ZCP comes with short shifter?

[1cleanm6]

Hey guys...

I saw a couple pictures of a reg m and the knob seems to fit a lot higher. I drove one late 2009 and i swear the shift knob sat much higher. Im pretty sure it comes with a short shifter stock...

Can someone confirm ?

[CarForHire]

Hmm, interesting.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

I saw pics of a comp package M3 the other day and it had a short shifter... but not sure if that's a dealer accessory or part of an individual package... because it had a M3 decal on the trim above the glove box...

This one I assume. It was an Individual option but you can get a short shift kit and ZCP shift knob from a variety of places. And just to correct....the "///M" on the dash is laser engraved, not a decal.

[JCtx]

I believe the above knob is just a ZHP, like mine; looks about the same height. Neither BMW nor Porsche install short-shifters from the factory anymore due to 'excessive' tranny warranty claims. I believe that was since 2007. I don't believe BMW sells them at all, and Porsche sells the kits at your own risk. Plus I wouldn't want the shifter any shorter than mine.

EDIT: Just noticed that car is NOT a US-spec one, so it could be a factory option indeed. What makes me suspect it's a factory option is the knob's ring; look at mine below. I had a hard time making the boot fit like factory (same diameter as ring).

[a burrito]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

I believe the above knob is just a ZHP, like mine; looks about the same height. Neither BMW nor Porsche install short-shifters from the factory anymore due to 'excessive' tranny warranty claims. I believe that was since 2007. I don't believe BMW sells them at all, and Porsche sells the kits at your own risk. Plus I wouldn't want the shifter any shorter than mine.

EDIT: Just noticed that car is NOT a US-spec one, so it could be a factory option indeed. What makes me suspect it's a factory option is the knob's ring; look at mine below. I had a hard time making the boot fit like factory (same diameter as ring).

Wrong. Any manual Porsche can be ordered with Porsche Short shifter installed just like any other option. I have never heard of the "excessive tranny claims" you are speaking about.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

I believe the above knob is just a ZHP, like mine; looks about the same height. Neither BMW nor Porsche install short-shifters from the factory anymore due to 'excessive' tranny warranty claims. I believe that was since 2007. I don't believe BMW sells them at all, and Porsche sells the kits at your own risk. Plus I wouldn't want the shifter any shorter than mine.

EDIT: Just noticed that car is NOT a US-spec one, so it could be a factory option indeed. What makes me suspect it's a factory option is the knob's ring; look at mine below. I had a hard time making the boot fit like factory (same diameter as ring).

That's Mark's custom ZCP. It's a Canadian-spec car that Mark ordered pre-installed with a ZHP shifter and an OEM short shift kit from the factory.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by aajami

That's Mark's custom ZCP. It's a Canadian-spec car that Mark ordered pre-installed with a ZHP shifter and an OEM short shift kit from the factory.

Beat me to it. Thanks brother

[Alex1911]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Beat me to it. Thanks brother

Does your ZHP knob light up?

I want that knob and I want it to light up, but I don't want to mod the darn thing and want OEM.

Are they available in CN, but not the US?

[Technic]

I have not seen an OEM short shifter kit for the E9x M3, not in the USA or Europe. There's one for the 3-Series -thru Performance- but not for the M3.

[TTG]

I can confirm that ZCP cars do NOT come w/ ZHP shifter knob. Mark did a one off order through the individual department. Below is a pic of my car during ED

[TTG]

Originally Posted by Alex1911

Does your ZHP knob light up?

I want that knob and I want it to light up, but I don't want to mod the darn thing and want OEM.

Are they available in CN, but not the US?

This I would like to know as well....

[dougman]

You can get a lighted ZHP shifter knob from leatherz.com. I installed one in my car and it's the single biggest improvement to my enjoyment of the car. Both the weight and the lower height make a big difference.

The lighting is not a perfect match to the rest of the interior, but it's really close.

Search and there are threads on installation. There is also a DIY thread in which someone installs the lights from the stock knob into a ZHP knob.

You can try it out without making any permanent modifications by removing the boot, then when you're ready to commit, you'll need to cut the boot (or buy a new one).

[positiveions]

that is a zhp shifter. There is DYI for that. Someone on the forum tackled such task and came out really good.

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by a burrito

Wrong. Any manual Porsche can be ordered with Porsche Short shifter installed just like any other option.

