DIY: BMW Short Shift Kit (SSK) for 335i

Castel · 03-22-2010, 11:40 AM

Hey Mike,

Well, I took a few pictures and I have a couple of the original lever and the new one to clear up any doubts. The post you mentioned, #103, is for a 330i and not a 335i and I believe the Shift Levers are different in both kits... check realoem.com to be certain.

This is how the original lever looks like (I'm selling the OEM assembly

):

And this is how the one from the 335i SSK (which I installed) looks like:

This picture is taken from this thread, you can check part numbers and the realoem link there too: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354733

You can see that BOTH have the bent lever although they are slightly different.

Now these are the pictures of my SSK install. I bought the M-Tech perforated leather shift knob instead of the kit's one.

NEUTRAL from rear seat:

Neutral from exactly above:

3rd gear from above:

4th gear from above:

1st gear from above:

1st gear from the side:

LKNGOOD · 03-22-2010, 11:55 AM

Hey Castel,

Wow - thank you so much for the pictures - base of this information - My SSK is install WRONG.

I will call the CPO Tech today and show him these pictures and see if can fix it.

Thanks a lot everyone for taking the time to help out a fellow 335i.

Mike

LKNGOOD · 03-22-2010, 04:20 PM

Taking it to get the lever re-installed. It's on backwards.

I just took off the shift knob and pulled down the rubber boot and sure enough.

The lever bend/kink is bending the opposite direction.

I'll post back tomorrow after it get fixed.

Another way to confirm - look at Castel picture of the SSK lever above, on the side in permanent marker it has the date of manufacture. if the lever is installed correctly, the date can be read on the driver side. On my lever, the date it read on the passenger side.

Castel · 03-22-2010, 05:54 PM

I'm starting to think that maybe you don't have the correct part number for the shift lever. Some people do the "cheap" SSK which is taking a performance 330i shift lever and replacing the one in the 335i with this one. The 330i one has incorrect position I believe but works fine. Can you check on the part number of the lever you have? For the 335i it's supposed to be 25110434217 but for the 330i it is 25110434219. Check your receipt for the SSK and if possible the marking on the actual lever, I don't remember if the part number is there. Mine sits centered as I showed so I'm not sure what's up with yours. Looking at the bend in your pictures above ^^^ it seems that the bend it has is not correct... don't know what's up. Check the part number.

LKNGOOD · 03-22-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castel

I'm starting to think that maybe you don't have the correct part number for the shift lever. Some people do the "cheap" SSK which is taking a performance 330i shift lever and replacing the one in the 335i with this one. The 330i one has incorrect position I believe but works fine. Can you check on the part number of the lever you have? For the 335i it's supposed to be 25110434217 but for the 330i it is 25110434219. Check your receipt for the SSK and if possible the marking on the actual lever, I don't remember if the part number is there. Mine sits centered as I showed so I'm not sure what's up with yours. Looking at the bend in your pictures above ^^^ it seems that the bend it has is not correct... don't know what's up. Check the part number.

Ok - just check the box for the kit and it's correct.

The Kit # is 25 11 0 430 360 INSTALLING SET GEAR LEVER KINEMATIC

(Same part # as your - box looks identical).

I also check the invoice slip with all the parts included:

Part # 1220600 Bearing Shift Lever
Part # 0434217 Shifting Lever
Part # 0434218 Shifting Arm
Part # 1220379 Circlip

Castel · 03-22-2010, 06:53 PM

Do you have the pieces that your tech removed? If it's not the lever then maybe the shift arm? Check that he actually changed it... The Shift arm is different as it's missing a small bar from the front going down (has no effect) and MOST importantly it has a thicker/higher ring where the shift lever ball lies in. check this two diagrams:

This is the correct 335i lever. Check the red area, it is tall as opposed to next picture:

Original NON-SSK shift lever:

This is the easiest way you can distinguish between the two from above/inside the car instead of checking underneath and removing panels/pieces.

If the Shift Arm is correct and the Shift lever too and it doesn't look like my setup and pictures above then I don't know... maybe I'm lucky and got an incorrect lever that lies centered but I doubt it.

