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E60 545i "Short" shifter install

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65K views 35 replies 22 participants last post by  M55555  
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#1 ·
I was sick and tired of the slop and long throws of the factory shifter, so following the info found in this thread: http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=103511

I ordered the E60 545i "short" shifter - Item #6 p/n 25117546373

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=NB33&mospid=47759&btnr=25_0407&hg=25&fg=05

props to Azaytsev for pointing it out.

I also ordered a new bushing - Item #3.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DE93&mospid=47592&btnr=25_0009&hg=25&fg=05

If you're not installing a DSSR at the same time, I would recommend getting an extra couple washers (Item 5) and clip (Item 6) I actually lost a clip in the heatshield, and lost a washer that I swear vanished into thin air.
They're cheap and better to have them and not need them, than to not have them and need them. The DSSR comes with new clips/washers, so I had to reuse the old to replace the lost parts,

I ordered the parts from
https://secure.webmakerx.net/Default-2.aspx?hostname=parts.crownauto.com

They had the best price, and had no problems getting the shifter - they had to order the shifter from Germany, so it took over a week to get, but it was worth the wait.

I also ordered a UUC DSSR, the ZHP knob, and Redline Goods shift and e-brake boot.

During the install, I found that most of the slop was just in the worn out shifter bushing, I'm sure the DSSR helps, but I bet 90% of the slop I had was from the bushing, and the car only has 50K miles on it.

Image


Image


The E60 shifter needs to have the bushing trimmed at the bottom, my guess is that it was made this way to eliminate the need for the plastic washers, however, it will not fit in the DSSR this way, nor will the shifter fit through the shifter bushing.

Image


The E60 shifter is about 3/4" lower in height, and the ZHP knob is another 1/2" lower

Here is the factory shift lever and ZHP knob with Redline boot:
Image


Here's the after:
Image


Throws are MUCH shorter, ~30% shorter than factory by my calcs (knob + shifter vs. factory knob and shifter)

I've only had time to drive around the block, but I love it so far - the weighted knob and heavier DSSR linkage are very nice as well.

JD Ross from Crown Auto BMW sent me this pics of the E60 normal shifter vs. the short shifter, it's taller, and slightly shorter on the bottom, so it will have longer throws, would be good if you think 30% is too much.

Image

Image


*Disclaimer* I have no association with Crown BMW, just a happy customer :)
 
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#2 ·
Ordered mine on thursday from Crown. This shifter is just what I was looking for... shorter shifts, shorter overall height and a reasonable price. Thanks to everyone on the board for a great find.:M5thumbs:
 
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#4 ·
M5Prospect said:
Reading the postings, E60 has two shifters? One is the short and one the normal? But either one is still shorter than the one on the E39 M5 right?

Am I correct or reading it wrong? Let me try again.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I believe you are correct. Too bad JD was let go by Crown, you could have shot him an email. He was extremely helpful.
I used this thread - http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e3...etin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/113204-e60-545i-short-shifter-install-review.html for part selection and install info. I went with the short shifter, part 25117546373, excellent and easy DIY upgrade. Oh, I didn't replace the DSSR, didn't need to trim anything, and didn't need the yellow washers.
 
S
#5 ·
Thanks for the info and review. However, I thought the 545i short shifter of choice was part number 25117546373? Why did you not order that shifter? That was the one I was set on ordering so I'm a little confused as to why you ordered the other one...unless I missed something which is entirely possible!!
 
M
#6 ·
sadcaper: That is the correct P/N that we both used (25117546373) for the E60 545i shift lever.
 
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#17 ·
+1. The job is a billion times easier and faster if you're under the car. Easy access to the clip, pop pop clip and you're done. The most time consuming part for me was trying to get my old shifter out. Other than that make sure the plastic base clicks in securely and you're set to go. Don't forget to grease up that white plastic base.
 
