Trouble installing new shift coupler - 1985 325e

[26kick]

Hi,

I'm replacing my shift coupler and the foam piece inside of it is so thick that it's making it difficult to push it on enough to get the pin through. It's a genuine BMW part, by the way. Any suggestions? This is the early style set-up where the shifter (the part you hold) is mounted into a sheet metal bracket underneath. It's really cramped up in there and access is an issue but I feel like I should be able to get the pin pushed down. I just can't. The other problem is that if I push too hard on the coupler (towards the front) to get the foam to compress, the selector rod gives and it shifts into neutral (I'm working on it with it in 1st gear, so the rod is all the back for better access.

Just looking for some suggestions on what to try next.

I'm also wondering if the bushing bore is supposed to be oblong in my brand new, genuine BMW shift coupler?? See photo attached. New shift coupler oblong bushing.jpg

[superj]

hmm, I never noticed if the new ones from bmw I ever put on where a little oblong. my dad's euro635csi got all new stuff from bmw a few years back and I just put it in without really looking it over.

I can't remember anything about the other trouble you are having though

[tomstin]

No words of wisdom from me, all I remember was it was a royal pain to get that shift coupler together when I did it. A lot of cursing and swearing, but it eventually went together!

[26kick]

Okay, thanks for the responses, guys. I'm just going to keep trying. There's really no reason why it shouldn't go in. The one I took out came out really easily but there was no foam in there. D'oh! So the foam is what's causing my difficulty.

[26kick]

I got it. I just had to keep trying. My next challenge is to make all the shims nice and tight on both sides of the shift rod. It seems that the ones that are called for leave it a bit loose. And since I didn't change my shifter, that's an old plastic bushing. I want everything to be snug. Anyway, thanks again.