Opinions on stock 318i shifter feel/slosh compared to aftermarket shortshifter

[BLS]

I just picked up a '95 318i for my Daughter. The only reference I have on shifter feel is my '99 M coupe which still has the stock shifter and is quite a bit tighter and more precise.

The 318i is about as sloshy a shifter as I've ever felt from any manual I've ever driven.

Did it come stock like this?

I'm thinking any brand short shifter will improve it tremendously.

Also the clutch doesn't engage until the pedal is about 3/4 of the way let out. Is this normal for this car also?

[IL318i]

FYI iv only had mine for 5k now, so I couldn’t tell you what its like brand new.

I too have a 95 318i.

My clutch also doesn’t engage till about 3/4 of the way up. I know that my clutch is stock with 87k miles on it. I feel slight engagement when releasing it (about 1/3-1/4 from the top), however it doesn’t really engage till the very top.

I know that my car was never abused as it was owned by a coworker of my father that used it to commute to work, and he owned it since new. It has always been serviced by the dealer, and I have the service records in hand. I took it into the dealer for an oil change 3k ago and they did their little check. They said nothing about the clutch, so I would assume its not too far from spec.


I have a clutch stop from UUC, this helps a lot with the travel of the pedal.
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/html_product/clutch_stop/index.htm (http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/html_product/clutch_stop/index.htm)
you can adjust it so that the pedal only goes down till the point of full disengagement, rather then down to the floor.


As for the shifter its self, yes it’s LONG or TALL. I too am interested in a short shifter, however it’s low on my list of things to do.
** check this thread**
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=762611&highlight=short (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=762611&highlight=short)

[BLS]

Thanks for the reply. Does it have a lot of travel from one gear to the next?

[DJ Genius]

Thanks for the reply. Does it have a lot of travel from one gear to the next?

With a short shifter it depens which one you get. You can reduce the travel by 30%, 40% or 50%, depends on you:
http://www.understeer.com/onlinestore-shifters.shtml

I would also suggest weighted selector rod:
http://www.understeer.com/cheapwsr.shtml

[Danny318]

The clutch is normal, mine was like that with the old clutch (130k miles old) and the brand new clutch.

As far as the shifter, well I think its pretty decent the way it is. Throws arnt super long and its easy to find the gears and it takes zero effort. It could be shorter, but I guess im just used to it. Perhaps you've got some sort of bushing wear or something causing the shifter to be sloppy?

[BLS]

I think it's got over 120k, so depending on previous maintenance, it might have some premature wear.

[IL318i]

yea theres alot of travel, but with the lack of power i dont think its that big of a deal. the travel is nice for cruising, slower easier shifts makes for a great highway ride or city whatever the case may be.

I would order the clutch stop ASAP, best $20 iv ever spent.

If you look at the shifter kits from http://www.understeer.com/ there is one that should be the same height/length of your Z3 M

[BLS]

It's my Daughter's car so I'll rarely drive it. I was just curious as to what it felt like stock. To me it feels like the sloppiest shifter I've ever used. You're right though it is a fun little car.

Thirty something miles to the gallon is nothing to sneeze at either!

I may just pop for the clutch stop though, thanks for the info.

[jhstealth]

What happnes allot of times with the e36's that are a little older is the bushings. Go on www.realoem.com (http://www.realoem.com) and there is the shifter assembly theres like 5 or 6 bushings that when replaced it will take a majority of the slosh away. Also the M coupe basically comes with a short shifter so that could be part of the difference.

[jhstealth]

i beleive this is the main bushings that will fix it
http://www.rmeuropean.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=254

[BLS]

I'm sure I can find upgraded urethane bushings, I just haven't turned my attention to the 318i yet.

Thanks for the suggestions.