Shift lever retaining ring replacement

[qfactor35]

I did a search and looked through all the DIY's and pinned threads but, I cannot find any specific info on this. Has anyone ever changed the shift lever retaining ring. I have read that installing a SSK is a easy job, so I thought this job would not be very difficult. In the Bentley manual is said you must remove the entire exhaust system and the drive shaft. This seems like a lot of work to replace a $12.00 piece of plastic. If this is the case and there is no other way, I guess I will have to do it but I wanted to know if there was an easier way.
Thanks

235988

[FinalBoss]

You will probably have to climb under the car and remove part #11, don't lose the washer, and then replace the shifter cup from the top.

[egebhardt]

You can leave the exhaust, transmission and drive-line in. It's just difficult under there. Try removing the "bitch-clip" after that!!

[fcocca]

I used the info from Pelican Auto Parts successfully a few years ago. It's in the BMW Tech Article section under "transmissions & driveshafts" at "www.pelicanparts.com" .

I did drop the entire exhaust and driveshaft to do other maintenance while I was in there.

Good luck

[qfactor35]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to look up that Pelican parts article.