How is the throw on the shifter?
Is it significantly shorter than previous years?

Thanks!

 

I don't know what you mean by "previous years", but the 550's short-throw shifter is A LOT shorter than the regular shifter from MY04 on. It is much, much closer to the old E39's shifter.

I wish I could send you a link to the "feel" of the shifter, but there's a picture of it in this post:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=39782&hl=

 

That short throw shifter looks like it's fun to drive and looks a lot like the awesome shifter that was in my Perf pack 330i!

 

I have an unproven theory that it *is* the same shifter. More to the point, it is actually a shorter knob that goes on the shifter.

In theory, you can shorten any shifter by using that knob.

As a challenge, can anyone conclusively prove that I'm wrong?

 

I can't conclusively prove that you're wrong, Mr. Prosecutor. Obviously, the shorter shift lever makes for a shorter throw. However, that's only part of the story.

The new shifter has a much more precise linkage. As I've said in other posts, it is now much closer to the "click-click" linkage of my Porsche.

 

Remember, perjury is a serious crime...

 

This is how my car is now... I exchanged my shift knob with the E46 ZHP shift knob. The shifter is shorter by 3/4" but the throws are still long. I have driven a friends Z4 and that has a shorter throw to it.

 

While not completely conclusive, it is starting to look like I'm wrong.

That's science, I guess.

 

I can report tomorrow when I pick up my car. I've been driving a 6pd 545 for 3 years so I know exactly how different this will feel. A shorter shifter without the matching linkage should feel like you are shifting by holding below the shift knob (which I often do). I trust BMW does not make a selling point of knocking off an inch of metal on the stem.

 

Hopefully you are correct... I went to the BMWUSA site yesterday and all the marketing material says about the 550i 6MT is it has a "shorter shifter".