Autosolutions SSK Tips

Tips and pointers not complete DIY for Autosolutions SSK

There was not much info online specifically on this kit, or other all in one shift kits.

You must do the following to gain access to the bottom end
-remove trans heat shield
-remove mid section heat shield
-disconnect and lower mid section of exhaust (must do before sliding heat shield backwards)
-remove trans support bracket (and then lower trans on a jack until its almost hanging)
-remove selector rod from transmission (has a C-clip retainer and a pin going through the selector rod, push it out from the top going down towards the floor, its easier)

This is what it will look like



under car shot



-Remove all the bits from the top end to gain access to shifter


I used the following from Turner and UUC to get a baseline directions
http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3e01bf511d4da3315c66902d6.r6.cf1.rackcdn.com/PDF_25502_BMW_Turner_Adjustable_Short_Shift_Kit_Installation.pdf

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/EVO3_INSTALLS/EVO3_SHIFTER_INSTALL_USSE9M.pdf

Autosolutions also has a new website www.autosolutions.info
it has info on there but it is not finished yet so is not as detailed as needed
you can always call...they answer any time just about

The new kit comes like this

It has the kit as well as two new bushings for the front of the shifter arm
You don't have to replace them if you don't want to, as it does add considerable time and frustration to the project, but they were included and paid for (after all the goal is to improve shift feel right?!)



-You must release the "jesus" clips to get the shifter arm out
-The new shifter must be installed into the shifter arm out of the car as there is not enough clearance to do it in place


-You also must separate the new shift lever at the elbow with the c-clip to get the shifter installed


-It is a huge PITA to get the now mounted shifter and linkage back up in place and the rear point mounted into rear bushing (it does not unbolt)...it takes some patience and finesse no doubt

-once you get it back in place, it will once again take some massaging to get the shift lever lined up with the selector rod



Now reinstall everything...and marvel it the rifle like feel of your shifter ...its amazing and worth the pain and agony

working on adding pictures

Nice job! I need to buy one of these.

Nice job on the writeup, this was next on the list. How much reduction did you get and can you describe a bit more detail on how it feels? I heard good things about this and, from what I read, it seems to make a bigger difference than installing a normal ssk.

E90M3velocity wrote

Nice job on the writeup, this was next on the list. How much reduction did you get and can you describe a bit more detail on how it feels? I heard good things about this and, from what I read, it seems to make a bigger difference than installing a normal ssk.

It is more firm in general. There is minimal side to side motion when the shifter is in neutral. You can YouTube videos another member has of it installed. When driving it is so direct shifting. Almost as though it's a gated shifter ...

This is the one thing I get the car was lacking in...its now complete !

derbo wrote

Nice job! I need to buy one of these.

You do man. I'm right at 72k...shifter was just sloppy feeling...this totally transforms the car ..

I got a 16-18% reduction and I'm using a ZHP knob...

You tell them what knob you have and your desires on shifting and he will make some recommendations as far as reduction goes....

The install took me 4hrs on jack stands. Not the easiest but more cumbersome than anything working between all the other stuff.

Did you "grind away any part of the inside lip" (of the shift carrier) as his instructions suggest? I didn't - and I'm hoping it explains the massive amount of NVH I'm getting through the shifter.

@TigerTater... great post! Thank you for sharing

DavidZ wrote

Did you "grind away any part of the inside lip" (of the shift carrier) as his instructions suggest? I didn't - and I'm hoping it explains the massive amount of NVH I'm getting through the shifter.

Hmm... please share what you find out. The added NVH would absolutely make me second guess adding this mod.

I have the autosolutions shifter as well.. 15% reduction + stock height. IMHO it does GREATLY improve the shift action. I have it combined with the UCP clutch pedal (with both springs removed) and the combination of the two should have been how the car left the factory!

I have no additional Noise, Vibration and Harshness (is that what you mean by "NVH?") .. and we did no grinding of teh carrier.. It could be worn motor mounts or some other condition causing it?

A friend helped me install this and the toughest part were those darn c-clips and tightening down the 6 little torx screws--They are just totally in the worst location for a tool to turn them. The smaller your hands the better.

Hagasan41 wrote

@TigerTater... great post! Thank you for sharing



Hmm... please share what you find out. The added NVH would absolutely make me second guess adding this mod.

