Heavier = more mass. Heavier shift knobs tend to make pushing through gears easier as they have more mass /momentum with them. At least that is how I understand it.

I feel like were putting a lot of pressure on this greg guy, you can do it greg haha.

Seriously tho I haven't followed the progression of these things or even seen what the SSK for our x5's actually contain (wondering if it has other wear bushings etc. to refresh things). I just read through a couple diy's for e46's and E39's it seems like it should be very doable. . . Far as I am concerned nothing can be worse than spending 2 days under a semi / toterhome pulling a 800 lb transmission out and lifting a massive 150lb clutch up from under there. That is just me I may be wrong. We'll see what old greg has to say not trying to be impatient, but hey isn't that what the internet is for?

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2004 e53 m54 with 6spd manual