E28 Shifter FAQ

[slownrusty]

I recently installed an E30 short shifter on my E24 and its quite a drastic improvement over the stock. You will also need the E30 DSSR as well and the selector rod joint ($30).

[juan c.]

I have a late car that was auto/manual swapped with the transmission from an E30 M3 and a sheet metal console. It looks like the vertical tab thats welded to the tunnel has gone missing. The pic above is the first reference I have seen to how it all attaches to the car. I have no idea how it was held together before but it fell apart recently while I was driving to work and now i'm trying to fix it with the rebuild kit. It looks like I'm going to have to screw the bracket directly to the tunnel somehow. Anybody else ever see this? Am I going to have to get someone to weld a tab on there?
This is way worse than I thought it was going to be (isn't it always.)

John

[Shawn D.]

I have a late car that was auto/manual swapped with the transmission from an E30 M3 and a sheet metal console. It looks like the vertical tab thats welded to the tunnel has gone missing. The pic above is the first reference I have seen to how it all attaches to the car. I have no idea how it was held together before but it fell apart recently while I was driving to work and now i'm trying to fix it with the rebuild kit. It looks like I'm going to have to screw the bracket directly to the tunnel somehow. Anybody else ever see this? Am I going to have to get someone to weld a tab on there?
This is way worse than I thought it was going to be (isn't it always.)

I have done two auto-to-manual swaps (and am about to do a third) and it's easy to simply flip the bushed bracket upside down and bolt it to the tunnel. Yeah, it's not stock, but you only need to drill a couple of holes and use a couple of 8mm bolts. Just pull the part of the console that's above the area and cut the carpet for access.

[juan c.]

Shawn-
Thanks for your reply. I thought I was losing my mind. I bolted the sheet metal to the top of the tunnel for now and it works but when i have my garage back I will figure out how to make it work properly with the bracket.
So the auto cars didn't have that tab? I guess I need to go read the auto/manual swap posts...

[Shawn D.]

Shawn-
Thanks for your reply. I thought I was losing my mind. I bolted the sheet metal to the top of the tunnel for now and it works but when i have my garage back I will figure out how to make it work properly with the bracket.
So the auto cars didn't have that tab? I guess I need to go read the auto/manual swap posts...

You're welcome. No, the E28 autos didn't have that tab (E24 autos did, so don't let that confuse you).

[Abaky]

Hi
I am in the process of ordering bushings etc to refresh my vague gear changes on my e28 M5 european; 1986.
I am sure this is a dumb question but, can someone explain the difference between theses two images on BMW site for e28 m5 european, for my car as there seems to be different part numbes and bits and pieces and I dont know what to order??

[FLaggie96]

I had serious slop in my getrag 260/6, and did a DIY solution and short shifter at the same time.

The shifter fix starts about 1:20 into the video.
https://youtu.be/xTLPyNDg-QE

Cheap solution and works great.

[Rust Bucket]

Can 260/5 shifter mechanism be modified to shift a 265/6.
Or only option(short of finding E23 265 parts) is to find
another model 265 shifter mechanism and adapt to E23.
Knowing exactly how am I gonna shift the 265 in my 745i
would bring joy to my heart,and relief to my head.

[Mike W.]

Can 260/5 shifter mechanism be modified to shift a 265/6.
Or only option(short of finding E23 265 parts) is to find
another model 265 shifter mechanism and adapt to E23.
Knowing exactly how am I gonna shift the 265 in my 745i
would bring joy to my heart,and relief to my head.

Probably should be in GC, but that's ok. What do you mean by shifter mechanism? The shift rod? The shifter support, which I think Realoem calls an Arm. Or what?

[Rust Bucket]

Thx Mike for your awnser

I call "shifter mecanism" the whole complete thing,all the parts comprising the shifter.I guess I could call it a shifter assembly.

I got my two transmissions side by side for a comparaison.I wanted to know how different they are to shift and if I could adapt
the shifter assembly from a 260/5 to the 265.I found they are too much different.

I partially awnsered my questions;
-"Could someone adapt shifter assembly from a 260/5 to a 265 ?" -NO
-"Would someone be better finding 265 shifter parts and adapt to specific car ?" -YES
-"Must have parts one cant do without" -DUNNO

Here are some pics showing key differences:



The selector rod travel length is significantly longer on the 265.This alone disuaded me from attempting to adapt.





Selector rod sits lower than threaded mounting holes on the 265,higher on the 260.





Threaded mounting holes are spaced wider on 265(may be dependant on tail housing)




Hope this help others navigating through the amazing world of M30's various transmissions.

