Shift Rod / Shift Lever Help

[hpav94]

It’s times like this that I really miss M3F.

I’m a fairly new joiner here but long time user on M3F, so still figuring out how to use this forum. (Some places I can reply others I can’t? No idea.)

Anyway, Last week I endeavored to complete the SMG to 6MT swap. It went fairly smooth, I did everything as OEM as possible, no splicing of any sort, no cutting anything outside of the body to make the shifter fit ofcourse and the panel under the dash to accommodate the pedal.

OEM manual harness, cluster panel swap (to block off the smg window)

Anyway, I opted for the Autosolutions SSK, the entire assembly. (Billet arm, selector rod, as well as the shift lever.) I believe it’s a 35%, or maybe it’s 90% because that’s what it really feels like. So notchy…

In other words, it’s coming out ASAP. It feels wrong how crisp and notchy it is, or at least not my cup of tea.

Is there a way to get a very slight throw reduction via OEM means?

I know in the e36 world you can bend the shifting arm a little, and utilize a z3 shifter, etc.

Browsing M3cutters etc I was able to find a E60 545i lever mod, Is this a situation where everything stays completely stock aside from the shift lever?

Is there an OEM shift rod mod?

Thought I’d be ecstatic to have this car converted but right now..I don’t find the shifting very enjoyable.

[Cronenberged]

Getbmeparts has a "OEM short shifter" I paired it with the AKG selector rod and it was smooth. I forget which BMW shifter was used though.

Autosolutions is quite responsive I even called after texting him. I'm sure if you message him your situation he will gladly help solve it.

[mjweimer]

I used the BMW performance shift lever on my Touring conversion - part number 25117527259.

This lever is apparently also used for the diesel 3 series (330Cd, 330d) and is somehow slightly different that the E60 545i shift lever that other folks have also used. It does slightly position the knob/lever off-center but it is really not that noticeable.

I paired this lever with a Rouge Engineering delrin front carrier mount and all other new OE bits, including the selector rod joint/foam/pin assembly. Shift action is really nice and I have zero complaints.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Driveline-Shifter/Shifters-Parts/Genuine-BMW-Shift-Lever-25117527259-E46-E46-M3.html

[dukeofchen]

Can't comment on the feel compared to stock shifter as my car came with a different SSK installed, but the 545i shifter can be swapped in while retaining all the other stock hardware.

[Slideways]

You want the 545i shift lever as stated above. It's what DINAN used to offer as their OEM short shifter option, IIRC.

[PetrolM3]

Props for being honest about your experience. AS kit seemed like an awesome 'upgrade' when I got mine but it turned out to be one of those mods that resulted in a lot of denial for me. I convinced myself that it was awesome... not sure if it's because of all the praise the kit receives online or because it's so expensive.. or maybe because it takes so much work to install and/or reverse. While the 420G transmission is partially to blame for its ruggedness and IMO very crappy shifting feel/feedback, the AS kit really doesn't improve it in any way IMO - it's definitely different from stock but not better, just shorter and 'notchier' (depending on % reduction). Some may disagree maybe because they had a different kit than I did (30%) or maybe because they are also in denial like I was.

While I haven't tried this myself (ended up selling the car), I'm sure you'll be very happy with the 545i lever and all other stock hardware. When things get crappy after many miles, just replace all the bushings instead of going with an aftermarket 'upgrade'. After my experience with the AS kit on the 420G, I did an auto to 6 speed swap on a non-M E46 (this is a ZF 6 speed box, not getrag) and decided against the AS kit so I went with a known shorter lever that works with the ZF 6 speed (from an E60) and the difference between this car and the M3 is like having sex for the first time ever (ZF with E60 lever) and banging a tree instead (420G with AS kit). I swear I'm not exaggerating, the difference is unbelievable. I will say that using a ZHP knob with the AS kit on the M3 made the issue worse - when I replaced it with the weighted broomstick knob (P/N 25117896884), things improved slightly but not significantly. The ZF box is inherently a nicer, smoother unit but I'm sure the shifter linkage and lever have a big part to play. I now enjoy rowing through gears again.

Please come back and share your feedback once you 'downgrade' back to original parts. Cheers

[kooks55]

oh man, just ordered an AS kit and hoping it's not very notchy.

[dukeofchen]

Props for being honest about your experience. AS kit seemed like an awesome 'upgrade' when I got mine but it turned out to be one of those mods that resulted in a lot of denial for me. I convinced myself that it was awesome... not sure if it's because of all the praise the kit receives online or because it's so expensive.. or maybe because it takes so much work to install and/or reverse. While the 420G transmission is partially to blame for its ruggedness and IMO very crappy shifting feel/feedback, the AS kit really doesn't improve it in any way IMO - it's definitely different from stock but not better, just shorter and 'notchier' (depending on % reduction). Some may disagree maybe because they had a different kit than I did (30%) or maybe because they are also in denial like I was.

While I haven't tried this myself (ended up selling the car), I'm sure you'll be very happy with the 545i lever and all other stock hardware. When things get crappy after many miles, just replace all the bushings instead of going with an aftermarket 'upgrade'. After my experience with the AS kit on the 420G, I did an auto to 6 speed swap on a non-M E46 (this is a ZF 6 speed box, not getrag) and decided against the AS kit so I went with a known shorter lever that works with the ZF 6 speed (from an E60) and the difference between this car and the M3 is like having sex for the first time ever (ZF with E60 lever) and banging a tree instead (420G with AS kit). I swear I'm not exaggerating, the difference is unbelievable. I will say that using a ZHP knob with the AS kit on the M3 made the issue worse - when I replaced it with the weighted broomstick knob (P/N 25117896884), things improved slightly but not significantly. The ZF box is inherently a nicer, smoother unit but I'm sure the shifter linkage and lever have a big part to play. I now enjoy rowing through gears again.

