Replacing BMW
Shift Bushings
Wayne R. Dempsey

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     The first step is to jack up the car and gain access to the under carriage (Figure 1).  The main shift linkage components are located above the driveshaft.  The photos for this technical article were taken with the driveshaft removed, as I was performing a clutch replacement at the same time.  Keep in mind that during the normal process of replacing these bushings, your access and viewpoint will be restricted by the driveshaft (Figure 2).  You can accomplish all the tasks without removing the driveshaft - it just makes things a bit more difficult.

     Before working underneath the car, you should move to the cockpit and remove the gearshift knob.  See our Pelican Technical article on Gearshift Knob Replacement for more details.  With the gear shift knob removed, remove the foam padding beneath the shift boot.  Then pull up the rubber shift boot so that it is only connected to the shifter lever.

     Now, move underneath the car.  The shifter assembly is shown in Figure 5.  Again, this photo was taken without the driveshaft installed, so you will have to peek and work around the driveshaft while you're working on the shifter mechanism.  Begin by removing the lower shift selector rod.  This rod is held onto the shifter handle and transmission coupler by two small circlips.  Using a small screwdriver, remove both circlips (Figure 6 and Figure 7) and the rod should simply slide off (Figure 8).  Catch the yellow plastic washers as they fall out of the assembly when you remove it.

     Now, pry out the shifter arm bushing which is attached to the chassis, and supports the shifter arm (Figure 9).  A small flathead screwdriver will work well in this case.  Figure 10 shows the inside of the bushing as it is being removed. 

     This will leave the shifter arm attached only to transmission hinge point.  This part is very tricky if you have never done it before, or don't know what to expect.  Never fear - the photos here will make it very easy.  There is a clip that is attached to the transmission that secures the shifter arm.  You need to remove this clip from the transmission in order to remove the arm.  The trouble is, you cannot see the clip and cannot see what you're doing, or how to release the clip.  However, if you have enough photos and know how it's mounted, then removing it should be a snap.

     The side of the clip is shown in Figure 11.  Another view is shown in Figure 12.  Removal of the clip is shown in Figure 13.  These are all photos taken from underneath the car.  This is what you will see, but will not be very useful to you while you are removing this clip.  To be 100% on how to remove it, we'll have to take a look at some of the photos detailed later in this article.  Figure 46 shows the top of the transmission where the clip sits.  Figure 47 shows the clip and its integrated pin, and how it is lifted up for removal.  Figure 48 shows the clip mounted and attached to the transmission flange.  You can't see this from under the car, and it will drive you crazy trying to get this off if you don't know how it's attached (trust me, I know).  Figure 49 shows the opposite side of the clip.  Finally, Figure 14 shows the best way to remove the clip - by getting under the backside with a small screwdriver.  It's not easy underneath the car, but it is possible.  With the right knowledge and a small screwdriver, this clip can come out within about 30 seconds.  Without knowing exactly what to do, it could take hours.  With the clip removed, you can then tug on the shifter arm, and the entire assembly should drop from the car (Figure 15).

     Renewing your shifter bushings is as simple as replacing all of the parts that have a tendency to wear out.  Figure 16 shows all of the pieces and bushings that I feel should be replaced to return your shifter back to a pristine, precise feel.  Of course, some of your existing components may be reusable, so inspect them carefully.  But if you want everything to be 100% crisp, then replace them all.  Here's what's detailed in Figure 16:

• 1- Shift coupler with internal bushing
• 2- Pin retaining clip (often destroyed or weakened when removed)
• 3- Ball cup sponge - typically completely disintegrated
• 4- Shifter arm bushing (attaches to chassis)
• 5- Shifter arm bushing (attaches to transmission)
• 6- Lower shift boot (often cracked)
• 7- Shifter arm pin (often damaged when removed)
• 8- Shift selector rod circlips
• 9- Yellow plastic washers/bushings for shift selector rod
• 10- Shift handle ball cup bushing (almost always heavily worn)

     Let's begin the renewal process by replacing each bushing, starting with the shifter arm bushing (sometimes called a carrier bushing) that attaches to the transmission.  The old bushing is shown in Figure 17.  Remove the old bushing by cutting it off with a razor blade or knife (Figure 18).  The inside of the bushing may have some metal parts reinforcing it, so be aware of this while you are cutting.  The new bushing is simply inserted into the arm, as is shown in Figure 19.  You probably won't be able to push the bushing in all of the way yourself, so you may have to use a press or a vice to help get the bushing seated completely in the arm (Figure 20).

     You can use the standard stock bushings, or upgrade to aftermarket Delrin carrier bushings.  UUC Motorwerks makes a fine set of aftermarket bushings that I recommend.  They are direct replacements for the factory rubber bushing, and are a more precise fit than the originals.  Figure 21 shows this Delrin bushings, and Figure 22 shows how they fit on each side, in place of the factory bushing.

     Now let's talk about the shifter arm bushing (Figure 23).  Unfortunately, if this bushing is worn, then you have to replace the entire arm.  The good news is that if you are installing a short shift kit, then you are going to be replacing the arm anyways.  For more information on Installing a Short Shift Kit (SSK), see the Pelican Technical Article: Installing a 3-Series Short Shift Kit.

