Gearsticks.
 

Hi guys,

Now that my engine is in, I've sorted out the gearstick mounting 'bar' that came from the donor (I modified the rearmost bracket the bar slips into to bolt to the roof of the tunnel), and everything is looking fab underneath the car in the tunnel.

What I wanted to ask you chaps was how big a diameter hole did you cut for the gearstick?

I was planning on finding the center of the gearstick 'neutral' position by centering a drill through the support cup on the underside of the tunnel.

Once I've drilled a hole there, I'll be able to scribe a circle out to whatever diameter is required on the top side, and then chain drill along the circumference.

Sound feasible?

Oh - and the other question would be what size rubber gaiter to get! (and where to get it from) I didn't keep the one from the donor, so I'll be needing a replacement

I used the stock BMW rubber grommet and cut the hole to match that. I did buy a new one though as the one from the doner was starting to fall to bits!

I'd buy a new BMW one then cut the hole to match it :) realoem.com is down at the moment. I'll dig a part number out later.

You using the donor gear stick? If you want to shorten it up a little buy a stick from a 1.9ltr Z3 takes the row boat action out of E30 boxes! Only £30 or from a main dealer!

Here's a comparison piccy:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/z3-4.jpg
http://www.msportster.co.uk/faq.asp?FAQ=2

I've got the 3.0 Z4 one for our Sportster - very short shift!

Thanks mate.

I don't suppose you know the part numbers for the 'refurb' parts as well? You know, the plastick cup the gearstick sits in, and the bearings and bushes in the linkage?

I'll dig them out for you over the weekend :)

Excellent. Have an eBeer.

http://www.emofaces.com/en/buddy-ico...buddy-icon.gif

In fact, as it's nearly the weekend, eBeer's all round! :D

beer
 

would have looked forward to beer ,building, but gotta work all weekend....depression

Patrick - having had a quick look at e30Zone, I'm guessing that all the parts (bar the rubber gaiter) required are listed here:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?n...ge=technz3.htm

I'm assuming that the "precision engineering modification" required to the linkage isn't required, as the vibration damper isn't fitted to a sportster... ;)

nope, I didn't need to do it to my E46 when I put a 1.9 stick in there either.

Those numbers were "old" numbers when I ordered then according to the guy at the desk at BMW. The T piece was really worn out on our gearbox and it made a world of difference changing it! Also change the bush at the front of the bar that runs for the geabox back - that was more egg shaped than round!

Jason,
like Patrick, I bought a new rubber gaiter from BMW and cut the hole to match.
I drilled a couple of holes and then used a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. It makes a lot of noise but much faster and neater than chain drilling,

Peter

Rubber boot
07 - RUBBER BOOT - 25111220912

Bush for the shifting arm
02 - BEARING SLEEVE, ROUND L=26MM - 25117519669

T piece parts
13 - GEARSHIFT ROD JOINT - 25117501309
17 - DOWEL PIN 23411466134
18 TENSION BUSH -25111203682

Plastic cup
06 BEARING, SHIFT LEVER - 25111220600

Clip to hold on to gear stick
12 CIRCLIP - 25111220379

I didn't bother with the yellow plastic washers as many of the replacement stick - including the Z4 one I got don't need them as the bit at the bottom is wider by the size of the bushes.

Part numbers for the gear sticks:

Z3 1.9 - 25117527252
Z3 2.8/3.0 - 25111222884
Z3M - 25117527254
Z4 3.0 - 25117543193
Z4 2.5 - 25117543192

Patrick - thanks. :thumb:

Guess it's time to go shopping then... :D

Peter - Did you just use a normal metal blade, or a fine tooth one?

Right, after some additonal advice from Patrick (and his mad photochop skillz :)), I've ordered myself the refurb bits and a 2.5ltr Z4 stick from my local stealership.

Strangely, Motormec couldn't best the prices for once - so I'll save on postage and pop down to the parts desk in my lunchtime, once they're in.

ahh for got to post in here!

I've updated the gear stick FAQ on the website:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/faq.asp?FAQ=2

Now includes part number for refurb and an example of the Z4 3.0ltr stick movement.

http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/z4-3ltr.jpg

Sorry, Jason, missed this the first time.
To be honest, I can't remember, so it was proably an ordinary metal cutting blade. It made a terrible racket and I think I drilled four holes because you can't get all the way around in one cut.

Peter

I drilled lots of holes then chopped out with snips and spent a long time with a round file and ear protection makes a hell of a noise even doing it by hand.

I bought a nibbler attachment for drill, on advice of friend, for trimming bodywork. Just drilled one hole in tunnel and used this to cut out neat perfect circle in seconds! Highly recommended.

Alfie.

Well, as the sat box was on the fritz and I had to stop watching Le Mans on Motors TV (No sat signal - mother of all thunderstorms!), I went out to the garage and installed my new Z4 2.5 gearstick

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showpost....&postcount=444

Looks good, and the throw seems (IMHO) perfect:

http://www.jason.cundall.dsl.pipex.com/3rdgear.jpg

http://www.jason.cundall.dsl.pipex.com/neutral.jpg

http://www.jason.cundall.dsl.pipex.com/4thgear.jpg

And once I had done that, the sun had come out - sat service restored. Beer + Le Mans (especially with an Aston 1-2 in GT1 at the mo, with one of the Corvettes beached in the kitty litter) = Bliss. I'll have to switch over to Indy in a mo. It's a hard life, eh? :D

Looks good, I did a quick photoshop on your pics but I don't think I got the perspective right on the two overlaid ones so the actual angle maybe slightly different:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/z425.jpg