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      04-24-2019, 10:13 AM   #1
chris82
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Need better shift feel

Hi all, I currently have the BMW Perf SSK, E46 M3 trans mounts, BMW Perf shift knob, as well as M3 RSFB (which improved the shift feel a lot too). Still not satisfied with the shifter. It's too vague and rubberyl. What should I do next for this? Any other bushings I can replace to improve feel?

As a comparison, last week I sat in the New Miata at the NY auto show which had excellent shift feel; short, precise, tactile. I'm trying to get a feel like that in my 128i.

Has anyone tried the UUC EVO 3 SSK for the 128i?

Any ideas?

Last edited by chris82; 04-24-2019 at 10:26 AM..
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      04-24-2019, 10:42 AM   #2
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Change your motor mounts too. Mine were still in good shape, but I was doing my oil pan gasket (which requires dropping the subframe) so I replaced my mounts with OEM Corteco ones. Shift feel improved, and I didn't expect it to at all so I was surprised. Maybe consider the solid rubber ones instead of the OE hydraulic? We have smooth inline 6's so NVH shouldn't be huge

Don't think the Getrags have the greatest shift feel to be honest.
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      04-24-2019, 11:01 AM   #3
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ECS Tuning shifter rebuild kit with their teflon and urethane support bushings did magic for my shift feel. That, and a weighted shift knob will make it a lot slicker (don't do a tall knob like I did).
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      04-24-2019, 11:14 AM   #4
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Wow. I find your impressions bizarre. My 128 with the SSK and zhp has the most precise feel of any box I've ever rowed. Talk about a rifle bolt! If you want vague and rubbery, try a 2006 Civic SI. I swear that I could not tell a when I was in gear or neutral. My 128 also has a better feel than the NA and NC Miatas I've driven.

How many miles on your transmission? Fluid? I doubt my Redline D4 would make that much difference.
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      04-24-2019, 11:17 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by chris_flies View Post
ECS Tuning shifter rebuild kit with their teflon and urethane support bushings did magic for my shift feel. That, and a weighted shift knob will make it a lot slicker (don't do a tall knob like I did).
Is their rebuild kit just OEM parts or are they upgraded? I don't see this kit on their site.

I had a Jaffster knob before, thought it was too heavy for the shifter.
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      04-24-2019, 11:17 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderguts View Post
Wow. I find your impressions bizarre. My 128 with the SSK and zhp has the most precise feel of any box I've ever rowed. Talk about a rifle bolt! If you want vague and rubbery, try a 2006 Civic SI. I swear that I could not tell a when I was in gear or neutral. My 128 also has a better feel than the NA and NC Miatas I've driven.

How many miles on your transmission? Fluid? I doubt my Redline D4 would make that much difference.
Oh yeah good call.

Down in FL I like running MTL, but that's heavier. So for NY I think OP would be best with something like D4. If the fluid hasn't been changed in a while this'll help.

Also do rebuild the linkages like Chris mentioned. If the car is like 10 years old then that rubber is getting past its prime (which reminds me I need to do control arms lmao). I did mine and it feels pretty good, still have a tiny bit of side to side slop but I'm not going back in there lol.
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      04-24-2019, 11:20 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Thunderguts View Post
Wow. I find your impressions bizarre. My 128 with the SSK and zhp has the most precise feel of any box I've ever rowed. Talk about a rifle bolt! If you want vague and rubbery, try a 2006 Civic SI. I swear that I could not tell a when I was in gear or neutral. My 128 also has a better feel than the NA and NC Miatas I've driven.

How many miles on your transmission? Fluid? I doubt my Redline D4 would make that much difference.
Car/trans has 85k miles, about 60k on the SSK and E46 m3 trans mounts. I'm really not impressed with it. Perhaps I need a new centering spring
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      04-24-2019, 11:22 AM   #8
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Oh yeah good call.

Down in FL I like running MTL, but that's heavier. So for NY I think OP would be best with something like D4. If the fluid hasn't been changed in a while this'll help.

