Best shifter linkage/shifter smg to manual swap?

[Cronenberged]

Good morning everyone! Just made an appointment to get a manual swap for my E46. I would really like to have the precision and the direct feel of an RTD shifter. However, I do think it looks pretty ugly so I would want something that looks OEM. I hate how big the shifter is haha. Is there anything in the market that looks OEM, with the same functionality? Thank you.

I had an RTD shifter that was extremely fast and precise, but it wasn’t great for street driving at lower RPMs. It felt very notchy, and I often had to fight the shifter to slow it down. At higher speeds, though, it was smooth as butter. I kept my OEM boot and paired it with a Motorsport knob, and I thought it looked pretty decent.

If I were to do it all over again—and now I get to with my new car—I’d go with an Auto Solutions shifter instead.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/classifieds/member-vehicle-sales/bmw/204546-sold-track-street-04-cb-m3

[ejendow]

The difference between the AutoX and Ultra arms is the spherical bearing that's only on the AutoX kits.

The AutoX kits are much easier to shift compared to the Ultra kits that require more effort.

You can fix this by going to the gym/getting all the groceries in the house in one trip.

But if I was going to do it again, I'd go AutoX on all of mine.

This info helps a lot, thank you!! I'm looking for less effort so it sounds like I'll go w/ the AutoX.

Now to decide on what percentage I want to go with..

[samthejam]

stock

[Sharocks]

The difference between the AutoX and Ultra arms is the spherical bearing that's only on the AutoX kits.

The AutoX kits are much easier to shift compared to the Ultra kits that require more effort.

You can fix this by going to the gym/getting all the groceries in the house in one trip.

But if I was going to do it again, I'd go AutoX on all of mine.

[Phoenix///M3]

Does anyone know if there's a big difference between the AutoX and standard ultra with arm? Trying to decide if the AutoX is worth the extra $

I'm in the process of installing my Autosolutions SSK right now. Process to say the least 🤣

You want the complete assembly. Here's the description from my invoice. It comes full assembled ready to go.

Shifter e46 M3 - AutoCross
Ultra kit spherical bearing series-
Lever/rod/Coupler/Shift Arm/Front Ureth Bronze
Bushing
reduction ratio 25%@OEM height 48.9
OEM Height +0mm


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[ejendow]

Does anyone know if there's a big difference between the AutoX and standard ultra with arm? Trying to decide if the AutoX is worth the extra $

[fattycharged]

I've got a 25% reduction in throw at stock height with the bmw “golf ball” and it's a little low with my knob of choice


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[Brettism]

I also have the ZHP shifter knob, Ronald will ask you what you're preference is and determine from there. Here's very collaborative and knowledgeable about these, like with the ZHP knob it my final reduction was 22.5%

[adr_M3]

I am proceeding with a manual swap in the coming months and am intrigued by the Autosolutions shifter. I am curious on how folks determined which height reduction suited them best. Not sure if this affects the calculus but I am leaning towards a zhp or F10 M5 shift knob.

[Brettism]

Echoing all the others, Autosolutions is the answer. I went 20% reductions at stock height and it's perfect for what I wanted.

[efrtysx]

Thank you all for your advice, really appreciate it.

[theOracle]

Autosolutions 100% I have the 30% at stock height. Used to have a chassis mount and wish I would have done the Autosolutions from the jump

[Sharocks]

AutoSolutions and nothing else.

I'm also in LA if you want to try a 40% SSK.

[efrtysx]

Autosolutions SSK, but the wait is a few months unless you can find one for sale from someone. I have a 30% reduction with stock height, you're in LA if you want to try we can arrange something.

I would be interested! Just sent you a message

[efrtysx]

I have no experience with this shifter, but the company Saltgrain Racing makes a chassis mounted shifter that has an OEM style lever

https://saltgrainracing.com/product/...fter-oem-look/

Thank you for your advice I appreciate it