Shift Light, Short Throw Shifter?

[GTMAN]

Has anyone ever installed a Short Throw Shifter or Shift Light in their E39? Any kits out there? I was thinking of getting the G-Tech Pro...but it seems bulky. Need a more permenant Shift Light that is small enough to go on top of my steering wheel column that does not involve too much wiring or any drilling at all.

Thanks,
GTMAN

 

[MrElussive]

Short shift kit is always a good idea. It increases the effort needed to shift the gears, but after a few minutes of driving, you'll forget all about the difference. And if you get a good short shift kit, it will really shorten the shift lengths significantly.
As for the shift light, sorry, I can't help you out, I don't know much about them.

 

[Average Jae]

only shift light i've seen was on my dad's old ass 80 cavalier, the only manual that i've seen w/out a tach.. just a big ole speedo, ala old school gm style, and since the car didnt' have a tach to show the rev, the shift up light came on i'd imagine around 3k rpm..

i thought the light kinda lame, cuz if you consider yourself a "driver" you could tell just by hearing the engine sound to determine your rev. but that's just me.

as for the short throw shifters, reducing the shift distance helps in quicker shifts, and once you go short, it's hard to go back to rowing your gears in..

 

[GTMAN]

The 540i is a VERY VERY quiet riding car. I can hear the engine and all, and the exhaust....but I have to pay attention with the radio volume super low or turned off. The rpms on the car ride the rev rainbow extremely fast too like a zippy 4 cylinder.....an before I know it, I always catch myself at 5-6k rpm. I just dont want to look at the dash when I drive spiritedly. I rather look at the road...and have some buzzer or light flicker in my preferial vision indicating when to shift. My buds '02 SMG M3 has a shift light.....it comes stock.....to the top dogs have them even though they are true drivers cars.

Got it a Z350 this weekend...talk about short thorw....it was awesome and extremely quick with only wrist movements....I dont even need to activate my bi's and my tri's.....well until I get my Short throw....I'll be rowing it...

 

[bahnstormer]

"activate my bi's "
i love it!
hehehehhe

 

[jrt67ss350]

I'd say get an Autometer shift light, but I haven't a clue where you'd hook it up to on an E39 540 with the electronic ignition and all in order to get the appropriate engine speed signal to the light. Might want to contact them and ask em about it.

I personally see nothing bad about a shift light - all pro drag racers use 'em, and they are anything but lame. Helps you keep your eyes on the road and prevent over-revving the engine.

 

[MrElussive]

GTMAN, can't you feel the vibrations in the shift knob? That is the way you are supposed to "feel" what rpm you are at.

 

[bahnstormer]

lol @ elussive

that's so terribly wrong i should delete the post =]
never hold onto your shift knob while driving, dont
put pressure or weight on it from your hand unless
of course u're actually changing gears

as far as engine speed u should be able to hear it yes
but the 540 isn't a sports cars its a touring sedan so
its quiet.

taking that into consideration i think a shift light would
be incredibly gaudy (guady? nah) in a 540. esp an autometer
one. maybe a custom led display would be nice and tactful but
it'd be a helluva DIY job. contact the local electronics
wizard and see what they can do. in the meantime
drive with those windows open =]

 

[Dinan55]

The 540i is a VERY VERY quiet riding car. I can hear the engine and all, and the exhaust....but I have to pay attention with the radio volume super low or turned off. The rpms on the car ride the rev rainbow extremely fast too like a zippy 4 cylinder.....an before I know it, I always catch myself at 5-6k rpm. I just dont want to look at the dash when I drive spiritedly. I rather look at the road...and have some buzzer or light flicker in my preferial vision indicating when to shift. My buds '02 SMG M3 has a shift light.....it comes stock.....to the top dogs have them even though they are true drivers cars.

Got it a Z350 this weekend...talk about short thorw....it was awesome and extremely quick with only wrist movements....I dont even need to activate my bi's and my tri's.....well until I get my Short throw....I'll be rowing it...

I have that exact same problem. I can barely hear my engine and when I first started driving the car I would stall without even noticing. I still stall to this day and you can't hear or feel the car stalling. Ahh... BMW luxury.

 

[MrElussive]

lol @ elussive

that's so terribly wrong i should delete the post =]
never hold onto your shift knob while driving, dont
put pressure or weight on it from your hand unless
of course u're actually changing gears

as far as engine speed u should be able to hear it yes
but the 540 isn't a sports cars its a touring sedan so
its quiet.

taking that into consideration i think a shift light would
be incredibly gaudy (guady? nah) in a 540. esp an autometer
one. maybe a custom led display would be nice and tactful but
it'd be a helluva DIY job. contact the local electronics
wizard and see what they can do. in the meantime
drive with those windows open =]

There is a difference between putting pressure and keeping your hand on the shift knob. That is how I "feel" when to shift....that is the whole purpose of the vibrating of the shift knob. Besides, when driving, I have to shift so much, thanks to close-ratio manual transmission...no point to letting my hand off it.

 

[GTMAN]

Its interesting getting all your inputs on my topic here. Mr. Elussive, the 540 does not have any shifter vibrations....at least that I have noticed. I do drive with my hand lightly on the knob, and my elbow in the arm rest with the silly groove in the middle. Thats the cool way to drive I hear....oh and also ones head needs to be leaned towards the center of the car, with the seat leaned back so one looks out of the rear window....ala fast and the furious. All kidding aside, like I said, the V8 is silky smooth, and does not vibrate ever thru the rev rainbow....shifter does not vibrate noticibly....I cant hear the engine and the exhaust unless I turn down the radio completely, or really focus.....so it gets tuff most of the time to tell. I just need a little aid ala shift light. Guess every car is different...give me some time, I soon become one with the mine...and then I can tell everything like I could with my old girlfriend...a modded out 98 AWD Legacy GT Wagon (now for sale ) where I could tell even about a 2-3 psi drop in tire pressure! Which I have to say, even though it was only a 2.5L 4 banger, it is way quicker due to the AWD around a stoplight corner than my 540 from 0-20mph....all without a peep from the tires....its a different beast.

 

[MrElussive]

GTMan, I drive exactly like that. I lean my elbow on the arm rest and lightly keep my hand on the shift knob. You can hold the shift knob as much as you want as long as you don't push it around or put any pressure onto it while it's in gear...that causes transmission wear. That is weird that there are no shifter vibrations for you though, GTMan. BMW is known for its shifter vibrations so that you can "feel" how fast the engine is turning. I guess since your car is a 5-series and BMW chose not to give you the aggressive shifter vibrations for the luxury aspect of the drive? I can tell you that my car's shift knob vibrates a lot. I can even clearly feel it vibrate when sitting in idle, and when I am driving really aggressively (5,000-6,600rpm), it vibrates like a monster, but it's really cool because it lets me know that the engine is turning mad fast and I have to shift soon (as if I can't hear the engine screaming ).

 

[GTMAN]

MrEllusive, I think you and I have a well balance light weight hand. The weight placed on the shifter knob by my hand is similar to the amount placed on a computer mouse. I have noticed the shifter vibrate slightly in 4th at about 70mph....and in other gears slightly, but I dont feel much. I think I'm going to keep this in mind to "feel" the vibes....but I think for sure it does not get amplified as it gets closer to redline. Yeah, the VQ3.5 in the G35C does scream when it gets up in the higher rev band.....one definitely can tell when you start playing with all 280ponies....types of cars that communicate that I'm used to.