Early 3 Series. Non M
I will add to this shortly. Right now just a couple of pictures.This section includes the e30 models 325 e and 325i and the 318i. What will dictate what shifter can be built for these models depends in part on whether the shift arm or bracket is made of steel or Aluminium. In 1986 BMW stopped its great stamped steel bracket tradition and switched to the singularly worst bracket they ever made. An Aluminium contraption with a single rubber bushing up front.
So if your 3 series was built before 1986, then you have a steel shift arm or console ( You can see the difference right here), In which case you should replace both Isolation blocks while replacing the shifter. These early levers were held in place by a contraption that included 2 half bushings and a spring and circlip combination. While complicated these shiftarms are quite good. Mostly it is because the arm is anchored to the back of transmission using 2 anchor points spaced almost 4 inches apart. This means the shift arm does not wander around when shifting.
But if your 3 series was built in 1986 through 1991 ( a bit later if a convertible) then the shift arm or bracket is made of Aluminium with a one piece bushing to anchor the arm to the gearbox. This resulted in a wandering creating an unstable platform from which to activate the gearbox. While the one piece bushing was an improvement over the earlier two piece bushing the poor connection of the arm to the gearbox necessitate an upgrade at that connection. This is where our Urethane /Bronze bushig shines. That bushing is borrowed straight out our AutoCross models and allows you to use the OEM shift arm and solidly secure it at the same time to the transmission.
Lately however the e30 is seeing a revival. Fully deserved considering that it is a great car. Lightweight ,Go Kart like and almost entirely Analog. As such folks restoring it have been asking for less basic shifters than the ones depicted in the first two photos. Many customers are requesting AutoX for their 86 and later cars which I now routinely build and some for the earlier models as well. If you have an early model I do not build an AutoX routinely but have done it as a custom order. I however am now able to build an Ultra Without Arm for the earlier non M e30s . The pivot improvement and the Teflon Lined Spherical bearing of the Ultra Without Arm, similar in construction to the F8xM shifter we build makes these early e30 a hoot to shift.
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Cost
Steel Pivot ball mechanisms generally run $400. Ultra without Arm $469. AutoX $580 . Add $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 $25-30 fee. all payable upon completion and not at the time of ordering.
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.