My brother owns a couple of Porsches, and I picked up his latest 2010 in Tucson, AZ, and the manager confirmed that. I honestly believe him more than you . Try ordering a BMW in the US with the short shifter and see what answer you get. The Las Vegas dealer where I bought mine also said no. They're a lot more prone to grinding gears, leading to tranny warranty claims. Makes sense to me. Why else discontinue them ? The added interior noise is another detractor to me. ZHP knob transformed the shifting experience to the point I'm fully satisfied now. Not perfect (nothing is), but darn close.

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Alex, TTG....mine is not lighted.

That can be remedied if you're up to the job . I didn't want the LeatherZ option for 2 reasons: lighting is different, and didn't have the right connector. By transplanting the stock lighting and connector, I (and many others here) ended up with factory lighting. And the 3rd benefit was that the acrylic cap with the shift pattern is much nicer on stock knobs than on ZHPs. But yes, it's hard work, but well worth it .

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by Alex1911

Does your ZHP knob light up?

I want that knob and I want it to light up, but I don't want to mod the darn thing and want OEM.

Are they available in CN, but not the US?

Originally Posted by TTG

This I would like to know as well....

Alex, TTG....mine is not lighted. My Individual request regarding the shifter asked for 3 things: (1) Shorter shift, (2) ZHP Knob & (3) Lighted as per the Leatherz.com version. With all of the things that Individual can do beyond OEM, they couldn't offer the lighting???? Oh well, didn't need it. I was happy with 1 and 2. And I love it being short...so short that my fingers bumped up against the forward side of the ashtray surround the first few km's I drove it. Thought to myself "oh shit, now I've done it, no wonder BMW didn't want me to do this" but I got comfortable really quickly with another finger/grasp style and it was heavenly shifting thereafter.

[Alex1911]

That can be remedied if you're up to the job . I didn't want the LeatherZ option for 2 reasons: lighting is different, and didn't have the right connector. By transplanting the stock lighting and connector, I (and many others here) ended up with factory lighting. And the 3rd benefit was that the acrylic cap with the shift pattern is much nicer on stock knobs than on ZHPs. But yes, it's hard work, but well worth it .

I've read the thread, the work was impressive... Just not sure I want to tackle it I may just suck it up and deal with no lighting, but the lighting does add a nice touch.

@Mark's M, so did BMW or your dealer cut the boot to fit the knob? I'm curious how BMW attaches it to the ring. I know in the DIY people use zip-ties and some use tape to build it up to match.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by Alex1911

I've read the thread, the work was impressive... Just not sure I want to tackle it I may just suck it up and deal with no lighting, but the lighting does add a nice touch.

@Mark's M, so did BMW or your dealer cut the boot to fit the knob? I'm curious how BMW attaches it to the ring. I know in the DIY people use zip-ties and some use tape to build it up to match.

Alex, it was done at the factory as a part of the Individual request options. Could have tackled it myself as a few have done (very well I might add) but I didn't. BMW agreed to do it and away we went.....

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Alex, TTG....mine is not lighted. My Individual request regarding the shifter asked for 3 things: (1) Shorter shift, (2) ZHP Knob & (3) Lighted as per the Leatherz.com version.

Any details on what Individual used as a "shorter shift"?

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

My brother owns a couple of Porsches, and I picked up his latest 2010 in Tucson, AZ, and the manager confirmed that. I honestly believe him more than you . Try ordering a BMW in the US with the short shifter and see what answer you get. The Las Vegas dealer where I bought mine also said no. They're a lot more prone to grinding gears, leading to tranny warranty claims. Makes sense to me. Why else discontinue them ? The added interior noise is another detractor to me.....

Try pumping the brakes a bit. Why are you arguing about something you are clearly wrong about? BMW never discontinued the SSK from thier 'Perfomance' line of parts. And as far as Porsche is concerned, every dealer I have been to would love to option out your car with performance parts to add $40k to the car, and that is easy to do and what Porsche is notorious for!

BMWUSA.com as of today:



....And here is Porsche's availablity of the SSK. Unlike BMW which is dealer installed Porcshe come that way straight from the factory if you choose. What reputable dealer would say NO to your business????

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by dougman

...Search and there are threads on installation. There is also a DIY thread in which someone installs the lights from the stock knob into a ZHP knob....

For anyone interested:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234969

[1cleanm6]

Guys i just drove another 6 speed and the throws are shorter! It definately seems like it.

[soberin]

I don't think the BMW supplied, and dealer-installed short shifter shown above is available for the M3, at least by my reading of the BMW website. Anyone can confirm this?