Early M 3 s : e46M,e36M, e30M
AutoX
This shifter is Madman. Originally designed as a custom handmade shifter it is now a mature 10 year old product and our current bestseller This is the best we can offer to date . it is more precise and repeatable than the standard ultra class and slicker to shift as well. A rifle bolt.
This shifter was designed as an afterthought. For years I could not crack the secret of building a decent e9xM3 shifter until one day I stumbled on a Teflon lined Spherical bearing. The resulting build was so successful that I decided to adapt it to my old standby the Ultra Shifter with Arm also shown on this page. And the rest is history.
So this is hybrid between the e9xM shifter of which it borrows the pivot and the Ultra rigid lever and the Ultra from which is keeps the revolutionary shift arm
COST AND MODALITIES OF PAYMENT
AutoCross :They are all priced the same regardless of configuration. We charge $580 for the mechanism, $20 for USA shipping . Payable with Paypal Friends and Family, Zelle Transfer, Personal Check and soon Venmo. If Paying with a Credit card or Paypal for Goods and Services, then there is a $30 fee. all payable upon completion and not at the time of ordering.
Standard Ultra: They are all priced the same regardless of configuration. We charge $469 for the mechanism,$20 for USA shipping . Payable with Paypal Friends and Family, Zelle Transfer, Personal Check and soon Venmo. If Paying with a Credit card or Paypal for Goods and Services, then there is a $25 fee. all payable upon completion and not at the time of ordering.
AutoCross in e46M3 Grocery Run
Video can’t be displayed
This video is not available.
Standard Ultra with Arm
The Ultra Shifter ( often referred to as Ultimate) is a complete redesign of the factory shifter . It replaces the shift lever, the selector rod and the front coupler as well as the shift arm. This shifter solidifies the components and makes them most ridgid and changes the geometry of the mechanism by replacing the shift arm.
The Ultra shifter is an integrated mechanism. It is designed to be installed in its entirety and not piecemeal. It is a night and day improvement over OEM both in the precision of the gear selection and the repeatability of the pattern . The Ultra with arm was originally sold in 1996 and has received a couple upgrades since. the inner lever was made 15% more rigid and the pivot ball a tiny bit larger so that the pivot is better controlled.
The Ultra shifter is an integrated mechanism. It is designed to be installed in its entirety and not piecemeal. It is a night and day improvement over OEM both in the precision of the gear selection and the repeatability of the pattern . The Ultra with arm was originally sold in 1996 and has received a couple upgrades since. the inner lever was made 15% more rigid and the pivot ball a tiny bit larger so that the pivot is better controlled.
Which to choose for your Car
You have two choices as to these M cars Standard Ultra with arm or AutoX.
There is no situation where the Std Ultra with arm would be preferred to the AutoX so it is strictly a question of budget. The AutoX would be more precise more gated and can be customized during the build to a height of your choice and a reduction ratio of your choice. you can also specify more ergonomics such as left to right or front to back inclination. The AutoX can be had in any reduction from 17% to 35% . It is different in that it does not use the legacy ball and bushing pivot and because its PIVOTis much better controlled it has an edge on precision and repeatability. In essence the AutoX is a hybrid between the Ultra without arm and the ultra with arm in that it uses the thicker lever and spherical bearing pivot of the ultra without arm and the Arm of the Ultra with arm adapted for that new pivot.
Now the standard Ultra with arm is a very good shifter. let me rephrase that very very very good shifter and it has been around since 2000 whereas the AutoX has only been in production since 2017 or so. So the "standard" is just older technology but we have built our reputation with it. The "standard" is available in 3 reduction ratios 20%, 30% and 40% . the height is approximately OEM height. I cannot change the height nor can I build it to a ratio in between the offered specs. Generally one of these available ratios will fit you fine.
This video is of a shifter in an e46M3. This is an AutoCross and it is set with the OEM shift knob at the OEM height. The "standard Ultra" is not very far behind and in the general ball park. I will not reveal the specs so as not to give you a prejudice. I would encourage you to look at the video and use it as a baseline.
