Short shifter for the 850 manual?

[Fatandre]

Helo.I am looking into short shifters for the e31.

In the e34 forum they have been recommending the e60 545 shifter that it is good and I have also been considering the UUC shifter kit.

Are there any guys here who have done their testing on this matter?

[Dan B CSi]

I've got a UUC in my 8 for over 10 years and it's been great!

[mbarrett635]

I've got a UUC in my 8 for over 10 years and it's been great!

My CSi came with the UUC short shift kit, and I just installed their DSSR (it's a sturdier selector rod). I think it's great, and if you compare the build quality of the UUC kit to other kits or stock pieces, it's the only way to go in my opinion.

[uinvyme]

Mike, how did you get their dssr, I spoke to rob a few months ago and he didn't have one available. I have e31 840 with 6speed conversion. Can you send me the info that you used to order the dssr. I have the Evo uuc short shifter also. I'd recommend it.

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[dukegrad98]

Mike, how did you get their dssr, I spoke to rob a few months ago and he didn't have one available. I have e31 840 with 6speed conversion. Can you send me the info that you used to order the dssr. I have the Evo uuc short shifter also. I'd recommend it.

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So you probably have a different transmission than the OP, which might mean different options for you -- I'm not sure how much of the shifter mechanism is shared between the 420 and the 560 gearboxes. I don't know but I would assume that there are a lot more aftermarket options for the 420, given that a thousand times more (non-E31) cars were built with that same basic gearbox. Just figured it was worth mentioning here for future searches / reference. (Also, at least one or two guys have mated the V12 to the 420 using the adapter plate that is always listed on eBay, so your shifter details may apply to a few other unusual retrofits as well.)

Cheers, John

[uinvyme]

That makes sense. Rob made one for my set up for another member. But needs his government name to find the record so that he knows which plans to use to make one for me. Thanks

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[garylafortuna]

Hey Andreas
I'm with Dan B CSi and mbarrett635 regarding the UUC kit. Made from solid SS and height adjustable, simply the best. The selector rod for the 8 series manual is 7", also solid SS, and a big improvement over OEM. Also take a look at the UUC leather covered shift and E-brake knobs. Heavy machined SS construction and a serious piece of work.

[Major Cheese]

Darius, I have a UUC as well.

[mbarrett635]

Mike, how did you get their dssr, I spoke to rob a few months ago and he didn't have one available. I have e31 840 with 6speed conversion. Can you send me the info that you used to order the dssr. I have the Evo uuc short shifter also. I'd recommend it.

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So you probably have a different transmission than the OP, which might mean different options for you -- I'm not sure how much of the shifter mechanism is shared between the 420 and the 560 gearboxes. I don't know but I would assume that there are a lot more aftermarket options for the 420, given that a thousand times more (non-E31) cars were built with that same basic gearbox. Just figured it was worth mentioning here for future searches / reference. (Also, at least one or two guys have mated the V12 to the 420 using the adapter plate that is always listed on eBay, so your shifter details may apply to a few other unusual retrofits as well.)

Cheers, John

I haven't actually measured a 420 vs a 560 gearbox side by side, but from the pictures I've seen they both appear to be the same as far as the shift mechanism attachment is concerned. There is only one selector rod for all E31s with a manual transmission, so if the same stock parts are used with both transmissions, there only needs to be one DSSR to fit them all. However, it isn't listed separately on the UUC website. They only show it as an add-on to their short shift kit (which works fine, I believe, for the OP). However, I just called the UUC sales phone number, and the person I spoke with was able to facilitate my order. It came with everything needed to install (clips, washers, grease).

[uinvyme]

I'll call Rob and get one enroute. Since everyone seems to say that there isn't a difference between the 420 and the 560 selector rods. I hope everyone is correct. Thanks.

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[olinjohnston]

There is only one selector rod for all E31s with a manual transmission

I'll call Rob and get one enroute. Since everyone seems to say that there isn't a difference between the 420 and the 560 selector rods. I hope everyone is correct. Thanks.

That isn't true! The part number for the 840Ci manual selector rod is 25111222367, and the part number for the 850i/CSi is 25111221577. They are shaped differently. I am also trying to source a "shorter" shifter for my 840, but since only a few were made by BMW, it is kind of uncharted water, and no tuners that I know of have addressed it. The V8 and V12 shifter mechanisms, especially the main fork that goes from the transmission to the body are designed diffferently. I have been underneath both extensively.

[mbarrett635]

That isn't true! The part number for the 840Ci manual selector rod is 25111222367, and the part number for the 850i/CSi is 25111221577. They are shaped differently. I am also trying to source a "shorter" shifter for my 840, but since only a few were made by BMW, it is kind of uncharted water, and no tuners that I know of have addressed it. The V8 and V12 shifter mechanisms, especially the main fork that goes from the transmission to the body are designed diffferently. I have been underneath both extensively.

My apologies - you are correct. I was only looking at the US versions, for which there is no M60/M62 application (although I did say that "if both transmissions use the same part . . .). Glad you set it straight.