     The main bushing that becomes worn out is the ball-cup bushing that the shift handle sits in.  Pulling back on the shift boot shows this bushing (Figure 24).  There is a small, special tool that is used to remove this bushing from the shifter arm, however, I found that you don't really need it.  You can use two screwdrivers to rotate the bushing counter-clockwise, and it should snap out of its housing.  If the bushing offers resistance, you can chip at it with a screwdriver or pick, as you will be replacing it anyways.  Figure 25 shows the bushing being removed after rotating it out of the housing.  To get the bushing off of the shifter arm, simply pull on it with your fingers (Figure 26 and Figure 27).  Figure 28 shows the old, worn out bushing looking pretty ugly.

     Clean off the shifter arm thoroughly before installing the new ball-cup bushing (Figure 29).  Now is also a good time to install your new boot (Figure 30).   Clean the inside of the shifter arm where the ball-cup bushing fits (Figure 31).  Apply some white lithium grease to the ball of the shifter arm prior to installation (Figure 32).  Push the new ball cup bushing onto the shift lever and insert into the shifter arm (Figure 33).  Push the bushing in and rotate it clockwise with a screwdriver (Figure 34) until it the tab on the bushing clicks in place with the slot in the shifter arm (Figure 35).

     Now, we'll turn our attention to the shift selector coupler.  The coupler is attached to the transmission with a small press pin.  Remove the covering clip and tap out this pin to remove the coupler from the transmission.  With the coupler removed, take a close look at your shift selector seal.  If it's looking like it might be worn, this would be an ideal time to replace it.  The shift selector seal is indicated by the yellow arrow in Figure 36.  Removal is accomplished by taking a pick or screwdriver and picking it out of its bore (Figure 37).  The new shift shaft selector seal is pushed onto the shaft and pressed into its bore (Figure 38).  It's easy to tap it in with a deep socket placed over the shaft (Figure 39).  Tap the seal in until it is flush with the transmission housing.

     Now we'll move onto the shift coupler bushings.  Using a wire brush, ensure that the ball on the transmission selector shaft is clean and clear of debris (Figure 40).  A new shift coupler is shown in Figure 41 - it may be necessary to replace the coupler if the internal plastic bushing (shown by the arrow) is severely worn.  There is a small sponge piece that fits inside of the coupler (Figure 42) to ensure that it remains firmly mounted and secured with the transmission selector shaft. This small sponge eliminates any backlash or slop in the transmission selector and is important to maintaining a crisp shifting feel.  The sponge piece is shown installed in the coupler in Figure 43.

     With the new sponge installed, mount the coupler on the transmission and tap in the pin that secures it to the selector shaft (shown by the red arrow in Figure 44).  Make sure that you place the small retaining clip on the selector shaft prior to tapping in the pin - otherwise you will not be able to get the clip on (shown with blue arrow in Figure 45).  When the pin is tapped in, move the retaining clip to cover it.

     With all of the bushings and couplers installed, it's now time to install the shifter arm back into the car.  Installation of the retaining clip is the opposite of removal.    Figure 46 shows the top of the transmission where the clip sits.  Figure 47 shows the clip and its integrated pin, and how it is lifted up for removal.  Figure 48 shows the clip mounted and attached to the transmission flange.  You can't see this from under the car, and it will drive you crazy trying to get this off if you don't know how it's attached (trust me, I know).  Figure 49 shows the opposite side of the clip.

     Now, install the new shifter arm bushing (Figure 50) onto the shifter arm and chassis of the car.  Place the bushing on the end of the shifter arm, and then snap it into place in its bracket on the bottom of the chassis (Figure 51).  It may require some significant force pushing upwards to get this bushing to snap properly into place. 

     With the arm securely in place, now install the shift selector rod back into place.  Figure 52 shows how the yellow washers, circlips, and the selector rod are installed with respect to each other.  Figure 53 and Figure 54 show the selector rod mounted on the transmission.  Mount the rod to the shift lever in a similar manner.

     If you have any doubts about how the whole assembly goes back together, refer to Figure 55, which shows the gear shift mechanism fully assembled and attached to the transmission, but removed from the car.  When the assembly is put back into the car, fit the gearshift boot properly in the cockpit, and reinstall the gearshift knob.

    Well, there you have it - a lot of work, but if you walk through it step-by-step and follow the photos I have published here for you, you should have no problems.  If you would like to see more technical articles like this one, please continue to support Pelican Parts with all your parts needs.  If you like what you see here, then please visit our online BMW catalog and help support the collection and creating of new and informative technical articles like this one.  Your continued support directly affects the expansion and existence of this site and technical articles like this one.  As always, if you have any questions or comments about this helpful article, please drop us a line.

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Jeff adds:

The instructions in the tech article said to rotate the bushing counter-clockwise to remove it. At least on my E36 M3, when using two screwdrivers to remove it from the top I really needed to rotate the bushing *clockwise* to remove it. I didn't realize this until I had fought with the bushing for a while and ended up just prying it out.

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Dave Z adds:

To start removal of the clip on top of the trans, with the driveshaft installed, use a long flathead screwdriver inserted upward, the tip placed on the side of the clip, under the lip as far forward as you can get it. Tap until the clip rises a few MM, then wedge the same screwdriver into the gap from a position on top of the trans. It's a bit of a tight squeeze above the trans, bit it works. A small screwdriver may work too but insted or pushing it in until the clip pops, you may have to lift the screwdriver up.