SSK for 125i is great

[dr.bmw]

and installation is easy enough, although a bit cumbersome
ordered and delivered for $US 107.00 from getbmwparts.com
height of shifter is unchanged but the throw is reduced and more positive
and if your shifter leans to the right, you've installed it incorrectly
cheers

[jksgoh]

ye i totally agree, its a great mod

[MikeVictor]

+1

At the track yesterday BIZ-AU thought I was flat shifting down the main straight, but it was just so easy to get off the gas, 4th to 5th and then loud pedal on the floor again without missing a beat or dropping any boost (not to worry about the boost for the N52 of course).

[skyscraper_g80]

sounds good- mine's getting installed next week do you guys use the weighted performance gearknob or the m-sport one? is there much difference?

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by dr.bmw

and if your shifter leans to the right, you've installed it incorrectly
cheers

I have a slight slant on my shaft all the way to the knob when it's in sports mode.

[jksgoh]

Originally Posted by evolution42

sounds good- mine's getting installed next week do you guys use the weighted performance gearknob or the m-sport one? is there much difference?

I've kept the M sport one - i think it looks better and feels better. Easy to change though.

[ippykaye]

Guys, help me answer some questions about the MT in the E8X series cars. I've driven a 130i and a x3 135i 6MT and the 130i was very notchy in 1/2/3. It improved a bit when the engine was warmer but no big difference.

In one the 135s, 1/2 was ok but 2/3 was quite notchy in one of the cars I drove (MY08, 45K km). The other one (MY08) had an SSK with only 25K km and my memory states that it was a much smoother (and shorter) shift, and eliminated much of that notchy feeling in 1/2/3.

My first question for my mate who's considering a 6MT 125i- how does the gearbox feel stock? Is it noticeably notchy and not very precise in 1/2/3 like a 130/135s? It may be a bit too cumbersome for everyday driving?

Second, do you guys find (or was it just my imagination) adding an SSK helps with smoother, more precise shifting?

I'm coming from an Audi TT 6MT which comparatively has a lighter, smoother shift-action.

Thanks for your input!

[Jeef Beef]

My SSK makes my shifter lean to the right....what's wrong with it? My dealer did the install so if it's not right then I'm gonna go make them fix it. I actually quite like the fact that it's got the lean towards me.

The shift action loses the initially snickety rifle bolt feel after a while. If only it stayed like that

[ippykaye]

Does the clutch delayh valve (CDV) have anything to do with shift action? Some of the US guys say that replacing the CDV helps engaging gears a bit easier.

dr bmw, for USD107, did you only order the shifter mechanism? Or did that price include the alcantara shift boot/weighted gear knob?

[Blauweisser]

Originally Posted by ippykaye

Guys, help me answer some questions about the MT in the E8X series cars. I've driven a 130i and a x3 135i 6MT and the 130i was very notchy in 1/2/3. It improved a bit when the engine was warmer but no big difference.

In one the 135s, 1/2 was ok but 2/3 was quite notchy in one of the cars I drove (MY08, 45K km). The other one (MY08) had an SSK with only 25K km and my memory states that it was a much smoother (and shorter) shift, and eliminated much of that notchy feeling in 1/2/3.

My first question for my mate who's considering a 6MT 125i- how does the gearbox feel stock? Is it noticeably notchy and not very precise in 1/2/3 like a 130/135s? It may be a bit too cumbersome for everyday driving?

Second, do you guys find (or was it just my imagination) adding an SSK helps with smoother, more precise shifting?

I'm coming from an Audi TT 6MT which comparatively has a lighter, smoother shift-action.

Thanks for your input!

My 125i was a bit notchy for the first 10,000km, but now at 30,000km it is very smooth indeed.

I had an RX-8 before the 125i, and in spite of how smooth they say Mazda boxes are, it too was a bit notchy for the first 10,000km.

[ippykaye]

That's good to know it frees up a bit. Do you have the SSK installed on yours car blauweisser?

[dr.bmw]

Jeef - I've installed it the wrong way first time and it leant to the right, turn it around 180 deg and it was dead centre. don't know if 135i is any different to 125i
ippy - no boot or knob, like the stock look and feel, just the action is different

[alik01]

Originally Posted by ippykaye

Guys, help me answer some questions about the MT in the E8X series cars. I've driven a 130i and a x3 135i 6MT and the 130i was very notchy in 1/2/3. It improved a bit when the engine was warmer but no big difference.

In one the 135s, 1/2 was ok but 2/3 was quite notchy in one of the cars I drove (MY08, 45K km). The other one (MY08) had an SSK with only 25K km and my memory states that it was a much smoother (and shorter) shift, and eliminated much of that notchy feeling in 1/2/3.

My first question for my mate who's considering a 6MT 125i- how does the gearbox feel stock? Is it noticeably notchy and not very precise in 1/2/3 like a 130/135s? It may be a bit too cumbersome for everyday driving?

Second, do you guys find (or was it just my imagination) adding an SSK helps with smoother, more precise shifting?

I'm coming from an Audi TT 6MT which comparatively has a lighter, smoother shift-action.

Thanks for your input!

Can't really comment on the 135i, as I haven't driven one frequency but definitely understand the issue with the 130i. Really disliked the shifter and was heaps better after the SSK, but the effect wore off.

Right before it was slammed into, I had the gearbox oil changed and it made a world of a difference - the shift action was butter smooth on all gears except 1st.

Even though BMW say life fill - I think having oil changed fairly frequently is a good idea.

That said loving the shifter on the 1M, hope it stays this way forever!