out the bottom

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AF93&mospid=47305&btnr=25_0027&hg=25&fg=05

Wizard · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2009, 02:32:48 PM »

Hummmmmmmmmmm....Wonder if anyone has installed this on an E30 that already has a SSK installed....Maybe a Super SSK then....lol

P. Kennedy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2009, 02:43:20 PM »

In '95 I bought an '88 E30 M3, installed a SSK in it (don't remember who's) and my shop installed a piece like the one above in addition to the SSK just for kicks. Frankly, the throw was way too short. It was a bit disconcerting. I sold it to a guy who liked it that way. To each their own.

sijef · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2009, 02:52:43 PM »

Quote from: 1991 E30 M42;73461

You do not need to do all that to install a shortshifter, take the pin out of the shifter mount at the tranny #3, take the clip out if the selector rod #15-17 and disconnect the reverse switch wires #21 and the whole shifter assembly comes out the bottom

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AF93&mospid=47305&btnr=25_0027&hg=25&fg=05

..... no matter how you unhook it .... this is still less work!

Lots of naysayers here, huh.
Oh well ..... I was just trying to do a favor for y'all.
It's just an alternative part to the expensive versions.

nigel · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2009, 01:53:44 PM »

So there's no disadvantage to using this bit instead of an SSK?

hbgoonie · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2009, 12:07:56 AM »

How exactly did you connect this part? There are no instructions on that website.

1991 E30 M42 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2009, 01:24:26 AM »

Quote from: Wizard;73471

Hummmmmmmmmmm....Wonder if anyone has installed this on an E30 that already has a SSK installed....Maybe a Super SSK then....lol

It would probably hit the drive shaft

dsm2002 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2009, 03:38:47 AM »

This is how it works. Seems like a clever idea. What's it made of? Steel?

Report back how goes after a longer term, i.e thousands of miles.

1991 E30 M42 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2009, 12:22:38 PM »

you probably still need to bend the linkage to clear the guibo