I have looked up at the underside of the transmission tunnel. 6 hours to install the kit.... uummmm.....no. We have quite a bit of room too. I have spent days underneath my e30's and e36. The e53 gives you plenty of clearance under there. Tricky part is the selector joint. I will be installing my Schmiedmann custom short shift kit as well as my own version of UUC's DSSR just as soon as my shop space is freed. Not a 100% sure why UUC didn't release a DSSR for the e53. Guess I'll find out first hand. If mine turns out well, I will make/machine a few more units exclusively for my manual e53 brothers.

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2005 X5 3.0, 6MT, Alpine White on Truffle Brown, Sport, Preim, and Cold Weather, Alpina Stainless Headers, AFe Intake, UUC SSK, OEM 87's, 3.64 Differential Swap,Performance Modified Euro 2 Tune, UUC LTW Flywheel and HD clutch, Bilstein B12 Suspension kit
Future mods ZHP/Schrick Cam Shaft upgrade, Operation code name:Doppelschrauben-Kompressor

Wife's Ride: 2011 e70 X5 351 M///Sport.

Also in the fold: 2004 X3 3.0, 6MT, Black Sapphire on Terracotta, port, Premium, Cold Weather.