There is no situation where the Std Ultra with arm would be preferred to the AutoX so it is strictly a question of budget. The AutoX would be more precise more gated and can be customized during the build to a height of your choice and a reduction ratio of your choice. you can also specify more ergonomics such as left to right or front to back inclination. The AutoX can be had in any reduction from 17% to 35% . It is different in that it does not use the legacy ball and bushing pivot and because its PIVOTis much better controlled it has an edge on precision and repeatability. In essence the AutoX is a hybrid between the Ultra without arm and the ultra with arm in that it uses the thicker lever and spherical bearing pivot of the ultra without arm and the Arm of the Ultra with arm adapted for that new pivot.
Now the standard Ultra with arm is a very good shifter. let me rephrase that very very very good shifter and it has been around since 2000 whereas the AutoX has only been in production since 2017 or so. So the "standard" is just older technology but we have built our reputation with it. The "standard" is available in 3 reduction ratios 20%, 30% and 40% . the height is approximately OEM height. I cannot change the height nor can I build it to a ratio in between the offered specs. Generally one of these available ratios will fit you fine.
This video is of a shifter in an e46M3. This is an AutoCross and it is set with the OEM shift knob at the OEM height. The "standard Ultra" is not very far behind and in the general ball park. I will not reveal the specs so as not to give you a prejudice. I would encourage you to look at the video and use it as a baseline.
Shown above e46 330 5 speed in AutoX , e36 M3 in Std Ultra with Arm, E30 325i in AutoX, e46 M3 in AutoX and e30M3 in AutoX + Triangulation. For more info on Triangulation go to Custom Work Here
Early M 3 s : e46M,e36M, e30M
AutoX
This shifter is Madman. Originally designed as a custom handmade shifter it is now a mature 10 year old product and our current bestseller This is the best we can offer to date . it is more precise and repeatable than the standard ultra class and slicker to shift as well. A rifle bolt.
This shifter was designed as an afterthought. For years I could not crack the secret of building a decent e9xM3 shifter until one day I stumbled on a Teflon lined Spherical bearing. The resulting build was so successful that I decided to adapt it to my old standby the Ultra Shifter with Arm also shown on this page. And the rest is history.
So this is hybrid between the e9xM shifter of which it borrows the pivot and the Ultra rigid lever and the Ultra from which is keeps the revolutionary shift arm
COST AND MODALITIES OF PAYMENT
AutoCross :They are all priced the same regardless of configuration. We charge $580 for the mechanism, $20 for USA shipping . Payable with Paypal Friends and Family, Zelle Transfer, Personal Check and soon Venmo. If Paying with a Credit card or Paypal for Goods and Services, then there is a $30 fee. all payable upon completion and not at the time of ordering.
Standard Ultra: They are all priced the same regardless of configuration. We charge $469 for the mechanism,$20 for USA shipping . Payable with Paypal Friends and Family, Zelle Transfer, Personal Check and soon Venmo. If Paying with a Credit card or Paypal for Goods and Services, then there is a $25 fee. all payable upon completion and not at the time of ordering.
AutoCross in e46M3 Grocery Run
Video can’t be displayed
This video is not available.
Standard Ultra with Arm
The Ultra Shifter ( often referred to as Ultimate) is a complete redesign of the factory shifter . It replaces the shift lever, the selector rod and the front coupler as well as the shift arm. This shifter solidifies the components and makes them most ridgid and changes the geometry of the mechanism by replacing the shift arm.
The Ultra shifter is an integrated mechanism. It is designed to be installed in its entirety and not piecemeal. It is a night and day improvement over OEM both in the precision of the gear selection and the repeatability of the pattern . The Ultra with arm was originally sold in 1996 and has received a couple upgrades since. the inner lever was made 15% more rigid and the pivot ball a tiny bit larger so that the pivot is better controlled.
The Ultra shifter is an integrated mechanism. It is designed to be installed in its entirety and not piecemeal. It is a night and day improvement over OEM both in the precision of the gear selection and the repeatability of the pattern . The Ultra with arm was originally sold in 1996 and has received a couple upgrades since. the inner lever was made 15% more rigid and the pivot ball a tiny bit larger so that the pivot is better controlled.
Which to choose for your Car
You have two choices as to these M cars Standard Ultra with arm or AutoX.