LKNGOOD · 03-22-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castel

Do you have the pieces that your tech removed? If it's not the lever then maybe the shift arm? Check that he actually changed it... The Shift arm is different as it's missing a small bar from the front going down (has no effect) and MOST importantly it has a thicker/higher ring where the shift lever ball lies in. check this two diagrams:

This is the correct 335i lever. Check the red area, it is tall as opposed to next picture:

Original NON-SSK shift lever:

This is the easiest way you can distinguish between the two from above/inside the car instead of checking underneath and removing panels/pieces.

If the Shift Arm is correct and the Shift lever too and it doesn't look like my setup and pictures above then I don't know... maybe I'm lucky and got an incorrect lever that lies centered but I doubt it.

Ok - I just check the pieces that the tech removed. All looks good.

Old Shifting Arm - #25.11-7 524 720 (Which is correct for my car)
Ols Shifting Lever - 25117555911 (Which is correct for my car)

I will take everything apart from inside the car and confirm that the new shifting arm and shifting lever is correct. It should be because the invoice has the correct part #.

Weird - Just weird.

So does anybody else have installed a true SSK for the 335i? and if so, does your lever sit to the right while in neutral or is it dead center like the oem one?

LKNGOOD · 03-22-2010, 08:33 PM

OK - HOLD THE PRESS - BIG NEWS - BIG NEWS

I just took out the shift knob and rubber boot and looked at how the lever is installed and it's installed BACKWARDS.

The bend/kink is the opposite of the picture of the one install on post #156.

I also took the stock shift lever and placed it on my kitchen table exactly the say it sits now in the car and if I turn it 180 degrees - the bend definitely is bending the opposite dirrection and more toward the center.

So hopefully the CPO Tech can just access the lever and clip from underneath and rotate it 180 degrees and everything will be correct.

Thanks Castel for all the help - Definitley an asset to this forum. PM me your paypal account and I'll send you some $ for all the help.

I'm taking it in tomorrow and will report back.

Thanks,
Mike

LKNGOOD · 03-23-2010, 12:56 PM

FYI - I just had the CPO Tech re-install my Shifter Kit. Had him rotate the shifting lever 180 degrees. It was really easy with a lift.

All is golden now. For anyone that has the TRUE BMW SSK for the 335i (Kit with the Shifting Arm) - make sure the shift lever is install correctly.

At Neutral - it needs to be dead center both veritcally and horizontally. Mine was leaning to the right and turns out it was on backwards.

All is Golden Now. Time to take the Long way home

Castel · 03-23-2010, 01:23 PM

Hey LKNGOOD,

Glad to hear that everything worked out! No need for $$, just glad I could help. Let us know how you like it now that everything is in correctly!

LKNGOOD · 03-23-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castel

Hey LKNGOOD,

Glad to hear that everything worked out! No need for $$, just glad I could help. Let us know how you like it know that everything is in correctly!

Had my car for 2 1/2 weeks now - spent the first 2 weeks driving it with the stock shifter = Great Love the car - Still trying to get over that I now have a 335i 6spd manual

Spent the last 3 days driving it with the new BMW SSK for the 335i mounted backwards - Love the shift but was not liking the way everything sits to the right.

Spent the first day driving home with the True BMW SSK for the 335i installed correctly. All I can say is - I LOVE MY BIMMER.

Shifting is so much fun - I was taking all the side roads that I could find just so I could grind through the gears - Everything was smooth and the car pulled hard but being it's still my new baby - I never took the rpms past 5-5.5k

Castel · 04-22-2010, 07:30 PM

For anyone doing the install themselves I did a DIY on the Shift Arm install of the SSK:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378134

Good luck!

flyga3 · 05-07-2010, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castel

Hi Mike,
If you decide to do this or buy the kit and do it yourself send me a PM and I'll help you out/give you a couple of pointers/tips so you know what to look for. Another forum member, dtp3347, gave me some pointers and what to look for and this helped me out immensely.
Good luck!

I'm taking this project on this weekend. Mind if I PM?

Castel · 05-08-2010, 02:44 AM

Hey Flyga3 sure! Be sure to check out that DIY I posted above. Good luck with the install!

flyga3 · 05-08-2010, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castel

Hey Flyga3 sure! Be sure to check out that DIY I posted above. Good luck with the install!

OK, I'm at the point of putting in the new arm. How can it fit there without denting, scraping, or tearing something? I can't follow the reverse method of removing the old arm since the "cup" for the shift lever ball is taller then OEM.

