Installed my UCC Short Shift in my e39

[GTMAN]

Hey All,

Here is my update on my UCC SSK just installed today!

Took me 2 hrs. Had some technical difficulties which made it longer for me. Used Ramps...was tight, but I managed. Instructions provided by UCC were good. One of the outer aluminium bushings that goes on either side of the bearing was a pain to slide onto the shifter rod pin, so I had to sand paper it slightly. Then it was perfect. Reinstaling rubber boot was the pain in the rear...and my fingers hurt from messing with it primarily trying to get it on the aluminium carrier. I think I got it....at least from what I can see from under the car. Soapy water does help.

Now for the test drive!

Well, it felt weird at 1st. Throws were shorter as stated...about 35%. Very tight and crisp shift throws. You hear alot more mechanical shift noises like click, clack, cluck, etc.. At certain speeds and higher rpm, I do here a noise I never heard with the stock shifter. It sounds like some vibration in the nob...or at least transmitted to the nob...dont know...need to drive more, but I think thats the way its meant to sound from reading other reviews. Shifting is very precise, mechanical, and you can really feel the gates. No more rubbery feal. It feels like you are literally pulling an pushing gears inside the transmission. The shifts are more notchy. Notchiness is now fealt in 4,5, and slightly in 6 too. Those gears were like butter to shift into with stock shifter. It feel alot more like the e39 M5 in feel of pulling and pushing into gears, though shorter throws, and more click, clack, cluck. Feels like a real Man's car - effort is abit more. Though it might still need to be broken in more.

I believe my normal driving technique is slightly smoother due to the shorter throws as the revs drop less from going from one gear to the next. I'm still getting used to it. And its true....you now want to shift just for the sake of shifting [driving2] . As far as satisfcation goes, I'm pleased....it totally feels like shifting a track or true sports car, and less luxury. I dont know why, but I'm driving a bit faster too....probably because my whole shift clutch accel flow has changed??

Thats the update! Thanks to all those folks that helped me decide to go the SSK way.

GTMAN
01'540i6MT

 

[Malachi]

Congratulations! I hope you continue to enjoy it.

I wanted to let you know that I don't get any more noise on mine or vibration so you may want to do some more checking on that.

edit: it does not make any noises associated to vibration, it does make those click noises going into gears.

 

[GTMAN]

Malachi, its hard to her the vibes in the nob any more. I have to really listen and have the radio off. Its not all the time. It feels less wierd, and I'm getting more used to it in day 2 after the mod. 1-2 requires more muscle though, as the notch is more pronounced. Everything is very crisp and clean during shifting. BTW, can having a short throw shifter wear out syncros or do any damage to the transmission? Just curious. Is there such thing as shifting too fast and causing problems?

Thx,
GTMAN

 

[GTMAN]

What does the hex set screw that goes through the shift lever do? I dont have that sort of a hex wrench were it has clearance for a little pin that sticks out of the middle of the hex area? My shift nob is not quite 100% straight, and want to rotate it just slightly.

 

[GTMAN]

Found out from UCC that we are not supposed to undo the hex set screw. That set screw holds the internals of the shiter together. Also, UCC said that there may be also a small about of noise vibration through the shifter as everything is more rigid and tight...which is reasonable knowing that the links are so sooo tight.

Apparently breakin is about 500miles....so we'll see if things smoothen out abit. Driving fast and shifting spiritedly is perfect, but when you want to finess shift when crusin, its tuff to do. I dont have a heavy shift hand, so perhaps its more evident to me than most. I think it takes some time to get used to it as the neuro-muscular system for shifting needs to be retrained.

 

[Malachi]

Sounds like you are understanding the shifter better and I think that your experience will help others

Some folks uses a heavy ball on the SS or a heavy shifter rod (I have some info on that on my webpage). Other are using Royal Purple oil to make it shift easier. I am waiting until my car gets out of warranty before I do that.

 

[bahnstormer]

yeah i have one on my 535i, it def took some time to break in fully.

 

[GTMAN]

UUC did tell me that using Redline D4-ATF?? (forgot the actual part number) will smoothen the shifts too.

Bhanstomer, those WRC photos are too cool. I used to follow the WRC circuit when I lived in New Zealand....and periodically keep touch on who's king in the circuit. Those drivers are pretty much guys that have the biggest brass B@11s in the racing world - rain, shine, ice, hail...almost nothing stops the race. Before getting my 5, I was so close to pulling the trigger on an STI - silver on silver. That and the Evo8 still turn my head these days.