Please come back and share your feedback once you 'downgrade' back to original parts. Cheers

This got me thinking, especially with the grumpy second gear in the 420G. With my particular trans / fluid at least the way to get the smoothest action seems to be a brief but deliberate pause at neutral.

I wonder if part of the problem is just that by nature an SSK is going to quicken the shift and accentuate this characteristic, in which case I would rather go back to the OE length lever and throw in the weighted broomstick for added dampening. And why folks on here get AS kits with reduction as low as 0%.

My car never sees scenarios where a marginally quicker shift makes a difference, and at my mileage reducing wear to any degree is desirable.

[hpav94]

I definitely will be going back to the OEM shifter, with the original throw. Even debating going to the 330d or 545i shifter as I’m not sure I want the reduced throw. It almost feels like a chore to get it in gear sometimes.

waiting until the car comes back from paint to try it out.

Curious if my OEM shifter lever will fit into AS carrier with their rod…will revert back once the car comes back.

[Sharocks]

Go to the gym.

It's just that you're not used to putting extra effort to get it into gear.

It was also an SMG car so how could you even do that beforehand.

AS kits also take about 500 miles or so to break in.

The increased effort will be there always as a compromise but it shifts more directly always.

If that bothers you, do not ever buy a Porsche GT product with a manual lol.

[kaiv]

Contact Ronald @ autosolutions and get a 0% lever? He is always very helpful.

[PetrolM3]

Go to the gym.

It's just that you're not used to putting extra effort to get it into gear.

It was also an SMG car so how could you even do that beforehand.

AS kits also take about 500 miles or so to break in.

The increased effort will be there always as a compromise but it shifts more directly always.

If that bothers you, do not ever buy a Porsche GT product with a manual lol.

It has nothing to do with effort - it simply feels like rowing through a bucket of bolts and that's not exactly acceptable for the car or the AS kit considering the price. I'm sure it's not just AS - any other brand SSK would likely feel crappy too. Anyone who drove my car with the AS kit thought something was wrong with the shifter or transmission. Majority of the cars I've owned and driven were manual transmission and an E46 M3 with the 420G and AS kit was by far the worst shifting manual of them all. I had my kit for over 20K miles, surely enough to 'break in'. Porsche GT is in a totally different league and shouldn't be compared. E46 M3 should be comparable to cars like a Honda S2000 which has a sublime shifting feel as many other japanese and german cars do. Unfortunately, it doesn't come even close even in stock form since part of the issue is the transmission it comes with but the AS kit does not help whatsoever IMO and evidently it's not just my opinion. Do you think the OP has no clue what rowing gears should feel like? Clearly he's driven other manual cars and knows that what he's experiencing isn't exactly normal. I will reiterate that my kit was 30% reduction so I can't speak for any other % but from what I've read online after installing mine, most people complain about the shifting feel upon installation and then later say 'I like it now'. I honestly don't think the break-in makes a big difference and people simply accept the change and get used to it. Think of it like going from tires with stiff sidewalls to another type which has soft sidewalls - at first it's horrible... it feels like the car is unsafe to drive. A few weeks later, you normalize it and think it's perfectly fine. Same thing here...

[Sharocks]

It has nothing to do with effort - it simply feels like rowing through a bucket of bolts and that's not exactly acceptable for the car or the AS kit considering the price. I'm sure it's not just AS - any other brand SSK would likely feel crappy too. Anyone who drove my car with the AS kit thought something was wrong with the shifter or transmission. Majority of the cars I've owned and driven were manual transmission and an E46 M3 with the 420G and AS kit was by far the worst shifting manual of them all. I had my kit for over 20K miles, surely enough to 'break in'. Porsche GT is in a totally different league and shouldn't be compared. E46 M3 should be comparable to cars like a Honda S2000 which has a sublime shifting feel as many other japanese and german cars do. Unfortunately, it doesn't come even close even in stock form since part of the issue is the transmission it comes with but the AS kit does not help whatsoever IMO and evidently it's not just my opinion. Do you think the OP has no clue what rowing gears should feel like? Clearly he's driven other manual cars and knows that what he's experiencing isn't exactly normal. I will reiterate that my kit was 30% reduction so I can't speak for any other % but from what I've read online after installing mine, most people complain about the shifting feel upon installation and then later say 'I like it now'. I honestly don't think the break-in makes a big difference and people simply accept the change and get used to it. Think of it like going from tires with stiff sidewalls to another type which has soft sidewalls - at first it's horrible... it feels like the car is unsafe to drive. A few weeks later, you normalize it and think it's perfectly fine. Same thing here...

Nah the stock shifter setup on the 420 blows.

545 is better but still rubbery and kinda vague.

AS is getting there but not exactly perfect.

CAE is amazing but looks stupid as hell in a street car.

This is very much a possibility but this could be down to the individual 420G itself because I run AS shifters in all my cars and they all drive differently.

I do notice a difference once they're broken in however, I just installed one in my Supra.

[bavarian3]

check your trans and engine mounts

[PetrolM3]

check your trans and engine mounts

Mine were all new Genuine BMW Parts