DIY: BMW Performance SSK

[bRi-135i]

I got these instructions from BMW. Can anyone read it correctly? I'm going to try it out when I have time. Will update when the SSK is installed. I hope this is a help for some people.

[MikesBMW]

Originally Posted by bRi-135i

I got these instructions from BMW. Can anyone read it correctly? I'm going to try it out when I have time. Will update when the SSK is installed. I hope this is a help for some people.

well that looks easy enough, maybe an hour to do the install? i read somewhere else on the forum that it's actually a pretty hard job

[bRi-135i]

Originally Posted by MB135i

well that looks easy enough, maybe an hour to do the install? i read somewhere else on the forum that it's actually a pretty hard job

hopefully not..i have to figure out how to take out the shift arm..it doesn't really show a good representation of how to take it off..

[MikesBMW]

anyone know the cheapest place to buy the bmw short shift kit?

[BiscottiGelato]

Do you really need to disconnect the battery for this? Why?

[bRi-135i]

Originally Posted by MB135i

anyone know the cheapest place to buy the bmw short shift kit?

i bought mine through the bmw dealership with military discount 15% off...so instead of $399.99 +tax it was $343 w/ tax.

[O-dogg]

I got mine off of ebay NEW for $286.

[S54dan]

Originally Posted by MB135i

anyone know the cheapest place to buy the bmw short shift kit?

Well sell the "KIT" for $350.00 shipped

or you can part out the kit (takes 1.5 weeks to get from Germany) and it'll be $250.00 shipped.

Dan

[MikeinAlexandria]

I bought the kit for $225, no tax or shipping! The document does not make it look like a four-hour job one dealer told me it would be. But, not sure how this could be done without the special tool.

Has anyone actually installed successfully?

[Dackelone]

In that Pdf from BMW it says 1.0 hours for the install.

What special tool are you referring too? Do you mean the one in step #3 first pic?

I installed a Z3M short shifter in my old e36 sedan. It was not hard. Took me about an hour. For that special tool (in step #3) you just use two flat blade screw drivers to twist and turn the old shifter bushing CC.

The biggest pain are those clips (& yellow washers) on the shifter rods. Have some LONG need nose pliers and lots of patience. I would also order spare clips bc sometimes they brake when you take them off. Or... they fly off and its hard to find them. They are really cheap from what I remember. Just a few cents each. I had to buy a bag of ten of them from BMW.

[jaf89f]

Yeah i just recently got mine on super sale for only $134 shipped to my door. My dealer told me the install will cost $120 or so, which seems pretty high to me.

[Yvette]

Originally Posted by jaf89f

Yeah i just recently got mine on super sale for only $134 shipped to my door. My dealer told me the install will cost $120 or so, which seems pretty high to me.

where did you get it for $134?

[jaf89f]

It was on super sale at bmwunited.com. I don't know why it was so cheap, but I check that site often now to find other really good deals.

**either that or trademotion.com, something like that. it's the website you get to when you click on dan@united's signature banner.

[Dackelone]

Yesterday I drove Oli’s ’07 Sedona Red 120d at the coding event. I was surprised on how short and nice the shifter was. He told me that it was an OE shifter. He had not changed it. So… that got me to thinking. I started to look up some shifters on RealOEM.com

25117560914 120d $ ? NA ?

25117581806 135i $67

25110434217 BMW Performance $109


I wonder if you could just change the shift lever and get most of the bang for the buck. ???

[MikeinAlexandria]

If you want the BMW Performance shifter, it should work. You need the shifter itself, as listed, along with the clip and bearing. I will look at my kit to see what the parts are. I bougt the whole thing because I did not realize the shifter was a separate part. But I like my m sport boot and knob, so put the BMW Pwrformance knob and alcantara boot on Ebay. We will see if they sell!

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Yesterday I drove Oli’s ’07 Sedona Red 120d at the coding event. I was surprised on how short and nice the shifter was. He told me that it was an OE shifter. He had not changed it. So… that got me to thinking. I started to look up some shifters on RealOEM.com

25117560914 120d $ ? NA ?

25117581806 135i $67

25110434217 BMW Performance $109


I wonder if you could just change the shift lever and get most of the bang for the buck. ???

Its also interesting that the N55 135i's use a different shifter rod as well.

25117605482


A few months ago I asked everyone to go out and measure their SSK throws. I only got one reply. IF anyone has a SSK or a N55, please go and measure your throws. Maybe then we can figure out which shift lever is best. But I suspect thats the BMW Perf one.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...ght=SSK+throws

[wolfe]

Has anyone found a part number or source for the special tool 25 1 120 (pin wrench)?

thanks.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by wolfe

Has anyone found a part number or source for the special tool 25 1 120 (pin wrench)?

thanks.

You really do not need that tool. Like I said above... you use two flat blade screw drivers. One in each hand, put them in the shifter bushing slots and turn 90' CC. It will come out.

That is how I did it on my e36 years ago. The hardest part of the SSK is getting the new yellow bushings on the end links AND THEN trying to put the clips back on. Thats why one should have a few extra C-clips handy. Bc they sometimes break or fly off and you can't find them. I think the BMW Perf kit has extra ones for this reason.

Here are a few good resources for how BMW shifters work:


http://www.mz3.net/articles/143.html

http://www.understeer.com/onlinestore-shifters.shtml


Here you can see a home made version of the tool you seek. But really two good flat blade screw drivers work fine!

Scroll down half way down the page. You will see a pipe over the shifter rod... THAT is the homemade special tool you seek!

http://www.z3bimmer.com/Garage/Performance/ShortShift/

I used the above DIY for help when I did my SSK on my e36. BMW has not changed much with regards to their shifters.

Dackel

[wolfe]

I've been looking through the parts lists, and it looks like for the 128i you don't need the carrier piece.

I have a 128i and I would prefer the M-sport shift knob and leather boot over the alcantara stuff as it's easier to keep clean and matches the interior much better. I would like slightly shorter shift throws though.

So what I'm wondering, is can I just order the shift lever, a new shifter bushing and a few spare circlips?

edit: also found a price on the special tool. It's made by Baum tools, and costs $160. Screwdriver method sounds like the way to go.

[Kim Schwartz]

Does the BMW short shift kit shorten the throws only or is there also a change in the height of the shift knob? Thanks for any input on this. For me, I would like the height to stay the same and just shorten the throws.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by Kim Schwartz

Does the BMW short shift kit shorten the throws only or is there also a change in the height of the shift knob? Thanks for any input on this. For me, I would like the height to stay the same and just shorten the throws.

+1

I was wondering this same thing myself just today.

[gadget12345]

Originally Posted by Kim Schwartz

Does the BMW short shift kit shorten the throws only or is there also a change in the height of the shift knob? Thanks for any input on this. For me, I would like the height to stay the same and just shorten the throws.

The height is lowered. (N54)