Yes, spend the money - definitely worth it. You'll see my previous posts as I worked with Rob @ UUC to have this put back in production. Two years of waiting resulted in happy times. I've had mine for a year or more, no regrets. With the exception of one car (no short shifter exists), all of my BMW"s since 1994 have had short shifters and it's UUC or nothing.

There is a good quote from Rob Siegel in a recent article of the BMW CCA magazine about input controls that frequently drive you nuts (when they aren't right) vs. those who give you the most enjoyment (when they are right or even better than right). A short shifter most definitely falls into this category. Remember to go a transmission fluid service (Redline MTL) and add a magnetic drain plug (dimple), lifetime fluids are NOT lifetime at all.

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2002 Euro X5 (E53) 3.0 diesel (M57)
5 speed manual with UUC short shifter.
Pre-xDrive NV125 transfer case (chain & gears).
Factory Xenon headlights, Spyder LED tail lights
Updated vortex crankcase breather.
Motorsport dead pedal, factory fire extinguisher, factory first aid kit, factory F&R mud flaps, factory PDC

Bilstein B6 shocks F&R
Redline oil has replaced "lifetime" fluids (F&R diff, manual transmission, transfer case and P/S).
Dimple magnetic drain plugs in all compartments.