USDM E30 OEM Shifter Rebuild Buyers Guide
Table Of Contents
- Overview
- OEM Rebuild Part Number
- Garagistic Replacement Kits & Components
- Recommended While You're In There...
Quick Links: Shifter Bushing Kits & Shifter Components
E30 325i Shifter Bushing Kit (08/86-End of Production): Click Here
- BMW Bearing Bolt: Click Here
- Round Shifter Bushings: Click Here
- Shifter Cup: Click Here
- Rear Carrier Bushing: Click Here
- Rear Carrier Bushing With Shifter Arm Bracket Assembly: Click Here
E30 Late Model Selector Joint: Click Here
Overview
Your E30 OEM shifter components are common wear items as they are subjected to large amounts of wear and tear over the years and in their best condition provided a comfortable shifter feel with a moderately long throw. The rubber bushings used to isolate the harsh vibrations and noise from the drivetrain and prevent them from being transferred into the cabin would break down over time causing excessive play and slop in the shifter. This article will cover a complete OEM rebuild of the shifter in your E30 and all the options Garagistic offers to upgrade those factory maintenance components to eliminate slop and restore the feel and precision you expect from your BMW.
OEM Rebuild Part Numbers
This section will cover all the OEM part numbers to rebuild your USDM E30 shifter back to factory spec. Please check compatibility with your VIN at RealOEM.com or email support@garagistic.com. We always recommend getting visual confirmation of what components your specific chassis has if your E30 was originally an automatic.
Beginning of US production - 06/86
At first glance, it appears some of the tech and hardware from the E21 was incorporated in the E30's early chassis design. These early model E30 chassis came with an over-complicated steel plate shifter carrier much like the shifter assembly found on the E21. Even in it's freshly rebuilt form, most complain there is still an excessive amount of play vs the updated cast aluminum carrier design. The two main differences between the two are in how they connect to the chassis and how they connect to the transmission. Some early model chassis may not have the same shifter carrier mounting provisions on the transmission and transmission tunnel as a late model produced after 06/86 so it is always best to get a visual confirmation if you wish to upgrade to the later cast aluminum carrier. A link to the RealOEM pre-06/86 shifter diagrams is available below for installation info.
- 2x Support Bracket - 25111208580
- Rear Rubber Stop Buffer - 25111207133
- 2x Shim - 25111220199
- 2x O-Ring - 2511221243
- Shift Selector Joint Bushing - 25111434194
- Shift Selector Joint - 25117501309
- Ball Cup Lower - 25111207744
- Ball Cup Upper - 23411466110
- Spring - 23411200845
- Spacer - 23411200844
Production Date: 06/86 - 09/89
With the BMW M3's introduction at the Frankfurt International Auto Show in 1985, the E30 began undergoing some changes and adopting some of the updates made to the E30 chassis during the development of the street-legal homologation cars, 5,000 units of which had to be produced and publicly available within one year to gain approval as a touring car. The E30 M3 featured a slick and simple cast aluminum shifter carrier that was easily serviceable and immensely superior in every way. This design would become the standard for BMW shifter assemblies and is still used to this day on modern chassis'. All aluminum shifter carrier setups produced during this period will use 09/89 or later rebuild parts with the exception of the shift selector joint pictured below. You can swap to the later style shift selector joint if you also use the later model selector rod (PN: 25111221657) or upgrade to one of our DSSR's.
- Bitch Clip Bushing - 25117519669
- Bitch Clip - 25111220439
- Rear Bushing Assembly - 25111220707
- Plastic Cup Bearing - 25111220912
- Washer - 25111220439
- 2x Securing Clip - 25117571899
- Shift Selector Joint - 25117503525
- Shift Selector Joint Bushing - 25111434194
- 2x Washer - 25111220439
09/89 - End of US production
By this point, all USDM E30 chassis' produced during this period will have the same part numbers for the shifter maintenance items up until the end of production in 01/91 for most models except the vert which was available in the US up till 01/93.
- Bitch Clip Bushing - 25117519669
- Bitch Clip - 25111220439
- Rear Bushing Assembly - 25111220707
- Plastic Cup Bearing - 25111220912
- Washer - 25111220439
- 2x Securing Clip - 25117571899
- Shift Selector Joint - 25117503525
- Shift Selector Joint Bushing - 25111434194
- 2x Washer - 25111220439
Garagistic Replacement Bushings
When you're considering upgrading the maintenance items on your aluminum carrier E30 shifter, we do recommend the OEM shifter bushings be paired with OEM rubber engine and trans mounts to absorb any NVH and deflection of the drivetrain the rubber bushings would allow. When we reproduced them using denser Polyurethane and Delrin bushing materials, during testing we found that they deliver the best results when paired with our Poly or Delrin E30 engine and transmission mounts.
Both Garagistic E30 Round Shift Bushing kits include a new OEM bitch clip and a pair of Delrin front round bushings to replace part numbers 25117519669 and 25111220439. Additionally, both kits include a new OEM shifter cup to replace part number 25111469397 or 25111220600. Both also include a rear shifter arm bushing available in Poly or Delrin to replace the rubber insert in the outrageously priced BMW part number 25111220707. If you wish to purchase a rear carrier bushing pre-assembled in the bracket, we offer an in-house manufactured replacement for the above-mentioned part number at a fraction of the cost of an OEM bracket and bushing assembly. The increase in feel and precision with a factory throw shifter is night and day. There is an increase in NVH throughout the chassis, but by completely eliminating any twisting and deflection in the drivetrain you will feel absolutely confident you're gonna find your gear with every crispy shift. There is even an overkill aluminum option for the front shifter carrier bushings if you're feeling extra spicy. When paired with our engine and trans bushings, the front of the carrier does not see a lot of rotational movement so there is no risk in having these seize or anything like that. Links to everything mentioned in this section are below!
- E30 325i Shifter Bushing Kit (08/86-End of Production): Click Here
- BMW Bearing Bolt: Click Here
- Round Shifter Bushings: Click Here
- Shifter Cup: Click Here
- Rear Carrier Bushing: Click Here
- Rear Carrier Bushing With Shifter Arm Bracket Assembly: Click Here
- E30 Late Model Selector Joint: Click Here
Recommended While You're In There...
There are a few miscellaneous parts we recommend replacing while you're in there such as the rubber insulating boot that seals the shifter hole in the transmission tunnel that is often torn and dilapidated by now. We have included a few extra part numbers and links universal to all E30 chassis minus the M3 to complete your shifter rebuild.
- Backup Light Reverse Switch Wiring - 23141220263
- Rubber Shifter Insulating Boot - 25111220912
- OEM Leather Shift Boot - 25111220204
- G260 Shift Shaft Seal - 23128677736
- Manual Transmission Mounts - 23711175939
- Garagistic Manual Trans Mounts: Click Here
Useful Links
Garagistic Parts
E30 Poly Round Shifter Bushing Kit
E30 Delrin Round Shifter Bushing Kit
E30 Poly/Delrin Rear Shifter Arm Bracket Assembly
Delrin Rear Shifter Arm Bushing
Aluminum Round Shifter Carrier Bushings
Delrin Round Shifter Carrier Bushings
Late Model E30 Shift Selector Joint
E30 Manual Transmission Mounts
Real OEM Parts Diagram/Identification
09/89 up to end of US production
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