X5/5speed shifter upgrades?
 

Good day to all here at Xoutpost. Very informative site I may add. Is there a manufacturer known that has an up grade or short shifter for the Manual 5 in an X5? Mine is a late 02 but the mechanism seems to be somewhat sloppy. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks.

We had a UUC in our 328i and loved it. I called them in the first week we owned our X5, and they had nothing. They wouldn't even make a custom. I haven't looked everywhere, but our numbers are so small I can't believe anyone will tool up for us. What bugs me is how close it looks to other BMW shifters. I can't believe the throw is different enough that they can't use one from another application, but I'm not willing to take a chance. Drives us nuts too. SUPER sloppy!

I agree with fulltilt...in my 8 yrs of perusing X5 boards, I don't recall anyone
scoring a short shifter kit for our Xs. Both the earlier 5 spds and the more
recent 6 speeds are somewhat rare.

I don't feel ours is that crummy, though I can beat the synchros on occasion.
It is what it is.
GL, mD

thanks fellows. I'm sure something can be done. Hmmm.:dunno:

Take out the CDV 1st and see if you still want a short-shift kit

Also check out if your hanging pin is starting to go

Do you have part #s for the pins, and or bushings? CDV?:dunno:

Search / google is your friend

CDV = clutch delay valve / Zeckenhaus racing (sp?). Removing it gives more immediate action on the clutch (especially the 1-2 shift)

Hanging pin centers the stick in the shift pattern (between 3 and 4) when the car is out of gear. When it starts to break the stick will sometimes flow into the wrong gear (2 to 5) when you shift. Part no - no idea

Your synchro gears could also be bad.

Gotcha. I believe my issues are with the shifter bushings. The previous owner had a new clutch installed, and I believe the mechanic did not install a shifter bushing or put back a worn one. The synchros are fine, just a bit balky when it's below freezing, till she gets warm.

I took the CDV out. Not a significant difference, but I had philosophical problems with it being there. I just took it out and reformed the line a bit. I couldn't see paying $30 for a straight through piece of metal when the threads going in and out were the same. I hadn't heard of the hanging pin, but my shifter doesn't have any shift problems, just that I would like it to be very tight and "snicky", which it very much is not.

A lot of BMW shifters are cross compatible, so some w/ a BMW junkyard near them may just have to run there and start comparing shifters w/ other manual cars...Z3, Z4, 3's and 5's. Also, between Google, Bimmerforums. Bimmerfest, 5driver, E90post, etc I've seen people take measurements of various shifters, either because they didn't wanna pay UUC prices, or just to try something different. RealOEM.com Online BMW Parts Catalog doesn't give measurement, but at least you can get a visual idea to see if anything is in the ballpark. The X5 3.0 shares the same engine and trans w/ the Z, 3 and 5 series, so something has to be out there, apparently you guys will have to do some researching.

Lot's of good info Thank you all. From my findings I believe it's the shifter bushings. They can be accessed from underneath when the X is on a lift. I will start there. Are there any bushings that are superior than oem? It's questionable but just a thought.:confused:

UUC might sell just the bushings.

Thanks for info M5J. :cool: Too bad the feel is vauge and notchy. Otherwise it's such a nice SAV.:rofl:

I like notchy, but vague is no good. UUC uses a poly type of bushing in their kits, so hopefully it's something you might be able to use. Even contacting them about it might get the ball rolling on them producing one once they see there could be a market for them.

:iagree: Good point.:thumbup:

I contacted them a while back. He needed at least 10 people to match a batch of the old Evo2 model that was once for the X5. A few people (including me) have tried to get a solid 10 to no avail. However, if someone else would like to try - you can put me on the list.

:stickpokeI'm game anyone else??:dunno:

Absolutely. I didn't think about just buying the better material bushing from UUC, if the ball diameter is the same. That would help a lot. If it's just the bushing, we could probably all buy two if we only got 5 people. If it's a whole shifter, that's another story. I didn't shell out the $300 for the UUC on our 3 series, the previous owner did. I have another thread about manual transmission drive-ability and there are a couple other manual owners on it, Motordavid and Ldiggs910. Maybe a thread entitled "Short throw shifter group buy" would be the formal way to get everyone's attention?

I have been since day 1 on a mission for a short shifter or urethane bushings for my x5 to no avail. I have emailed UUC personally only to get a response that they use to carry but will no longer make a short shifter for the x5. I even asked if they can re-consider if I can get enough people to purchase, but just simply refused. I guess for us MT guys, we have to live with the sloppy long throw of our x5's. I would even be happier if I could only get a urethane bushing to make it notchy. Energy Suspension makes bushings for lots of cars out there but not for the X.

So has anyone reasearched othe stock BMW shifters and got bushing from UUC to make them work? Since it the same tranny in the 3 series, the bushings should be cross compatible...I think finding the shifter is gonna be the harder part.

UUC Motorwerks IS putting the X53 3.0 short shifter back in production. They sold some a number of years ago (Evo 2 version) and I ordered one for my (Euro) 2002 X5 3.0 diesel (5 speed manual). It will be the current Evo 3 version SO if you have a 3.0 X5 (diesel or gasoline) with a manual transmission - call Rob.

Updates on the short shifter. Rob needed a new X5 shifter rod to check some design elements. I live in Europe so ordered one and mailed to him around Easter weekend.

They (UUC) needed to move their machining / tooling to a new facility, which delayed some orders. They've caught up on the existing ones and will be producing mine (and some additional three or four X5 short shifters) sometime in May / early June.

Bottom line, order yours. They are really coming. Mine will be on the car this summer.

I guess this never happened?

UUC Short shifter
 

I've sorted other issues on my X5 while waiting: Dynamat in the doors, PDC retrofit, etc. Now I have the factory sport rear sway bar and rear Bilstein's to install.

Last I spoke to Rob was August - he was swamped with orders (customer and his vendors) and the X5 was coming afterwards. He had between 5 and 10 pre-orders for this, so it's worth his trouble.

I plan on calling after Thanksgiving to follow up.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Im interested...

Only way to have it (and get production moving sooner) is to go to the UUC web site and order it. Put X5 in the search part to find the specific part number for your order (they only charge you when it ships). If you get stuck, drop me a note privately.

Does anyone have one of these (previous gen)? Before I spend $350+, want to make sure it's worth it.

I've put short shifters in most of the BMW's I've owned, E12 M535i, E30 325i touring & E34 525i touring. Definitely a cost effective improvement (Mehr Freude am Fahren for your money vs. other upgrades). They didn't exist when I had a 2002, but it will be done when I find the 2002 baur that I like (another story).

On the E12, it was before UUC existed - best then was Metric Mechanic (and the current car's owner is still happy with the car and shifter). A great product and it made a HUGE difference. For my former E30 & E34, the came from UUC. E30 was Evo2, E34 was Evo3, and again absolutely no regrets on this, all enjoyment. Based on UUC's reputation and knowledge (I've actually visited them in Alpharetta), I pre-ordered mine and will patiently wait.

Spoke to Rob this week (29 Nov), they are still getting caught up on orders and the holiday season. He has nearly ten of these pre-ordered, so he knows that there are people waiting. Put this in perspective: you don't spend the money until it ships, it's perhaps the cost of one tire (if you run 19" or larger) and you'll get enjoyment every time you drive the car and in any condition or mode (summer / winter / track).