3rd Gen Manual Transmission

Why exactly?

 

Can't comment on B&M but the Core Shifter is fantastic. I went with Core as it is a complete replacement moving the pivot rather than a spacer. Does it bring noise into the cabin....yes. the stock shifter is two sticks bonded with a rubber bushing, noise and gear whine come through. My two cents. Cheers.

Edit... I don't recall the B&M being available when I purchased the Core. The B&M looks very similar to the Core, in contrast to UDR which was a spacer for the stock shifter.

 

The b&m looks like it still uses a rubber isolated shaft which alone made me pass on it. Also doesn't change the position of the shifter to be closer to the driver like the core does and thats a really nice feature.

Go read the core shifter thread. I would never be able to go back to stock, the extra noise the core shifter makes is a wash. I don't even notice it. Buy a core shifter and thank me later, its the single best mod ive made to any of my vehicles.

 

After doing my homework on both, I ended up with the B&M... and I'm happy with the quality and performance of it. Huge improvement over the stock shifter. IMHO, as tight as it feels in the cab I didn't want the shifter any closer, and I didn't really want to invite noise into the cab via the shifter either. To each their own. It's nice that both are solid options to someone looking for an upgrade.

 

Can't really go wrong with either. I honestly wasnt sure about moving the shifter closer but now that I've had it for a while it's a very good position. The noise thing like I said is massively overblown by people. It's barely anything.

 

Well now, that's not quite the same as telling somebody to skip the B&M, is it? The takeaway for all the guys and gals of TW possibly following along is that the Core shifter is not the be all and end all for a legitimate shifter upgrade.

 

I would skip the b&m and I did lol. My point is either is better then stock. It's not my job to convince people what to do just sharing my opinion.

 

My point is that confirmation bias is alive and well on TW.

 

You like b&m, I like core. Nothing wrong with that

 

Curious about the motivation to change the shifter. I've thought it's completely fine, gates are clearly defined, etc. What doesn't everyone like about it? The long throws?

 

Much shorter throws, zero play in the shifter. It just tightens it up overall. I believe if you tried one with a short throw shifter you would understand why people change them. Also next to impossible to accidentally pop it in reverse in a high stress situation.

It's certainly not mandatory but it improves things alot. Then again some people say they don't like them, I can't imagine why myself.

 

Do people often put it in reverse on accident?

All my BMWs have reverse in the same place with the same kind of lock out and nobody on those forums talks about panic hitting reverse. Can’t say it’s something I’ve ever done, either.

I can already shift faster than the motor can drop revs, why would I want to shorten the throws? Not trying to be an ass, just genuinely asking.

 

I have thrown mine into reverse by accident a couple of times, one being after I was sideswiped and my adrenaline was pumping trying to get out of traffic. Like I said it's not a completely necessary mod, To me it just makes the whole driving experience more enjoyable.

I just wanted to try one and I really like it. The shifter being in a more natural position closer to the driver was an added bonus as well. Long story short you don't really need one it's just nice.

 

Id definitely be curious to drive one!

 

I had one on my last vehicle and got spoiled. I also have a Rago bridge where I have a Yaesu ham radio display, which the stock shifter gets really close to, never hit but close. Tightens everything up, moves the stick a bit towards the driver. I can keep my arm still and shift with wrist movement, that's how close it is now.

 

I have definitely found myself unintentionally in reverse more than a couple times, usually when in a hurry. Almost backed in to a guy at a busy intersection the first time it happened, I am obviously more aware of it now but I would still love an interlock of some sort. “In case of emergency, jam left and shove forward” a little too ingrained in my muscle memory I suppose.

 

They’re certainly interesting to drive with a short throw shifter, and I guess you really need to try it yourself to decide. I prefer stock because it’s a lot more “comfortable” to use in my opinion, due to the longer throws. I find short throw shifters to often feel notchy where you can really feel the synchros working, and I don’t like that.

The rev hang is also slow enough that a super short shift that I complete before the revs fall is counter intuitive to me. Feels unnatural. So between that and the softer shifts with the longer throw stock shifter, I prefer stock.

The noise aspect of the Core is subjective. I haven’t heard how they sound, but rarely do I find any amount of added noise tolerable. I bet after a while I’d rip out the Core if it added noise, but I need to hear it to confirm that. I will say my regear added plentiful noise, 5th and 6th make some ringing noise from the higher transmission/driveline speeds and I don’t like it at all. I’m used to it and it is what it is, but I certainly don’t like it. But gears are expensive. If something like a shifter added similar noise, I’d likely remove and sell. I am curious to see how the Core sounds. B&M adds no noise and I like that.

 

I think I’ve done that 3 times in almost 2 years. Mostly front loaded, I think they all happened within the first few months. So not really a problem now, but a true lockout collar or push down requirement would be a better choice. My frontier had you push down on the shifter slightly and then you could get to R, that was perfect to me. I do like it up by 1 better than down by 6. So a lockout and keeping it where it is would be ideal IMO.

 

A lockout is more feasible, maybe even a stiffer gate spring; but left and back would be a little more of a natural flow for situations where you need to rock.

And while I am designing transmissions, how about a lockout, reverse left- forward and a granny gear left-back? Yeah?

What’s that? From the guy in the back? A reasonable reverse ratio…? Now you’re just getting greedy. Just be happy you have reverse at all.

 

Unfortunately you have to spend $7k on a regear and a 2024 transmission to get a good reverse. You can get a medium decent reverse spending only $3k and choosing one or the other. Lol.

Or $120 and do the 2LO dance when needed of course.