My E61 came with the standard short shifter. I felt it wasn't short enough and had thought it must have been the regular 'long' shifter. I bought an e60/61 short shifter from the dealer only to discover it was the sameas the one I had fitted - doh!

Anyway I got a hold of a z4 3.0 shifter which is the same shifter I fitted to an e46 sport I had. You can see from the pics that its shorter above the pivot and longer below the pivot. That all adds up to less travel and I fitted it today and the throw is reduced.

I managed to do this from inside the car. hardest part is getting the clip off that holds the lever to the link. I used a wire coathanger to manoevere the linkage to help line it back up when refitting. Its very tight in there and it doesn't help that I have big hands. Would be easier if you have small hands!!!

Here's a few pics

Short shifter is er the short one LOL!


Here's a view with the shifter removed and you can see the linkage and the recess where the clip goes. Also the coathanger I used to stop the linkage falling down.


And the assembly all put back together and the knob is sitting a little lower.

 

Hey! That's pretty slick!

Nice job.

So you only changed out the shift lever, not the selector rod or shift arm?

Any unintended consequences, good or bad? More vibration, notchier?

Thanks!

 

man that's short! how's the effort required to shift gears?

 

Cheers.

I'll let you know how it goes. Not actually had a chance to try it yet. You have to watch the lower joint doesn't hit the prop. had this problem with the e46 sport and had to bend the shifter slightly to get clearance. There is a lot more room on the e61 though so I don't expect it to be anywhere near it.

As for vibration I don't expect it'll be any different from the std fit. It is only the shifter I changed. Every other part is std e61.

Shift weight feels fine sitting in the driveway and snicking through the gears. Reverse feels quite heavy but it always did.

Here's a pic of some OEM shifters. You can see why I went for the z4 3.0

 

Great info here and great mod! Thanks and congratulations!

BTW, I have a MSport shift lever knob waiting for the installation, but I just can't get the original knob out! I've pulled like a crazy but it doesn't get off?!
I must be doing something wrong...

 

that pic looks familiar. You been talking to Ron Stygar? is he still bending shift levers? Haven't talked to him in 10 yrs.

 

Forgive my potential ignorance, but why wouldn't you want to use the Z4 2.5? It is closer to the standard size on the lower pivot length. I suppose by having a longer lower end you reduce the force necessary, due to the shortened upper length, but as you said, you run the risk of rubbing on the guibo. How much room is down there? I would really like to swap the shifter lever, but REALLY don't want to have to drop the tranny or bend the selector rod to avoid rubbing.

Thanks!

Also, where would one start to look for these shifters? Dealer? Junk yard?

 

Anzafin: Pull harder or get somebody stronger to do it TBH mine came off without too much hassle. Just be careful not to take out the rear view mirror.

545felix: I got the pic from a post on bmwland. I'm not sure who that guy is but decided to bend the shifter for my E46 despite being advised it wouldn't work, pah doubters


ADD: To get the shortest throw you want the longest lower pivot and the shortest upper length. If its short bellow the pivot you need to move the upper end far more to get the same gear linkage movement. They are cheap from the dealer ?35 in the UK

As for propshaft clearance I expect it will depend on the engine and hence prop diameter. As I did this from above I couldn't see properly to gauge this but I seem to remember the last time I did this I was under the car and there was a good inch or two gap. i was even contemplating cutting the lower shaft and welding in a spacer to make the lower shaft even longer...might have made it difficult to change gear though!!

 

Thanks! Just as I thought. Can you confirm the part number for the Z4 3.0 shifter? What about the Z4 M3.2 shifter? Any better, or same as the 3.0?

Thanks again!

 

from real oem z4 3.0 gearshift.



01 SHIFTING ARM, REINFORCED 1 25117516068 $22.32
02 BEARING SLEEVE, ULTRA-OVAL L=21MM 2 25117528407 $1.79
03 BEARING BOLT 1 11/2003 25117529079 $4.18
04 BEARING BOLT 1 11/2003 25117529078 $4.18
05 BEARING, SHIFTING ARM 1 25111222015 $31.81
06 SHIFT LEVER 1 25117543193 $63.05
07 BEARING, SHIFT LEVER 1 25111220600 $8.48
08 RUBBER BOOT 1 25117522149 $14.40
09 SELECTOR ROD 1 25117512337 $36.55
10 PLASTIC WASHER 10X16X0,9 2 11/2003 03/2005 25111220439 $0.57
11 CIRCLIP 2 25111220379 $0.78
11 SECURING CLIP 2 25117571899
12 GEARSHIFT ROD JOINT 1 11/2003 25117531315 ENDED
12 GEARSHIFT ROD JOINT 1 11/2003 25117580281
13 LOCK RING 1 25111222451 $0.33
14 PLASTIC WASHER 1 25111434194 $0.56
15 DOWEL PIN 1 23411466134

Notes: