SSK Reviews

[Sharocks]

If you want to refresh your AS kit just send the kit back to him and he will rebuild/replace parts needed. Now I've seen some pretty sloppy 420G's so make sure that you're running at least OE fluid, have no play where the selector rod sits in the trans (I've seen some play there and that will take away from the experience) and lastly, this is very much dependent what knob you're running. If it's a taller knob like a Jaffster, it's not going to feel the same because you're shifting at a higher point. All of Ron's kits are designed around a stock height BMW shift knob. Not a ZHP knob and nothing taller. I've had this conversation with him before for racecars, he can extend the lever for you if you need it but anything taller than say 2 inches more from a stock knob will effect feel. If your car is a track car, what I'm planning on running in my Z3M Coupe is a AS 45% Ultimate SSK (same as I have in the M3) but with an extended lever to run one of my BMW Motorsport Golf Ball shift knobs. That's an option for you.

[T.J.]

For reference, here is where the longer version of the E60 shifter sits (cinnamon interior) versus stock. Feels the same to me. The bigger adjustment was the half inch or so shorter knob height.

[Anders93]

The previous few posts are talking about the AS AutoX kit which doesn't actually use the bushing at all, it is a custom design that Ronald has come up with. Instead of having the nylon bushing that the shifter ball sits in the AutoX just has a teflon lined ball.

As far as refreshing the parts on an ultra kit (someone please correct if I'm wrong, don't want to be spreading misinfo), I believe the bushings he uses aren't the OEM ones which is why he sells it as a kit, so I don't know if you can just refresh them using parts from FCP. Looks like he's improved his website over the last year, you can read a bit about the different kits here. He's also super helpful if you reach out, A1 customer service.

http://www.autosolutions.info/applications/

This is exactly right. There are a couple different AS kits, and the autocross kit has a teflon spherical bearing which doesn't use the nylon cup bushing and plastic shift lever ball. This is what makes it feel so much more precise. It does, however, use the rear rubber bushing that attached the carrier to the car body. This bushing might be something worth refreshing (and it's pretty easy to do).

In the same vein, I'm surprised that no one has come up with a solution to replace this rubber bushing with a spherical bearing or something (maybe this isn't trivial because the carrier needs the extra play). I feel like that would eliminate nearly all residual slop.

[old///MFanatic]

It does, however, use the rear rubber bushing that attached the carrier to the car body. This bushing might be something worth refreshing (and it's pretty easy to do).

In the same vein, I'm surprised that no one has come up with a solution to replace this rubber bushing with a spherical bearing or something (maybe this isn't trivial because the carrier needs the extra play). I feel like that would eliminate nearly all residual slop.

Well that is somewhat addressed as a clearance by AS in this diagram. It's always a good time to replace any of the bushing left when doing the install. I can't say I noticed any slop when doing mine years ago and don't notice any now.
For what it's worth, I do believe a few places sell this back bushing in polyurethane. I don't like PU for some places, and not sure I would use it here.
http://www.autosolutions.info/files/...clearances.gif

polurethane bushing

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-395189-turner-polyurethane-shifter-arm-bushing/

[ViN]

This is slightly off topic and may sound stupid but once a short shifter such as a Dinan is installed, is there any benefit to a shifter refresh kit that places like ECS tuning sells? The one thing I don't like about the Dinan shifter is that I felt as though it made shifting a bit more notchy. Whether real or perceived. I actually preferred the slightly rubbery feel of the stock shifter.

[mrgizmo04]

Once shelter in place is lifted I'd like to try one of your guys' AS shifters in NorCal. Changing levers and even with everything refreshed, compared to my S2K, M3 shifting is dog 💩. I know I'll never meet the S2K standard partially because of quirkiness of 420G, but I'd like to see what AS feels like.

[heinzboehmer]

Once shelter in place is lifted I'd like to try one of your guys' AS shifters in NorCal. Changing levers and even with everything refreshed, compared to my S2K, M3 shifting is dog 💩. I know I'll never meet the S2K standard partially because of quirkiness of 420G, but I'd like to see what AS feels like.

You're welcome to try mine once the order is lifted.

[mrgizmo04]

You're welcome to try mine once the order is lifted.

👍🤘

[BigRussia]

The previous few posts are talking about the AS AutoX kit which doesn't actually use the bushing at all, it is a custom design that Ronald has come up with. Instead of having the nylon bushing that the shifter ball sits in the AutoX just has a teflon lined ball.

As far as refreshing the parts on an ultra kit (someone please correct if I'm wrong, don't want to be spreading misinfo), I believe the bushings he uses aren't the OEM ones which is why he sells it as a kit, so I don't know if you can just refresh them using parts from FCP. Looks like he's improved his website over the last year, you can read a bit about the different kits here. He's also super helpful if you reach out, A1 customer service.

http://www.autosolutions.info/applications/

Doh! That's what I get for skimming through and not reading properly, totally missed the 'AutoX' lol. I wasn't even aware that new version existed, still thought it was just the Ultra's with a % difference. So I looked through the receipts given by the previous owner and turns out I have the Ultra 30% Kit, that he had bought new from AS in 2015.

Thanks for the link, hadn't been on there in a couple years actually. Yeah I should probably contact him about my woes with my shifter to see if he can recommend anything to help. Never crossed my mind but in hindsight I should've reached out to him long ago!

[lapoune]

Bumping this as I'm confused between all the autosolution versions, some use the plastic cup, some seem to have some kind of bearing instead of the ball (ultra?), and most confusing of all the autocross version is just metal on metal ball sitting in the carrier? Anyone with good pics of their version, or which is generally regarded as smoothest?

Here's a picture of the autocross version, from the posts in this thread what I understand is this shouldn't use the nylon cup, but I don't see how that's possible (though its missing in the picture):

https://e46m3.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2327171&stc=1&d=1591049043

[old///MFanatic]

Sorry but my photos are of my kit pre-installed (10 years ago). The engineering/design may have changed by then so don’t want to post mine adding confusion.

[keljos]

Bumping this as I'm confused between all the autosolution versions, some use the plastic cup, some seem to have some kind of bearing instead of the ball (ultra?), and most confusing of all the autocross version is just metal on metal ball sitting in the carrier? Anyone with good pics of their version, or which is generally regarded as smoothest?

Here's a picture of the autocross version, from the posts in this thread what I understand is this shouldn't use the nylon cup, but I don't see how that's possible (though its missing in the picture):

https://e46m3.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2327171&stc=1&d=1591049043

Here are a few pics of the AS AutoX shifter assembly I just received from Ronald. Don’t have anything to say about the installation or what it feels like, having only just unboxed it.

[lapoune]

Here are a few pics of the AS AutoX shifter assembly I just received from Ronald. Don’t have anything to say about the installation or what it feels like, having only just unboxed it.

Thanks a lot, weird that all the pictures I'd found were missing the bearing in them.

[kenster]

Where does one look into purchasing a autosolutions SSK? Do you have to email them directly? Or is there a retailer.

[keljos]

Where does one look into purchasing a autosolutions SSK? Do you have to email them directly? Or is there a retailer.

Email Ronald directly, he’s incredibly helpful and easy to work with. He’ll help you determine the right direction based on what you’re looking for.