Ideas?

Castel · 05-08-2010, 06:22 PM

I hear you. It felt like it wouldn't go in for me but it does. Just keep trying. Did you removed the cross brace? It'll give you a little more clearance, I did it.

flyga3 · 05-09-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castel

I hear you. It felt like it wouldn't go in for me but it does. Just keep trying. Did you removed the cross brace? It'll give you a little more clearance, I did it.

Yes, it does fit! Just barely--Whew! Agreed, what a puzzle!
No I didn't remove the cross brace, but I did remove the heat shield. I inserted the arm from the bottom, up into the cabin through the hole and rotated. The trick was getting it in the proper orientation above the drive shaft.
Hint for those installing: once you remove the old arm, try re-installing the old arm and notice every motion it takes to re-install. This will help with the "puzzle" motions required for the new one.

Now she shifts smooth and fast! Love the SSK!
Thanks to all for your DIY info!

wisco · 05-17-2010, 03:49 PM

Is there a lever that will work with an E92 328xi?

If not, is there a clearance issue or why wouldn't the 335i lever work?

00000000 · 05-19-2010, 11:49 AM

For the "full" SSK install for the 335i you need to get the different shift arm.

Is that the same for the 330i?

From looking at realoem, it looks like there is only one shift arm for the 330i.

So is the short shift lever the only thing you need for the 330i to make it the "full" SSK?

nkw512 · 05-25-2010, 07:19 PM

Just installed my short shift lever on my E92 335i, thanks to this DIY.
I used the E90 330i lever, part # is 25110434219

Hardest part of the installation was moving around underneath the car (on ramps), then it was rotating the lever bearing (white cup) it was difficult to turn it. The circlip was PITA too, due to limited space under the car of course. Rubber boot was a little difficult but I used some glass cleaner to lub it up.

Definitely make sure you have the lever installed in the right "orientation", try both ways to make sure if you must.

All in all I'm pretty happy with this mod, shifts are shorter but I wouldn't say the difference is night and day.

Also note that the neutral position will tilt slightly to the right.

Thanks OP!

dcorn · 06-04-2010, 08:35 AM

Installed a B&M shifter in my E90 earlier this week and this write-up helped out. It was a damn simple install. The hardest part was figuring out where the white cup is supposed to be for it to pop out. Once I figured that out, it was cake.

Took maybe 30 minutes of total work time, and most of that was looking for the circlip after I popped it off and it flew away. I thought it was a goner somewhere down in the heat shield towards the rear of the car, but turns out it fell on the ground and I was laying on it lol.

Shifts are crazy short now. It almost feels like the MGW shifter I had on my mustangs, very defined gates and very short shifts, feels like maybe only 3" from 3rd to 4th. It makes driving so much more enjoyable. Still some play side to side in each gear, especially 3rd and 4th, but I think that's due to the connecting rod. Didn't feel like paying UUC $100 for a small piece of metal I could probably make myself. Oh, and I could only get one of the B&M spacers on the bottom of the shift rod, that's all that would fit. I've heard of other people having this problem as well.

doughboy · 06-17-2010, 08:48 AM

Hi, great DIY by the way.

I've bought the kit from BMW in the UK for my 335i.

In the DIY at the beginning, in photo's 26 & 27 you show the different installation directions, 26 being 'wrong' and 27 being 'correct'.

However the offical BMW instructions show it the other way round to your DIY??

They show the dog-leg aiming the stick to the rear of the car, but you show it bending forwards in photo 27?

Which is correct?

