So in my pursuit to modify the shifter to be more enjoyable while still preserving all that is good about the 128i/328i stock feel I had to go a different path than a e8x 128i/e9x 328i SSK.
This obsession began with sitting in the summer of 2012 in a 128i with the OEM 128i 328i SSK we all know and noticing that is is very short and in my opinion so short that it defeats the purpose of a manual car that will not be raced/tracked often to really benefit from super short shifts.
I started to do research on the the levers available and made some discoveries:
-128i/328i SSK lever is longer above ball joint than stock stick
-130i/330i lever is even shorter throw than 128i long causes issues. Their OEM lever is our SSK lever
-e60 lever is wrong shape and will sit funny as one person e90post found out
-BMS kit didnt exist, but its UUC clone, was too risky in length for my goal
-B&M ssk has problems with shift knob staying in place
-RE SSK for 328i is most expensive & high quality SSK and never fitted to a 128i, only one 328i has it
- X5 X3 n52 manual stick is way too long above the ball joint for my goal
I have even made a rudimentary comparison via photoshop (I will dig up this pic later). This pic showed me the length above the ball joint and the length below the ball joint @ transmission selector linkage.
This is where I noticed that I needed a stick that had a length below the ball joint of in between 128i OEM and 128i SSK. The e60 stick came close, but it needed refinement in its shape.
This is where I looked at e8x 135i/e9x 335iside of things.
- n55 OEM stock stick looks like our OEM below the ball joint- they can use our SSK or n54 stock stick to get SSK results
- n54 OEM stock stick looks perfect mid point & shape. Its even shorter than 128i ssk above ball joint by like 1cm, it is shorter than 128i OEM stick by 5mm
- F3x f2x stick are way too different
N54 oem stick p/n - 25117581806
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...42&hg=25&fg=05
The goal is to create a feel that is almost OEM but shorter just enough to be very enjoyable.
The result is 95% of what my goal is with one minor issue that can be fixed easily.
Lets look at the Before: N-1-2-3-4-5-6-R
Difference in sticks - 128i is the dirty/ black with white bushing attached
I used White Lithium grease spray on direct contact areas and water sealed it with a marine style white grease on top to prevent dust & dirt from scratching the plastic areas
The AFTER 135i n54 Stick as SSK result: N-1-2-3-4-5-6-R
What you should notice is that the stick is shorter and sits closer to the console. The old 128i neutral is almost where gears 2,4,6 are now.
The feeling is great even with how it sits as is. I hardly notice the slightly forward position. I went from a 75mm thro to a 60mm throw, a 10mm longer throw than 128i SSK and saved 15mm distance over OEM. What is comforting is that I have seen here KGolf's 128i SSK pics with the ZHP knob and I must say the 128i SSK sits centered and looks very similar to my creation when in gears 1,3,5. I guess if i was to use 128i SSK knob, the result will be more centered
To be perfect, and why I didn't post this article till now can be achieved if the lever is bent back so that 2,4,6 are closer to the rear of the car by about 10mm. Maybe a bend of 10 degrees will achieve this.
The fix for where the lever rests can be achieved with this bending technique:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...&postcount=139