Also do rebuild the linkages like Chris mentioned. If the car is like 10 years old then that rubber is getting past its prime (which reminds me I need to do control arms lmao). I did mine and it feels pretty good, still have a tiny bit of side to side slop but I'm not going back in there lol.
That rebuild kit looks like a great upgrade. I'm thinking that along with the D4 fluid right now.
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      04-24-2019, 12:22 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82 View Post
Car/trans has 85k miles, about 60k on the SSK and E46 m3 trans mounts. I'm really not impressed with it. Perhaps I need a new centering spring
My car has 75k now, but my SSK only has about 7k on it. Maybe a rebuild kit is a good idea. It also sounds like your spring may be worn out. My spring absolutely snaps the lever back to center with a vengeance. Try the D4 fluid and see if that helps also.
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      04-24-2019, 02:07 PM   #10
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I used to use MTL and switched to D4. Definitely feels more mechanical now, less smooth. I kind of like the MTL better but not enough to change it again. I feel the gears engage with the D4. I think my 128 is the best shifting car I've driven in the 45+ years I've been driving - mostly in manuals. I've driven a couple Porches in that time, both were used with >50K but <100K miles and I like my 128 better. The 911 was nice, however.
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      04-24-2019, 02:13 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderguts View Post
My car has 75k now, but my SSK only has about 7k on it. Maybe a rebuild kit is a good idea. It also sounds like your spring may be worn out. My spring absolutely snaps the lever back to center with a vengeance. Try the D4 fluid and see if that helps also.
Definitely going to try the D4 when I change fluid! How difficult is it to install a new spring? I can't find any info on that...
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      04-24-2019, 02:24 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimD View Post
I used to use MTL and switched to D4. Definitely feels more mechanical now, less smooth. I kind of like the MTL better but not enough to change it again. I feel the gears engage with the D4. I think my 128 is the best shifting car I've driven in the 45+ years I've been driving - mostly in manuals. I've driven a couple Porches in that time, both were used with >50K but <100K miles and I like my 128 better. The 911 was nice, however.
This is making me think i definitely need new fluid. I know it was changed at about 60k. probably not since then.
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      04-24-2019, 03:06 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimD View Post
I used to use MTL and switched to D4. Definitely feels more mechanical now, less smooth. I kind of like the MTL better but not enough to change it again. I feel the gears engage with the D4. I think my 128 is the best shifting car I've driven in the 45+ years I've been driving - mostly in manuals. I've driven a couple Porches in that time, both were used with >50K but <100K miles and I like my 128 better. The 911 was nice, however.
I can't remember if I tried MTL. I've used it in the past on another gearbox, but preferred GM Friction-Modified Synchromesh at that time. Redline D4 works slightly better in this gearbox than the Synchromesh, and I agree that it feels very mechanical. I now understand exactly what the magazine writers talked about when they said a car shifted like a rifle bolt. I was actually looking for something a little smoother because it makes for faster shifts, but after having experienced the D4, I think I would be disappointed if I lost that feel.
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      04-24-2019, 03:08 PM   #14
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      04-24-2019, 05:10 PM   #15
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Since Day 1 (26k miles for me) I’ve wanted better feel. My Mk6 GTI with 80,000 miles that I upgraded from was night and day better than the 128i, and both cars were completely stock at the time. I sat in a 2019 GTI at the DFW Auto Show a few weeks ago and was reminded how awesome that shifter is.

My NA Miata was also far better after I replaced the worn bushings. Same with the ND Miata I test drove. I think these Getrag transmissions are just not great for feel. However, I don’t hear about 128is stripping the teeth off second gear like the ND is known for, so I guess I’ll take a robust transmission I can beat on that doesn’t feel as satisfying over a transmission that might fail.
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      04-24-2019, 05:33 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rowsdower View Post
Since Day 1 (26k miles for me) I’ve wanted better feel. My Mk6 GTI with 80,000 miles that I upgraded from was night and day better than the 128i, and both cars were completely stock at the time. I sat in a 2019 GTI at the DFW Auto Show a few weeks ago and was reminded how awesome that shifter is.