03-22-2010, 11:40 AM	#155
Castel Captain 71 Rep 801 Posts Drives: Tanzanite Blue '13 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (6)	Hey Mike, Well, I took a few pictures and I have a couple of the original lever and the new one to clear up any doubts. The post you mentioned, #103, is for a 330i and not a 335i and I believe the Shift Levers are different in both kits... check realoem.com to be certain. This is how the original lever looks like (I'm selling the OEM assembly ): And this is how the one from the 335i SSK (which I installed) looks like: This picture is taken from this thread, you can check part numbers and the realoem link there too: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354733 You can see that BOTH have the bent lever although they are slightly different. Now these are the pictures of my SSK install. I bought the M-Tech perforated leather shift knob instead of the kit's one. NEUTRAL from rear seat: Neutral from exactly above: 3rd gear from above: 4th gear from above: 1st gear from above: 1st gear from the side:
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2010, 11:55 AM	#156
LKNGOOD Private 4 Rep 91 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i w/6sp manual. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wylie, TX iTrader: (2)	Hey Castel, Wow - thank you so much for the pictures - base of this information - My SSK is install WRONG. I will call the CPO Tech today and show him these pictures and see if can fix it. Thanks a lot everyone for taking the time to help out a fellow 335i. Mike Last edited by LKNGOOD; 03-22-2010 at 12:18 PM..
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03-22-2010, 04:20 PM	#157
LKNGOOD Private 4 Rep 91 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i w/6sp manual. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wylie, TX iTrader: (2)	Taking it to get the lever re-installed. It's on backwards. I just took off the shift knob and pulled down the rubber boot and sure enough. The lever bend/kink is bending the opposite direction. I'll post back tomorrow after it get fixed. Another way to confirm - look at Castel picture of the SSK lever above, on the side in permanent marker it has the date of manufacture. if the lever is installed correctly, the date can be read on the driver side. On my lever, the date it read on the passenger side. Attached Images Last edited by LKNGOOD; 03-22-2010 at 09:06 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2010, 05:54 PM	#158
Castel Captain 71 Rep 801 Posts Drives: Tanzanite Blue '13 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (6)	I'm starting to think that maybe you don't have the correct part number for the shift lever. Some people do the "cheap" SSK which is taking a performance 330i shift lever and replacing the one in the 335i with this one. The 330i one has incorrect position I believe but works fine. Can you check on the part number of the lever you have? For the 335i it's supposed to be 25110434217 but for the 330i it is 25110434219. Check your receipt for the SSK and if possible the marking on the actual lever, I don't remember if the part number is there. Mine sits centered as I showed so I'm not sure what's up with yours. Looking at the bend in your pictures above ^^^ it seems that the bend it has is not correct... don't know what's up. Check the part number.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2010, 06:53 PM	#160
Castel Captain 71 Rep 801 Posts Drives: Tanzanite Blue '13 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (6)	Do you have the pieces that your tech removed? If it's not the lever then maybe the shift arm? Check that he actually changed it... The Shift arm is different as it's missing a small bar from the front going down (has no effect) and MOST importantly it has a thicker/higher ring where the shift lever ball lies in. check this two diagrams: This is the correct 335i lever. Check the red area, it is tall as opposed to next picture: Original NON-SSK shift lever: This is the easiest way you can distinguish between the two from above/inside the car instead of checking underneath and removing panels/pieces. If the Shift Arm is correct and the Shift lever too and it doesn't look like my setup and pictures above then I don't know... maybe I'm lucky and got an incorrect lever that lies centered but I doubt it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2010, 08:33 PM	#162
LKNGOOD Private 4 Rep 91 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i w/6sp manual. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wylie, TX iTrader: (2)	OK - HOLD THE PRESS - BIG NEWS - BIG NEWS I just took out the shift knob and rubber boot and looked at how the lever is installed and it's installed BACKWARDS. The bend/kink is the opposite of the picture of the one install on post #156. I also took the stock shift lever and placed it on my kitchen table exactly the say it sits now in the car and if I turn it 180 degrees - the bend definitely is bending the opposite dirrection and more toward the center. So hopefully the CPO Tech can just access the lever and clip from underneath and rotate it 180 degrees and everything will be correct. Thanks Castel for all the help - Definitley an asset to this forum. PM me your paypal account and I'll send you some $ for all the help. I'm taking it in tomorrow and will report back. Thanks, Mike Last edited by LKNGOOD; 03-22-2010 at 08:51 PM..
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03-23-2010, 12:56 PM	#163
