Shifter sloppy

[ahlem]

I need to service my uuc short shifter. It's getting sloppy to the point that reverse takes two hands to get to. Is there a write up available. it's a 1990 535i 5 speed. Is this a stock parts project?

[Jeff N.]

To do it right, you likely need to drop the driveline. If it's hard to get into gear, you might start by checking your tranny mounts. Here's a few pics from my rebuild of my stock linkage. I swapped in the Z8 shifter arm at the same time; a bit shorter than stock but not too short.

Looking from the bottom.

http://home.comcast.net/~jsnord/pics/sl6.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~jsnord/pics/sl5.JPG

New "T" and cushioning pad.

http://home.comcast.net/~jsnord/pics/sl4.JPG

Whole linkage.

http://home.comcast.net/~jsnord/pics/sl3.JPG

Here's the old and new rear mounting point.

http://home.comcast.net/~jsnord/pics/sl2.JPG

Old and new cup.

http://home.comcast.net/~jsnord/pics/sl1.JPG

[ahlem]

Were the results remarkably better?
Looks like you did the job correctly.
Any chance you kept a list of the parts needed?
Thanks for a quality reply.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

since you have a UUC shifter and it usually comes with a new cup and retainer for the shifter, I would inspect the trans mounts and shear rod first. and if it is the shifter go back to UUC for support.

P.S.

I did it the hard way and left the drive shaft in place.... did I say the hard way? .... Oh, I meant the F'n hard way.

[Jeff N.]

Results were terrific and have held up over 7 + years. Would strongly recommend you do all the little bits as each loose piece contributes. I didn't save the parts list but you should be able to sort out via RealOEM or similar. Here's the english version of what I had:

- T connector / linkage rod to tranny
- T connector pad / small foam thing
- Pin for the T
- Rear shifter mount / the shiny zinc piece
- Shifter cup and retainer
- new lateral plastic washers (the yellow things you can see in the linkage if you look closely)
- New Z8 shift arm

[Dave M]

Click me for a trip back in time. Back from da Ma F'in dead dog (http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1169)

Dave

[ahlem]

Thanks, that's the info I was looking for.

[Ross]

since you have a UUC shifter and it usually comes with a new cup and retainer for the shifter, I would inspect the trans mounts and shear rod first. and if it is the shifter go back to UUC for support.

P.S.

I did it the hard way and left the drive shaft in place.... did I say the hard way? .... Oh, I meant the F'n hard way.
That IS the hard way. Not that a 20 year old exhaust is a joy to remove without effing it up.
The rear mount for the shifter arm will cause a lot of slop when it goes. It's the easiest part to change and sometimes a new one can make a really sloppy shifter livable.

[ahlem]

Point of clarification,
the PO put in the shifter about 100,000 miles ago. I may do a clutch before too long and will probably do it all at once.