Some of you guys will laugh but I have seen somewhere that people do this:

- Leave the stock shifter alone.

- Remove the factory knob, and Cut the shifter down 1" or so.

- Then cut a new slot on the shifter.

- Then use a shorter knob.

Anyone did this?

That's freaking sweet!

Any updates? I'm hoping to pickup a 6 speed X5 this weekend and a short shifter looks like an excellent winter time machine shop project.
I'd love to see some drawings or some photos with the critical dimensions penciled in.

So does everyone that did this kit still like it?

I know I am bumping a somewhat older thread, but it makes sense to keep it all on this one to me.

I wouldn't have it any other way. Actually that isn't true, I would much prefer a body mounted shifter assembly than this carrier crap that BMW is into. But the UUC makes the best of a slop-riddled design. I highly recommend it.

YES

I love it! Totally was worth the cost.


Also, do yourself a favor and get the ZHP shift knob, makes it such a pleasurable experience. I left my UUC at stock height and the ZHP is slightly lower so it actually sits a touch shorter than stock.

UUC installed mine 25k miles ago, one of first done on E53s. With the CDV delete, a great improvement. You don't 'need' a fancy knob, but UUC talked me into their fancy aluminum version. Sweet ......

The list of mods just keep on growing. It is a good thing I got a good deal on this.

It seems that if I wait it will go on sale..

I was thinking of getting an e36 m3 knob. That way it only shows the 5 instead of the 6.

I got the ZHP knob and a spare 5-speed insert (non M)

The inserts are $8 and take 2 seconds to swap on the knob. There is a ZHP 5-Speed knob part # though - it comes with M emblem

Hey fellow manual owners!
I just completed the UUC short shifter and CDV.
My x5 is a 2003 3.0 with 90,000 miles and the the shifting was vague at best. I never knew really if I was going into 1st 3rd or 5th, it was a crapshoot.
The new shifter is crisp, accurate and feels great. Very nice quality.
The only issue I had was TWICE the UUC instructions told me to remove the transfer case and ancillary parts! I was freaking out about this and finally found mcurcio1989 page 8 post that saved me.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...lve-fix-8.html
Thanks mcurcio!
unlike some if the carriers mine only had one long front pin. Made it very easy to remove.
Now the CDV
Very simple and easy to get to. Just crawled under the car and removed it.
I bought a power bleeder that worked great.
Like the shifting the clutch engagement left me feeling like a 14 year old trying to learn stick. It was jerky and ridiculous.
This also feels much better. I will drive it for a week and leave some more feedback.
I will probably add a ZHP knob just because it is cool.
I feel the shifter and the CDV is a must on a manual X5.

Nice! Get the ZHP knob. It's so much better than stock in mutple ways. Feels nice, looks nice, and is weighted.