There is no situation where the Std Ultra with arm would be preferred to the AutoX so it is strictly a question of budget. The AutoX would be more precise more gated and can be customized during the build to a height of your choice and a reduction ratio of your choice. you can also specify more ergonomics such as left to right or front to back inclination. The AutoX can be had in any reduction from 17% to 35% . It is different in that it does not use the legacy ball and bushing pivot and because its PIVOTis much better controlled it has an edge on precision and repeatability. In essence the AutoX is a hybrid between the Ultra without arm and the ultra with arm in that it uses the thicker lever and spherical bearing pivot of the ultra without arm and the Arm of the Ultra with arm adapted for that new pivot.
Now the standard Ultra with arm is a very good shifter. let me rephrase that very very very good shifter and it has been around since 2000 whereas the AutoX has only been in production since 2017 or so. So the "standard" is just older technology but we have built our reputation with it. The "standard" is available in 3 reduction ratios 20%, 30% and 40% . the height is approximately OEM height. I cannot change the height nor can I build it to a ratio in between the offered specs. Generally one of these available ratios will fit you fine.
This video is of a shifter in an e46M3. This is an AutoCross and it is set with the OEM shift knob at the OEM height. The "standard Ultra" is not very far behind and in the general ball park. I will not reveal the specs so as not to give you a prejudice. I would encourage you to look at the video and use it as a baseline.
There is no situation where the Std Ultra with arm would be preferred to the AutoX so it is strictly a question of budget. The AutoX would be more precise more gated and can be customized during the build to a height of your choice and a reduction ratio of your choice. you can also specify more ergonomics such as left to right or front to back inclination. The AutoX can be had in any reduction from 17% to 35% . It is different in that it does not use the legacy ball and bushing pivot and because its PIVOTis much better controlled it has an edge on precision and repeatability. In essence the AutoX is a hybrid between the Ultra without arm and the ultra with arm in that it uses the thicker lever and spherical bearing pivot of the ultra without arm and the Arm of the Ultra with arm adapted for that new pivot.
Now the standard Ultra with arm is a very good shifter. let me rephrase that very very very good shifter and it has been around since 2000 whereas the AutoX has only been in production since 2017 or so. So the "standard" is just older technology but we have built our reputation with it. The "standard" is available in 3 reduction ratios 20%, 30% and 40% . the height is approximately OEM height. I cannot change the height nor can I build it to a ratio in between the offered specs. Generally one of these available ratios will fit you fine.
This video is of a shifter in an e46M3. This is an AutoCross and it is set with the OEM shift knob at the OEM height. The "standard Ultra" is not very far behind and in the general ball park. I will not reveal the specs so as not to give you a prejudice. I would encourage you to look at the video and use it as a baseline.
Shown above e46 330 5 speed in AutoX , e36 M3 in Std Ultra with Arm, E30 325i in AutoX, e46 M3 in AutoX and e30M3 in AutoX + Triangulation. For more info on Triangulation go to Custom Work Here
The Importance of a Better Pivot
Look at photo number 1. It shows a factory lever in its bushing. The current OEM pivot ball is made of Nylon. It rides in a nylon bushig that is harder so in essence the ball is sacrificial. It is also smaller in some respects that the original steel ball that nylon bushing was designed for. So under moderate shifting the center of the ball shifts within the Nylon bushing.
Look at photo number 2 . It depicts the Standard Ultra pivot ball. As you can see it is made of steel and somewhat larger than the OEM ball . In fact it is a hair larger than the OEM steel ball that was the staple of BMW shifters until the mid 90s. I made it a hair larger to add a bit of preload inside the OEM nylon bushing so that the pivot of our Ultra shifter is stabilized and can handle hard shifting with a lot less movement.
Now look at photo number 3. This is the pivot on the AutoX. it is a spherical bearing. it is used to control the rotation of race cars suspension components. it is designed to have zero movements even if subjected to a force of several thousand pounds. More force than any of us could possibly exert on a shifter knob. This pivot will not move and it is the secret of the AutoX precision.
1. BMW Nylon Pivot Ball
2. AutoSolutions Steel Ball
3. AutoSolutions Spherical Bearing
Unstable Pivot Analogy
Picture a pair of pliers. It is designed to cut steel wire. It is made of the noblest Samurai sword steel one can afford. The cutting edge was hardened and sharpened first by machine then by an old timer by hand until it can split a hair in two. Its hinge or pivot unfortunately was neglected and has a some play in it. Just enough so that the cutting edges do not perfectly mate . Regardless of the quality of the steel this will be a sub standard tool. It is the same with a shifter. if it wobbles when shifting hard precision becomes an illusion.