[JOM]

I’ve got a 1983 528 factory manual with the sheet metal console. Couldn’t find a DSSR but gambled a little and bought the garagistic DSSR which is for later models with aluminium carrier.

My selector rod is 197mm and garagistic is about 50mm shorter. I lengthened this with a 19mm diameter stainless shower curtain rail from the local hardware shop. Chopped and welded in the 50mm extension piece.

Next issue is that the bolt going through the front DSSR and the selector rod joint sticks out too far and hits the metal console bushing. I shortened that bolt as much as possible while still allowing full engagement with the lock nut.

This was all completed without removing driveshaft & exhaust but I’d recommend to do so tbh. Another tip is to lie straight under the car with feet forward so as to gain best access to the various bits & bobs.

Combined with new bushes, this has transformed the shift feel.

Hopefully this helps someone navigate this rabbit hole down the track.

[bbaxter]

I installed a CAE shifter in my e28. There aren't words that can describe how quick and smooth the shifts are. It's changed the entire dynamic of the car. It's that good. It was very simple to install. bbaxter

[thrty8street]

I installed a CAE shifter in my e28. There aren't words that can describe how quick and smooth the shifts are. It's changed the entire dynamic of the car. It's that good. It was very simple to install. bbaxter

Link to shifter?

[bbaxter]

Google it.
They only make one for BMW's.
The only thing you will need to do is cut and weld the linkage rod the right length for your installation. Everything else bolts right in.

[thrty8street]

Google it.
They only make one for BMW's.
The only thing you will need to do is cut and weld the linkage rod the right length for your installation. Everything else bolts right in.

Did you go with the clubsport or race version? Did you get the DSSR?

https://www.hardmotorsport.com/cae-ultr ... t-version/

https://www.hardmotorsport.com/cae-ultr ... e-version/

[bbaxter]

Race version. Black knob. Bolted right to the floor then mounted the center console around it. I have a six-speed transmission in my e28, which is 4" longer than the stock transmission. I just cut the shift linkage to the length I needed and welded it back together. Really easy, fit right in, and is crazy fun to drive. It's spring-loaded so you never make a mis-shift. The pivot point on the shifter is a couple of inches above the floor, not at floor level or below floor level. Makes your shifts dramatically quick and short. Nothing like a stock shifter.

[bbaxter]

When I ordered mine they didn't have all the options they are showing now. They only offered for the e46, which is what I ordered and it fit perfectly.

[SeattleGuy]

I’ve got a 1983 528 factory manual with the sheet metal console. Couldn’t find a DSSR but gambled a little and bought the garagistic DSSR which is for later models with aluminium carrier.

My selector rod is 197mm and garagistic is about 50mm shorter. I lengthened this with a 19mm diameter stainless shower curtain rail from the local hardware shop. Chopped and welded in the 50mm extension piece.

Next issue is that the bolt going through the front DSSR and the selector rod joint sticks out too far and hits the metal console bushing. I shortened that bolt as much as possible while still allowing full engagement with the lock nut.

This was all completed without removing driveshaft & exhaust but I’d recommend to do so tbh. Another tip is to lie straight under the car with feet forward so as to gain best access to the various bits & bobs.

Combined with new bushes, this has transformed the shift feel.

Hopefully this helps someone navigate this rabbit hole down the track.

OK so we did the cup and rear Turner mount yesterday
https://www.facebook.com/KingCast/video ... 3332495945

.........but I screwed up and didn't order THIS:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-sh ... 5117503525

On a 1988 car do you think we can do this without dropping the driveline? Would it be as this writer posted?
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/need ... t.1098017/

Thanks guys.

[szacsi72]

Hi guys,

I've got a DSSR, new yellow spacers, new selector joint and a chassis mounted short shifter; but i still have slop. The difference being: much less than stock, however now there's no bushings in the system so it's more of a play, then fully "locked", which makes an awful shifting experience (at least for me it is).

Any ideas what I could do? I was thinking butting a bearing in my selector rod.

I think my ratio is too small/big; the short shifter makes the play seem more, because comparably to the actual shifting motion, it's more than it was when brand new. Between 3rd and 4th is around 4-5m for me.

[EE TWO EIGHT]

So, I know I'll get dumped on for this but I'm not home to look so... How do I know whether my shifter is aluminum or sheet metal? My car is a late 85 which may help......and thanks for not ganging up on me for not finding it in search or the FAQ.

[LarryM]

If your car’s an ‘85 then it should have the sheet metal shifter. It should also have the desirable 265/6 tranny.

[EE TWO EIGHT]

Thanks! Need to order all the bushes for it. Getting it back on the road after a years slumber.