M coupe shifter

Rhys H · 03-12-2006, 08:27 AM

Hey everyone! I was wondering If anyone on here has installed a M coupe shifter into their TI and if so how does it work, and does installing it require any modification? Any help is greatly Appreciated!

**1996 328ti** · 03-12-2006, 02:13 PM

Some shift levers need to be bent and others do not.
I'm not sure why.
Here's some reading.
http://www.mz3.net/articles/143.html

cali-ti · 03-12-2006, 03:41 PM

i know L84thsky installed one and wrote up some comments on it. i'd take a look in the appropriate section of the forum.

EDIT: I finally found his relevant posts/thread: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthrea...hlight=shifter

bimmer95 · 03-12-2006, 09:00 PM

The M-Roadster/Coupe lever reduces shift throw by 50%, which I personally think is too short. The Z3 1.9L lever offers a 29% reduction which isn't bad, however the Z3 2.8L lever gives a near perfect 40% reduction. The M-Roadster/Coupe lever and the Z3 2.8L levers must be bent properly before installation or your shift pattern will be screwed up. I do offer kits though with prebent levers and all the parts you'd need for the install.

Rhys H · 03-13-2006, 06:21 AM

I just wanted to thank everyone that replied, I now have a good idea of the process that will have to take place and am quite excited about doing the upgrade. I will keep everyone posted with the progess. Once again.. Thankyou everyone!

L84THSKY · 03-13-2006, 01:35 PM

I love the M-coupe lever; the throw is great.
Instead of bending the lever, I bent the selector rod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer95

The M-Roadster/Coupe lever reduces shift throw by 50%, which I personally think is too short. The Z3 1.9L lever offers a 29% reduction which isn't bad, however the Z3 2.8L lever gives a near perfect 40% reduction. The M-Roadster/Coupe lever and the Z3 2.8L levers must be bent properly before installation or your shift pattern will be screwed up. I do offer kits though with prebent levers and all the parts you'd need for the install.

L84THSKY · 03-13-2006, 01:37 PM

Checkout my video to see the m-coupe shifter in action

http://iris.nyit.edu/~egrodsky/BMW/Shifting.wmv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhys H

Hey everyone! I was wondering If anyone on here has installed a M coupe shifter into their TI and if so how does it work, and does installing it require any modification? Any help is greatly Appreciated!

Rhys H · 03-14-2006, 02:34 AM

According to the owner of mesa performance parts in cali that specializes in bimmers and porsches, I will not have to bend anything. He says it will just be a direct replacement, maybe this is because i have a 95. Everyone else that has posted on here about having to bend the shifter or the selector rod seems to have newer then 95.

cali-ti · 03-14-2006, 03:31 AM

96 must be when they added the damper ring to the driveshaft then

the more i hear, the more i want a 95 for my track toy ...

bimmer95 · 03-14-2006, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhys H

According to the owner of mesa performance parts in cali that specializes in bimmers and porsches, I will not have to bend anything.

All that shows is that the owner of Mesa lacks expertise in BMW shift levers, unless you're talking about a M3 lever instead of a M-Coupe lever.

'95 318ti with an E36 M3 lever = No bending required
'96+ 318ti with an E36 M3 lever = selector rod must be bent

'95 318ti with a M-Z3 lever = Lever needs to be bent
'96+ 318ti with a M-Z3 lever = selector rod and the lever must be bent

If you don't bend a M-Z3 or a 2.8L Z3 lever, the shift pattern ends up forward and to the left of normal. Neutral ends up about where fifth is now and 5th will put your knuckles in to the dash.

L84THSKY · 03-14-2006, 05:02 AM

That is why I bent the selector rod twice. Once to clear the drive shaft, and another to get the shifter centered. This can all be done wihthout doing anything to the shift lever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer95

96+ 318ti with a M-Z3 lever = selector rod and the lever must be bent

If you don't bend a M-Z3 or a 2.8L Z3 lever, the shift pattern ends up forward and to the left of normal. Neutral ends up about where fifth is now and 5th will put your knuckles in to the dash.

Rhys H · 03-14-2006, 05:09 AM

Alright bimmer 95 i will take ur word for it, but i like L84THSKY idea of just bending the selector rod, because personally i dont want to bend my new m coupe shifter. With all this controversy there is really only one thing to do, try puting it in myself and see what the results are, even if it does have to be bent its really no biggie to me, i love modifying things!!

bimmer95 · 03-14-2006, 07:50 AM

Due to the way the lever itself sits in the shifter opening, overbending and twisting the selector rod is not ideal, you can use up all available clearances. Note that I've put together well over a thousand BMW SSKs over the last six years, so I've got a little background here

Rhys H · 03-14-2006, 09:01 AM

Sounds like u do have quite a bit of a expierince so I have another question for you, I was told the Ti shifter comes straight with no bends in it, and the M coupe shifter is also straight and thats why no modification is necesarry. After being informed by you bimmer 95 that bending is necesarry to the M coupe shifter makes me think the Ti shifter must of come bent as well. So my question is, does the Ti shifter have a bend in it ?

bimmer95 · 03-14-2006, 09:06 AM

The stock 318ti lever is the same one used on the E36 323 and 325, it definitely has a bend. Nearly all BMW levers are bent, some more than others. The Z4 levers are straight as are the two Z3 levers mentioned above.

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