BMW Shifter installation
If you are using bolt on kit installation will be much easier!
Safely secure your car on a hoist or jack stands, ensuring ample workspace underneath to reach the gearbox. Remove following parts:
- Shift boot
- OEM knob
- Trim surrounding shifter
From underneath the car disconnect OEM linkage, that goes from gearbox to OEM shifter. Disconnect on shifter side only. Remove OEM shifter and carrier (see picture 1). The specific parts you'll be working with may differ slightly depending on your car's chassis, but the overall process remains the same. In this example parts no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 need to be removed. Linkage (10) and connecting parts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) stays.
If you are using bolt on kit :
Bolt on kit acts as sandwich, where chassis is in between. Plate with threads mounted in goes underneath the car. Remaining parts goes on top of tunnel and attaches with bolts provided. Car must be in neutral. Secure the shifter to the bolt-on kit using the six nuts provided. Do not tighten them yet!
NOTE: If you are using STREET version of REVIN you will also need to attach shifter itself to stand provided with 4 bolts before that. Don‘t forget washers!
NOTE: If you are using RACE version of REVIN don't forget to place spacers provided between shifter and direct fit kit, not on top. (Look at the picture above) They are used to lift shifter few millimeters for clearance.
Without bolt on kit:
You will need to drill 6 holes and attach shifter to tunnel yourself. Keep in mind, that handle need to be perfectly straight up with linkage connected and gearbox in neutral, so double check it before drilling.
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Neutral position:
Now, crawl under your car and connect OEM linkage to the shifter. Move the shifter forward and backward until the handle stands perfectly straight up and down. With the shifter in the perfect neutral position, grab your tools and tighten those six bolts to hold the shifter securely in place.
Time to test it!
Make sure car is in neutral. This time, keep your hands off the sides of the shifter handle. Just push it forward and backward. If you can smoothly engage both 3rd and 4th gears by simply pushing the handle forward and backward (without needing to move it side-to-side), then you've done a great job! If the shifter movement feels clunky or the gears don't engage cleanly, there might be a problem with the bushings on the OEM linkage where it connects to the gearbox. Inspect them for wear and tear. If they're worn out, replacing them with new bushings should solve the issue.