I should also mention, when I called to order my selector rod, the UUC salesperson mentioned that there were two versions -- a straight one (which I have) and a curved one. Perhaps the curved one is for the 840Ci?

[uinvyme]

Whoever turbogtr is had Rob make him a custom dssr. I don't know who that is so that Rob can pull up the specs/ plans of what he made.

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[olinjohnston]

My apologies - you are correct. I was only looking at the US versions, for which there is no M60/M62 application (although I did say that "if both transmissions use the same part . . .). Glad you set it straight.

I should also mention, when I called to order my selector rod, the UUC salesperson mentioned that there were two versions -- a straight one (which I have) and a curved one. Perhaps the curved one is for the 840Ci?

No, the 840 one is also straight but it is adjustable...which leads me to believe it is probably pretty forgiving, but using a shifter from another model (which I tried) did not work at ALL. Since the factory shifter (25117527246) is shared with a few of the the E30s, some E36s, and the Z1, I am wondering if a short shifter for one of those would work with it. I planned to try out a few, but my car needs so many more things first.

[mbarrett635]

No, the 840 one is also straight but it is adjustable in two places.

But that doesn't necessarily preclude the UUC version from being curved. The stock piece for the 850 is adjustable in one place and slightly crooked, but the UUC replacement is straight. My point is, the salesperson referenced two versions of the DSSR for the 8 series, but any 850 would use the same one I purchased -- so I'm just wondering what the other version is for? Of course, that also presumes that the salesperson knew what they were talking about. LOL

[Diskovod]

what's uuc?
dssr?

I saw a guy with his DIY short shifter which was basically a pillow ball / spherical bearing welded to a steel plate and a big threaded bolt that went through, a small piece connected the horizontal transmission shift rod. You can adjust the height on the bolt under the spherical bearing, thus varying the shift travel distance.
Looked like crap, worked like a charm.

[olinjohnston]

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/dssr/

[garylafortuna]

Attachment 635953Attachment 635954Attachment 635955

Some years ago one of our members who has since passed on, got a shifter kit from UUC. The only problem was that UUC were not yet manufacturing selector rods for the 850. So what he did was order a longer rod from another model that UUC had in stock. He then proceeded to cut it to the correct 850 length, and re-welded it. The original OEM selector rod is adjustable but is usually set at a length of 7". When I ordered my SS kit soon after, UUC made the selector rod precisely 7". The selector rod for the 840 is not interchangeable with that of the 850.

[rjbaren]

For the 840 guys and maybe Olin can find out if this will work. I copied this line from Terminator's parts list (post #29) when he did his 840 six speed conversion in 2012 and wrote it up on 8er.org. It appears as though Terminator used an e36 short shift kit on his 420G with the OEM . If anybody tries this with success please let us know. See below. Also see post #17, pictures #25 and #26 of his short shifter being installed. It says "short shift for a e36 and e46".

"shift lever (oem) 25117527246 (bought short shift for e36 110euro) 80euro"

[tangcla]

Changing the shifter will mean the shift boot and knob will change too, right? Meaning it won't be a pop-on/pop-off gearknob like the factory knob/boot.
Following thread with interest - but my car being RHD 840, not sure if this makes any difference to the parts required for my application.

[mbarrett635]

Changing the shifter will mean the shift boot and knob will change too, right? Meaning it won't be a pop-on/pop-off gearknob like the factory knob/boot.
Following thread with interest - but my car being RHD 840, not sure if this makes any difference to the parts required for my application.

Okay, here's something I'm absolutely sure about -- no, the shift boot and knob don't have to change (you can if you want, but you don't have to). I still have the stock one-piece boot and knob with the UUC short shift kit installed.

[rjbaren]

Is it possible the UUC short shifter for an e36, e46 M3 might fit, but the DSSR is the part that is questionable?

[olinjohnston]

I might try 25117527252 in mine and see what happens.

This is the shift lever sold in FCP's E36 SSK for cars that use the shift lever part number that the manual 840Ci uses. Oddly, it is the stock one in the AWD-only E34, AWD-only E46, and non-M Z3 (all engines)

[tangcla]

I might try 25117527252 in mine and see what happens.

This is the shift lever sold in FCP's E36 SSK for cars that use the shift lever part number that the manual 840Ci uses. Oddly, it is the stock one in the AWD-only E34, AWD-only E46, and non-M Z3 (all engines)

Following with interest

[rjbaren]

So, I stopped at my independent mechanic today to discuss the shifter, and he said he will not even mess with the UUC shifter. They specify all their own screws and bushings and it is a pain in the but. He noted an OEM M3 shifter for e36 looked good and was available from ECS Tuning for around $109.55. He also said with the shorter distance from the ball there is the chance of the linkage ribbing against the Guibo. So the car needs to be lifted and looked at.
His feeling is, only change the shift lever and don't mess with the selector rod. He has been down that road with other model BMWs and it isn't a good way to go and he wants no part of it. Here is what I copied from ECS and the shifter we looked at. He is not saying it is correct but it fits the same 420G trans so if it doesn't rub the Guibo it could be a good one.
Brand: ES#: 47246 Mfg#: 25117527247