BMW Drivetrain Parts for BMW 5 Series E39 (1996-2003)

The ULTIMATE shifter upgrade for your BMW! Experience more precise throws, less shift lever travel, and an all-around transformation in your shifting experience.

For dozens of years, enthusiasts have critiqued the imprecise and vague feeling of BMW manual transmissions. Plagued with long throws, fore and aft play in gear, and a generally loose feeling, your OEM BMW shifter leaves much to be desired. While most standard carrier-mount short throw shifter kits will aid in reducing throw length and eliminating side-to-side play in gear, some enthusiasts long for a hardcore, race-inspired shifter that completely removes play and excessive throw length. At Turner Motorsport we share the same desire and set out to offer the ULTIMATE upgrade with this Performance Chassis Mount Short Shifter.

WHY UPGRADE?

Factory BMW shifter assemblies are complex by nature. The main component of this assembly is the shift carrier, a cast aluminum piece positioned inside the transmission tunnel that incorporates bushings at both ends for mounting. Like most factory parts, these bushings are designed to reduce NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) transmission to the cabin. To the spirited driver, however, these bushings translate to flex and vagueness in the shift lever. Moreover, because this carrier is mounted to both the transmission and the body, the entire shifter assembly will "float" with the driveline, further increasing the vague and imprecise feeling of your shifter.

Our Performance Chassis Mount Short Shifter removes the shift carrier assembly entirely—removing any prospect of flex caused by bushings or driveline movement. By contrast, this chassis mount shifter offers a drastic reduction in shift lever travel, vagueness, and side-to-side play. An elevated base allows for moving the fulcrum point upwards, resulting in a much shorter and more precise throw. Shift times are further reduced by a tall, "rally style" shift lever, used to aid in leverage while also bringing the lever closer to the steering wheel. Our design incorporates a proprietary centering spring design, which is adjustable for increasing or decreasing self-centering force. In short, this design eliminates all the drawbacks of your factory BMW shifter, translating to more control, greater precision, shorter throws, and faster shift times.

FEATURES & BENEFITS

Reduced Throw: Modified shifter geometry and heightened fulcrum point translate to a shorter shift lever throw
Improved Shifter Feel: Eliminating the shift carrier and associated bushings drastically reduces "slop" and side-to-side play in the shift lever
Increased Precision: Mounting the shifter to the chassis allows for little to no variation in gear selection
Universal Fitment: Fits many BMW chassis with the provided base plate and hardware (see "Fits These Cars" for exact fitment information)
DESIGN

6061 aluminum, 4130 steel, and 316 stainless steel construction
A type-II black anodized finish
Adjustable self-centering spring
"Rally Style" shift lever
Spherical bearing pivot with maintenance-free brass insert
Product Development:

Our Chassis Mount Shifters are designed, engineered, tested and quality inspected by our Research and Development team at Turner. Nothing but the highest level of precision and quality through leading-edge product development technology including FARO laser scanning for reverse engineering and quality inspection, SolidWorks 3D CAD modeling, rapid prototyping utilizing our in-house 3D printer and rigorous long term product testing.

Differential bushings are responsible for keeping the differential in solid alignment while dampening drivetrain vibration. While OE rubber bushings are fine when they are new from the factory, aged and worn out rubber bushings create a multitude of issues that can range from annoying to dangerous. As a factory bushing ages, it begins to harden and become brittle. When this happens the bushing will actually shrink and allow for movement at the differential mounting point. At this point, the differential is free to shift under load causing a noticeable clunking noise under acceleration and deceleration and massively increasing the stress on the driveshaft and axles. Manual transmissions suffer the worst from this as it can make shifting difficult since the differential will shift when the clutch is engaged and disengaged.

By replacing these bushings with full polyurethane, the movement is eliminated since the mounting point is supported by a much stiffer material that will not harden or shrink over time. This means less stress on the driveshaft and axles and greater longevity of supporting components. 

Powerflex Black Series bushings are the ultimate in track and race bushings. Featuring 95A durometer polyurethane, Black Series bushings are 25% stiffer than street bushings. Engineered to perform, Powerflex performance polyurethane control arm bushings offer a supreme level of control, while still providing enough comfort for the street, with advanced polyurethane that reduces NVH that often accompanies lesser bushings. Expect improved acceleration response, more direct shifting feel and overall improved drivetrain composure with Powerflex performance polyurethane bushings.

Poweflex is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket suspension bushings. Using state of the art design and manufacturing, all replacement bushings are engineered to out-perform and out-last the ones that came in the car. Each line of bushings is meticulously tested and then re-tested to ensure perfect fitment and enduring quality through the life of the vehicle. A full lifetime warranty backs every one of their products and demonstrates the level of confidence and commitment Powerflex has to their customers.