Short Shifter - What is it?

A short shifter is a specially redesigned gear lever. Its purpose is to shorten the gear shifting time. This modification is easy to install and does not require any bodywork alterations. It’s a great solution that ensures a shorter lever travel compared to the original gear stick. This means that your hand, along with the gear knob, will travel a shorter distance when shifting gears in a manual transmission vehicle.

What does using a short shifter provide?

A short shifter is a tuning part designed to reduce the distance and effort needed to change gears in vehicles with a manual transmission. These devices replace the factory-installed gear levers by using a shorter lever arm, which requires less distance to switch gears. This shortens the time and energy needed for each shift, allowing for faster and more efficient gear changes.

Short shifters for BMW are popular among race car drivers who want to optimize gear shifting speed. If you’re a drifting enthusiast and own a classic BMW E36, you can install the adjustable short shifter for BMW E36. You can find it in our drift parts store.

However, a short shifter isn’t just for drifting. It’s also ideal for KJS (closed circuit competitions), where every second counts. It’s a good option for those who simply want smoother driving, thanks to faster gear changes.

Which short shifter should you choose for your BMW?

When designing a device to shorten the gear lever throw, we kept in mind that weight is crucial in performance cars. That’s why the whole part weighs only about 1.5 kilograms. This is because the short shifters from CNC71 are made from durable PA6 aluminum. You can choose from several variants available in our store:

• adjustable short shifter BMW E30,
• adjustable short shifter BMW E36,
• adjustable short shifter BMW E46,
• adjustable universal short shifter.

The purpose of this part is to shorten the lever’s travel when shifting gears. As a result, the lever’s movement is precise and short, and you can adjust it using the lower connector. The short shifter from CNC71 features a lever that works on a spherical bearing, while the selector is connected to the short shifter using a bronze bushing.

The short shifter for BMW comes with two types of knobs: a black ball or a black elongated knob. Just choose the one that suits you best.

In CNC71’s offer, you’ll also find universal shifters, which fit most cars (but be sure to check if installation is possible in your vehicle).

Is installing a short shifter difficult?

Ready short shifter kits can be installed with basic tools in about an hour, making them a relatively inexpensive modification available for most vehicles. No alterations to the bodywork are required during the process.

Short Shifter BMW - Installation

If you want to install a short shifter for BMW cars, you’ll need a lift or a pit, as the installation requires raising the vehicle to access the center tunnel. This is due to the general construction of the gear lever. The lever has a rod at the bottom attached to the gearbox selector. Near this rod is the gear lever bearing, commonly referred to as the "apple" due to its shape resembling that fruit.

Before installation, make sure the synchronizers in the gearbox are fully functional. Also, check the condition of the rubber bushings in the gear shift system and the clutch. If these components aren’t in good condition, installing a short shifter won’t improve the gear shift system's performance.

This is particularly important because short shifters offer a compromise between shortening the lever throw time and the gearbox’s lifespan. So, if some parts are in poor condition, it may result in rapid gearbox damage.

In a short shifter, the mechanism works by increasing the distance between the gear lever bearing (the so-called "apple") and the rod attached directly to the gearbox’s selector.

What does installing a short shifter give you?

As a result, the time needed for gear shifting is significantly reduced. This happens because the distance your hand must travel along with the gear knob is shortened. In the end, you gain a better sense of control over your vehicle's behavior. A shorter gear shift time is crucial in all motorsports, so installing a short shifter in your BMW will help you shave off valuable seconds during time-based races.