N
#13 ·
no, you do not have to get under the car. Sorry
 
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M
#14 ·
:) well technically you dont. however, if you chose to remove the shaft/rod that the shifter is connected to, and coil a pound of solder around it, you need to get under, in order to take it off the car.
the solder is optional of course, but it makes this rod much heavier, which helps when shifting. the E60 shifter will usually make shifting a bit harder by default, due to the different leverage it provides. the heavier rod sort of acts in the same way as the weighted ZHP knob acts. it gives you more momentum when switching gears fast, thus makes gears to engage easier.
i think that was in the diy guide iirc.
 
N
#15 ·
ahh in that case, yeah. I might have to do that! Any thought on filling the lever itself with lead or something heavy(I think it's hollow, the hole is taped up by that silver label)?
 
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M
#16 ·
never heard anyone filling the actual shifter. give it a try. but i dont think it will make much difference. if you make it heavier at the ends, it will change the leverage...thus will change the feel of the shifting (ie heavier knob). I would imagine that the actual shifter being heavier wont make much difference. But maybe someone else here would know better.
 
M
#19 ·
Well depends on what you're greasing.

Lithium grease if 545 shifter.
 
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#21 ·
Maybe he really loves his car? :15: :love2:
 
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#26 ·
beastheimer said:
Great thread. What size boot did you order from Redline, stock or x inches shorter?
Click to expand...
I got stock, but I wish I had gotten it shorter, the boot dipped down quite a bit.

And as a warning, don't get the fake alcantara boot like I did, it faded badly, I recently replaced it with a boot made from the real stuff, hoping it lasts longer.
 
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#27 ·
I posted in the mega 545 thread as well, but here is the "throw" difference between Stock E39 M5 and 545i SSK (1st and 2nd gear throw):


Stock:

Image


Image


545 SSK

Image


Image
 
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#28 ·
So I picked up my E60 550 shifter the other day...What is the verdict regarding the need for a DSSR or Rogue equivalent or just stay with the stock rod?

I spoke with UUC today, & told me that what I was doing was a very bad idea & tried to sell me a complete kit..at an aggressive price.

Is everyone please who did the 550 shifter & it's performance?

Thanks,
 
V
#30 ·
Steven Ferrario said:
So I picked up my E60 550 shifter the other day...What is the verdict regarding the need for a DSSR or Rogue equivalent or just stay with the stock rod?

I spoke with UUC today, & told me that what I was doing was a very bad idea & tried to sell me a complete kit..at an aggressive price.

Is everyone please who did the 550 shifter & it's performance?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Sounds about right coming from them.. hundreds of people do it with no ill effects but he knows better. :blabla:

Personally I use Rogue products, especially the shifter, on all my manual cars, smoov as buttah.
 
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#29 ·
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#31 ·
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.2; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/FRF91) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

Steven Ferrario said:
So I picked up my E60 550 shifter the other day...What is the verdict regarding the need for a DSSR or Rogue equivalent or just stay with the stock rod?

I spoke with UUC today, & told me that what I was doing was a very bad idea & tried to sell me a complete kit..at an aggressive price.

Is everyone please who did the 550 shifter & it's performance?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Dssr is not required but recommended to enhance shifter feel. It creates a more gated feel, often members descibe this as never "misshifting" gears ever again. Others say it tightens the throws. All in all, a worthwhile, inexpensive upgrade with zero negatives.
 
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#32 ·
Can't wait to get mine done!
 
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#33 · (Edited)
e60 545 SSK excess wobble is this normal<!-- google_ad_section_end -->


<HR style="COLOR: #ffffff; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message --><!-- google_ad_section_start -->as above
I have had the e60 ssk for over a week and im not sure to fit it or return it this video below illusturated the wobble i have in my e60 ssk is this normal??


‪545i short shifter wobble‬‏ - YouTube<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

and link to original thread
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e3...vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/192218-e60-545-ssk-excess-wobble-normal.html<!-- / message -->
 
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