Don't hesitate to buy the Autosolutions. It's getting rave reviews at How To Fix Notchy Shifting. I seem to be the only one with issues. Mine feels great; it just has some noise and vibration. Haven't had a chance to try and fix it yet.

Hagasan41 wrote

@TigerTater... great post! Thank you for sharing

DavidZ wrote

Did you "grind away any part of the inside lip" (of the shift carrier) as his instructions suggest? I didn't - and I'm hoping it explains the massive amount of NVH I'm getting through the shifter.

Hmm... please share what you find out. The added NVH would absolutely make me second guess adding this mod.

DavidZ wrote

Did you "grind away any part of the inside lip" (of the shift carrier) as his instructions suggest? I didn't - and I'm hoping it explains the massive amount of NVH I'm getting through the shifter.

Hagasan41 wrote

@TigerTater... great post! Thank you for sharing

DavidZ wrote

Did you "grind away any part of the inside lip" (of the shift carrier) as his instructions suggest? I didn't - and I'm hoping it explains the massive amount of NVH I'm getting through the shifter.

Hmm... please share what you find out. The added NVH would absolutely make me second guess adding this mod.

Thanks guys. No additional NVH for me. I did replace all the included new bushings though. Which is a pain, but worth it since you're already in there. After a few months it's hard to remember what the old shifter was like lol.

This one definitely loosens up some after use, but still stays tight if that makes sense at all.

leemik wrote

the toughest part were those darn c-clips

You can reuse the factory clips (or buy new ones if they're in bad shape) - they're 1000% easier to clip on than the ones included with the kit.

do you have any tips ton install the carrier bushing? i went to get a turner carrier bushing and im having a hard time installing it

gerikivan wrote

do you have any tips ton install the carrier bushing? i went to get a turner carrier bushing and im having a hard time installing it

I got the rear bushing in and out the same way: jamming a large flat head screwdriver into one of the slots on the side of the bushing and twisting the screwdriver which compressed the bushing casing enough to get it off (or onto) the slots it hooks onto. Make sure the shift carrier is in the rear bushing when you install the rear bushing; you can't get the carrier in if you install the bushing by itself first.
If you've got the shift carrier out, you must've gotten the OEM rear bushing out so I'm assuming you did something similar. It's not easy. It takes a long time and a lot of cursing.

it was easy for me to remove the oem bushing but installing was the hard part.. thx ill try that method

Has anyone figured out what this is for?

DavidZ wrote

Has anyone figured out what this is for?

you use that to remove the stock shifter

gerikivan wrote

you use that to remove the stock shifter

Oh, duh. Well I previously had a UUC SSK so didn't use that tool.

I wanted to share this because I have seen a lot of conflicting pictures on how the AutoSolutions shifter should be installed . This is from Ronald at AutoSolutions . I did my installation yesterday (pain in the ass!) and all the info I could find was wrong or was not complete so this helped a lot in regards to how the shifter should be placed in the car and direction of shifter and shift rod . I’ve seen 4 posts where the shifter itself was backwards in the car(like this post) and people complaining the shifter is not centered after install . Hope this helps somebody

714gt3cup wrote

I wanted to share this because I have seen a lot of conflicting pictures on how the AutoSolutions shifter should be installed . This is from Ronald at AutoSolutions . I did my installation yesterday (pain in the ass!) and all the info I could find was wrong or was not complete so this helped a lot in regards to how the shifter should be placed in the car and direction of shifter and shift rod . I've seen 4 posts where the shifter itself was backwards in the car(like this post) and people complaining the shifter is not centered after install . Hope this helps somebody

i just literally talked to him earlier about this and mine was backwards lol..

gerikivan wrote

i just literally talked to him earlier about this and mine was backwards lol..

Yea , I’ve seen a lot of pictures of peoples backwards shifters and it started making me second guess myself . The directions that come with the kit (up until these new directions) left a lot to be desired . Even the OP’s shifter looks to be installed backwards . Some go as far as having to whole shift rod (connects the lever to the transmission ) 180 degrees off where it is supposed to be . I just hope some people look at the pictures I posted so that they don’t make these mistake on an already pain in the ass install .

Sorry for reviving this old thread, but how do you remove the shifter arm/carrier? I already got the two clips/pins removed in the front but don’t seem to have enough room to pull it out of the rear bushing.

Thanks for this. I've got one that will be going in soon and this ought to be very helpful!