BMW SSK 2 years later not so short!

AchtungF80 · 06-10-2011, 10:43 AM

I first installed my BMW Performance SSK almost 3 years ago maybe 6 months after I picked up my car. After initial install, the shifter was very tight and had a snickety feel to it going in and out of gear. Fast forward to today, I also now have a 2010 Mini with an aftermarket short shifter, just recently sold my e36 with a UUC short shifter and my e30 I sold 2 years ago had the z3 1.9 shifter arm and bushings in it and those all proved to be more precise and shorter than my BMW performance SSK. Now also, it seems that the BMW Perf SSK bushings are more worn in now with 6k miles of use and 1 track day + numerous spirited drives in Upstate NY.

The throws feel long and vague and makes me think that its as if someone went in under my car w/o me knowing and replaced my stock shifter back into the car.

Does anyone else feel the same way after putting some good use on their Performance SSK?

Kamal · 06-10-2011, 10:49 AM

Maybe you've just gotten used to it? Especially since you've been driving other cars with shorter and more precise throws, it probably just doesn't seem like it used to. One sure-fire way to find out is swap back to the stock shifter.

Jeef Beef · 06-10-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achtungE30

I first installed my BMW Performance SSK almost 3 years ago maybe 6 months after I picked up my car. After initial install, the shifter was very tight and had a snickety feel to it going in and out of gear. Fast forward to today, I also now have a 2010 Mini with an aftermarket short shifter, just recently sold my e36 with a UUC short shifter and my e30 I sold 2 years ago had the z3 1.9 shifter arm and bushings in it and those all proved to be more precise and shorter than my BMW performance SSK. Now also, it seems that the BMW Perf SSK bushings are more worn in now with 6k miles of use and 1 track day + numerous spirited drives in Upstate NY.

The throws feel long and vague and makes me think that its as if someone went in under my car w/o me knowing and replaced my stock shifter back into the car.

Does anyone else feel the same way after putting some good use on their Performance SSK?

YES this is the same thing I've been feeling recently but have always justified it like Kamal has. Thought I was just used to it

AchtungF80 · 06-10-2011, 11:28 AM

I'm not sure if you can say I am "used to it" as I drive the car roughly once a week or once every 2 weeks. True I am getting used to the shorter SSKs in my other cars but I distinctly remember a very snickety feel.

If only UUC would finally fix their issues, that would be my next step.

Kamal · 06-10-2011, 11:40 AM

B&M also make a short shifter for the 1ers... I haven't heard of anyone running one though. I know they're a popular option in the Audi world.

http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/BMW...MW-1-SERIES-04

tcd223 · 06-10-2011, 11:48 AM

At the next meet, you can take a spin in my car. That way you won't have to put your stock shifter back in.

BrokenVert · 06-10-2011, 12:03 PM

And this is the BMW one? Wow id expect this from other companies but not basically OEM

Jeef Beef · 06-11-2011, 09:08 PM

Well I just had a friend drive my car that hasn't since I put my SSK in. I forgot to mention to him that I put in the SSK too.
His first reaction was "WOW this feels so much better than last time, what did you do to it?"

So I guess it's partly us

Dackelone · 06-12-2011, 01:33 AM

Measure the shifter throws. The BMW Performance SSK has 55mm throws from 1st to 2nd gears.

There are some plastic bushing in the system.,. they do wear and cause some sloppyness. The bushings can become oval instead of circular... and this can cause a loose feel. Also the plastic "cup" that the shfter stick sits in can wear as well. The only real way to check these parts is to take it apart for a look-see.

Dackelone · 06-12-2011, 02:11 PM

The UUC webiste might help you understand where the OE shifter can wear at all the plastic parts. Just don't buy one of these UUC shifters because I hear they don't fit/work on our 135i's!! lol I would think BMW would cover you IF you had it installed at a BMW dealer and IF you had your reciepts.

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/shifter...stic/index.htm

This is also a good post - that shows you all the things in the shift linkage that can wear and make the shiftlinkage "wiggle".

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...php?p=22046392

Dackel

litebulb · 06-12-2011, 08:55 PM

Dackelone, I'll measure my UUC did you measure from the trim? UUC SSK isnt bad, DSSR doesn't fit with the 135i.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

The UUC webiste might help you understand where the OE shifter can wear at all the plastic parts. Just don't buy one of these UUC shifters because I hear they don't fit/work on our 135i's!! lol I would think BMW would cover you IF you had it installed at a BMW dealer and IF you had your reciepts.

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/shifter...stic/index.htm

This is also a good post - that shows you all the things in the shift linkage that can wear and make the shiftlinkage "wiggle".