My NA Miata was also far better after I replaced the worn bushings. Same with the ND Miata I test drove. I think these Getrag transmissions are just not great for feel. However, I don’t hear about 128is stripping the teeth off second gear like the ND is known for, so I guess I’ll take a robust transmission I can beat on that doesn’t feel as satisfying over a transmission that might fail.
I need to test your gearbox or you need to test mine. There are many that shift more smoothly than the Getrag, very many in fact, but precious few that I would call more mechanical or precise.
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      04-24-2019, 08:16 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderguts View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by rowsdower View Post
Since Day 1 (26k miles for me) I’ve wanted better feel. My Mk6 GTI with 80,000 miles that I upgraded from was night and day better than the 128i, and both cars were completely stock at the time. I sat in a 2019 GTI at the DFW Auto Show a few weeks ago and was reminded how awesome that shifter is.

My NA Miata was also far better after I replaced the worn bushings. Same with the ND Miata I test drove. I think these Getrag transmissions are just not great for feel. However, I don’t hear about 128is stripping the teeth off second gear like the ND is known for, so I guess I’ll take a robust transmission I can beat on that doesn’t feel as satisfying over a transmission that might fail.
I need to test your gearbox or you need to test mine. There are many that shift more smoothly than the Getrag, very many in fact, but precious few that I would call more mechanical or precise.
I think we all need to test drive your car bc yours seems to be miles better than ours
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      04-24-2019, 08:31 PM   #18
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1000% do the rebuild kit, and consider adding a DSSR (like AKG). Then you'll see what nice shift feel is like (doing the fluid, mounts etc should be done too if not already).

I installed a rebuild kit along with an AKG DSSR around 60,000 Kms ago and it was a huge difference. 2+ years later, things are starting to feel mushy again so I may do another partial rebuild (the DSSR is likely fine, it's all the other stuff that can develop play over time).

A weighted shift knob and a new spring will also help the overall feel.

I'm at 153,000 Kms now, anywhere beyond 60K miles or 100K kms, rebuilding the shift linkage is a worthy endeavour.
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      04-24-2019, 10:13 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82 View Post
I think we all need to test drive your car bc yours seems to be miles better than ours
When I got the car, I hated the clutch most of all, but I wasn’t a big fan of the gearbox either. The delay valve delete and some hard clutch-slipping burnouts fixed the first issue. The BMW SSK tightened up the gearbox, but it required too much effort to shift. I tried three or four different fluids before settling on the D4. That finally allowed it to shift more smoothly. Surprisingly, the zhp knob was the final “eureka” moment. The stock knob that comes with the SSK just wasn’t doing it for me. The zhp knob turned it from acceptable to “holy shit, this is amazing!”

Now the Getrag is a very different box than the Tremec with short shifter and GM Synchromesh in my Bullitt. The Getrag requires real concentration whereas the Tremec is so smooth and buttery that you hardly feel it go into gear. The Tremec is relaxing and effortless to row, but I really need to work when driving my 128. The Getrag definitely has a two stage snick-snick feel to it. I can’t shift it anywhere near as fast as the Tremec, but I like them for different purposes. It’s so strange to hear you describe your gearbox because it sounds like my Tremec which is the antithesis of the Getrag.

Last edited by Thunderguts; 04-24-2019 at 10:26 PM..
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      04-25-2019, 11:11 PM   #20
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How difficult is it to install a new spring? I can't find any info on that...
I don't know if you can get to this without dropping the transmission.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=23_1033
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      04-26-2019, 01:25 PM   #21
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Scheduled to get Redline D4 fluid put in tomorrow. Thanks for the rec i'll let u know how it feels
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      04-29-2019, 09:14 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderguts View Post
Surprisingly, the zhp knob was the final “eureka” moment. The stock knob that comes with the SSK just wasn’t doing it for me. The zhp knob turned it from acceptable to “holy shit, this is amazing!”
Yeah +1

btw I had mine custom made as to not put ///M logo on the car and to my eye looks oem. https://www.leatherz.com/collections...ort-shift-knob

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