LKNGOOD Private 4 Rep 91 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i w/6sp manual. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wylie, TX iTrader: (2)	FYI - I just had the CPO Tech re-install my Shifter Kit. Had him rotate the shifting lever 180 degrees. It was really easy with a lift. All is golden now. For anyone that has the TRUE BMW SSK for the 335i (Kit with the Shifting Arm) - make sure the shift lever is install correctly. At Neutral - it needs to be dead center both veritcally and horizontally. Mine was leaning to the right and turns out it was on backwards. All is Golden Now. Time to take the Long way home
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-23-2010, 01:23 PM	#164
Castel Captain 71 Rep 801 Posts Drives: Tanzanite Blue '13 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (6)	Hey LKNGOOD, Glad to hear that everything worked out! No need for $$, just glad I could help. Let us know how you like it now that everything is in correctly! Last edited by Castel; 03-23-2010 at 09:29 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-22-2010, 07:30 PM	#166
Castel Captain 71 Rep 801 Posts Drives: Tanzanite Blue '13 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (6)	For anyone doing the install themselves I did a DIY on the Shift Arm install of the SSK: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378134 Good luck!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-08-2010, 02:44 AM	#168
Castel Captain 71 Rep 801 Posts Drives: Tanzanite Blue '13 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (6)	Hey Flyga3 sure! Be sure to check out that DIY I posted above. Good luck with the install!
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05-08-2010, 06:22 PM	#170
Castel Captain 71 Rep 801 Posts Drives: Tanzanite Blue '13 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (6)	I hear you. It felt like it wouldn't go in for me but it does. Just keep trying. Did you removed the cross brace? It'll give you a little more clearance, I did it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-17-2010, 03:49 PM	#172
wisco Private First Class 31 Rep 171 Posts Drives: 07 E92 328XI / 07 E93 335I Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Milwaukee WI iTrader: (2)	Is there a lever that will work with an E92 328xi? If not, is there a clearance issue or why wouldn't the 335i lever work?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-19-2010, 11:49 AM	#173
00000000 _ 6 Rep 31 Posts Drives: F30 335i M Sport Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Frankfurt, Germany iTrader: (0)	For the "full" SSK install for the 335i you need to get the different shift arm. Is that the same for the 330i? From looking at realoem, it looks like there is only one shift arm for the 330i. So is the short shift lever the only thing you need for the 330i to make it the "full" SSK?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-25-2010, 07:19 PM	#174
nkw512 Private 5 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 09 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chicago Illinois iTrader: (6)	Just installed my short shift lever on my E92 335i, thanks to this DIY. I used the E90 330i lever, part # is 25110434219 Hardest part of the installation was moving around underneath the car (on ramps), then it was rotating the lever bearing (white cup) it was difficult to turn it. The circlip was PITA too, due to limited space under the car of course. Rubber boot was a little difficult but I used some glass cleaner to lub it up. Definitely make sure you have the lever installed in the right "orientation", try both ways to make sure if you must. All in all I'm pretty happy with this mod, shifts are shorter but I wouldn't say the difference is night and day. Also note that the neutral position will tilt slightly to the right. Thanks OP!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-04-2010, 08:35 AM	#175
dcorn Captain 77 Rep 940 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NoVA iTrader: (2)	Installed a B&M shifter in my E90 earlier this week and this write-up helped out. It was a damn simple install. The hardest part was figuring out where the white cup is supposed to be for it to pop out. Once I figured that out, it was cake. Took maybe 30 minutes of total work time, and most of that was looking for the circlip after I popped it off and it flew away. I thought it was a goner somewhere down in the heat shield towards the rear of the car, but turns out it fell on the ground and I was laying on it lol. Shifts are crazy short now. It almost feels like the MGW shifter I had on my mustangs, very defined gates and very short shifts, feels like maybe only 3" from 3rd to 4th. It makes driving so much more enjoyable. Still some play side to side in each gear, especially 3rd and 4th, but I think that's due to the connecting rod. Didn't feel like paying UUC $100 for a small piece of metal I could probably make myself. Oh, and I could only get one of the B&M spacers on the bottom of the shift rod, that's all that would fit. I've heard of other people having this problem as well.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-17-2010, 08:48 AM	#176
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,972 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Hi, great DIY by the way. I've bought the kit from BMW in the UK for my 335i. In the DIY at the beginning, in photo's 26 & 27 you show the different installation directions, 26 being 'wrong' and 27 being 'correct'. However the offical BMW instructions show it the other way round to your DIY?? They show the dog-leg aiming the stick to the rear of the car, but you show it bending forwards in photo 27? Which is correct? Attached Images Last edited by doughboy; 06-18-2010 at 03:44 AM..
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