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...php?p=22046392

Dackel

Dackelone · 06-13-2011, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litebulb

Dackelone, I'll measure my UUC did you measure from the trim? UUC SSK isnt bad, DSSR doesn't fit with the 135i.

I measured using the chrome trim ring as a guide. Here is how I measured it...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...shifter+throws

Dackel

06-10-2011, 10:43 AM	#1
AchtungF80 Brigadier General 279 Rep 3,465 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3, '17 G30 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 135is [9.50] 2010 Cooper S [10.00] 1991 318is [10.00]	BMW SSK 2 years later not so short! I first installed my BMW Performance SSK almost 3 years ago maybe 6 months after I picked up my car. After initial install, the shifter was very tight and had a snickety feel to it going in and out of gear. Fast forward to today, I also now have a 2010 Mini with an aftermarket short shifter, just recently sold my e36 with a UUC short shifter and my e30 I sold 2 years ago had the z3 1.9 shifter arm and bushings in it and those all proved to be more precise and shorter than my BMW performance SSK. Now also, it seems that the BMW Perf SSK bushings are more worn in now with 6k miles of use and 1 track day + numerous spirited drives in Upstate NY. The throws feel long and vague and makes me think that its as if someone went in under my car w/o me knowing and replaced my stock shifter back into the car. Does anyone else feel the same way after putting some good use on their Performance SSK? __________________ ig: 0verrev
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06-10-2011, 10:49 AM	#2
Kamal Indian Stig 29 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: '03 540i M, '11 Ducati M796 Join Date: May 2008 Location: StL/CoMO iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [7.56] 2011 BMW 328i [8.00]	Maybe you've just gotten used to it? Especially since you've been driving other cars with shorter and more precise throws, it probably just doesn't seem like it used to. One sure-fire way to find out is swap back to the stock shifter. __________________ 2008 E82 N54 \|\| Stage 2 -------- Gone to a good home.
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06-10-2011, 11:28 AM	#4
AchtungF80 Brigadier General 279 Rep 3,465 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3, '17 G30 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 135is [9.50] 2010 Cooper S [10.00] 1991 318is [10.00]	I'm not sure if you can say I am "used to it" as I drive the car roughly once a week or once every 2 weeks. True I am getting used to the shorter SSKs in my other cars but I distinctly remember a very snickety feel. If only UUC would finally fix their issues, that would be my next step. __________________ ig: 0verrev
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06-10-2011, 11:40 AM	#5
Kamal Indian Stig 29 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: '03 540i M, '11 Ducati M796 Join Date: May 2008 Location: StL/CoMO iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [7.56] 2011 BMW 328i [8.00]	B&M also make a short shifter for the 1ers... I haven't heard of anyone running one though. I know they're a popular option in the Audi world. http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/BMW...MW-1-SERIES-04 __________________ 2008 E82 N54 \|\| Stage 2 -------- Gone to a good home.
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06-10-2011, 11:48 AM	#6
tcd223 Captain 47 Rep 940 Posts Drives: '10 LeMans 135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 135i [7.00]	At the next meet, you can take a spin in my car. That way you won't have to put your stock shifter back in. __________________ E82 Gone. 2013 JKUR on order
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06-10-2011, 12:03 PM	#7
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 477 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	And this is the BMW one? Wow id expect this from other companies but not basically OEM __________________
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06-11-2011, 09:08 PM	#8
Jeef Beef Lord Captain Commander 110 Rep 3,093 Posts Drives: a sleeper Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Well I just had a friend drive my car that hasn't since I put my SSK in. I forgot to mention to him that I put in the SSK too. His first reaction was "WOW this feels so much better than last time, what did you do to it?" So I guess it's partly us __________________ E82 135i M-sport: SGM/6MT/Black
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06-12-2011, 01:33 AM	#9
Dackelone European Editor 10589 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Measure the shifter throws. The BMW Performance SSK has 55mm throws from 1st to 2nd gears. There are some plastic bushing in the system.,. they do wear and cause some sloppyness. The bushings can become oval instead of circular... and this can cause a loose feel. Also the plastic "cup" that the shfter stick sits in can wear as well. The only real way to check these parts is to take it apart for a look-see.
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06-12-2011, 02:11 PM	#10
Dackelone European Editor 10589 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	The UUC webiste might help you understand where the OE shifter can wear at all the plastic parts. Just don't buy one of these UUC shifters because I hear they don't fit/work on our 135i's!! lol I would think BMW would cover you IF you had it installed at a BMW dealer and IF you had your reciepts. http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/shifter...stic/index.htm This is also a good post - that shows you all the things in the shift linkage that can wear and make the shiftlinkage "wiggle". http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...php?p=22046392 Dackel
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