E46 M3 Owners...

[Airbag79]

Has anyone installed one of these: http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=MorePartInfo&PartID=791424&siteid=214672&catalogid=4462

Since you are only changing the shifter rod, and not the carrier or anything.
Can this be installed without getting under the car ?

[Michael-Dallas]

Nope.

///Michael

[Airbag79]

:thumpdown: Oh well, looks like a little project for me then.

[Red Baron]

I haven't install that one in particular, but I have done a total of 5 SS and it takes 30 minutes the first time and then about 15-20 once the car is up.
Ask Michael-Dallas how long it took me.:D
Factory is straight forward, aftermarket replace the shifter carrier and that's a Biatch to do. :thumpdown:

[Michael-Dallas]

Robert is the E46/E36 shifter king. He helped (or rather I helped him) install an E60 shifter and E60 short-shifter on my E46 M3 and a Dinan SSK on my E36 M3. This on top of the 2 installs he did on his own E46 M3.

Tiny hands are good and if you can work blind via touch, then that's a definite plus too. And you might want to buy a spare circlip and bushing just in case -- they're very cheap.

///Michael

[Airbag79]

Thanks for the tips. After doing some additional research, I this shouldn't be so bad. I don't have to replace the carrier or anything. So once everything is out of the, exhaust etc, it should be straightforward.

[Michael-Dallas]

You shouldn't have to drop the exhaust; instead, we bent the aluminum exhaust shield to get clearance to fit our hands in. What's more important is getting your car at a good height on jackstands so you won't feel cramped. Robert did his E46 by himself and we did mine (one under the car, one inside the car). And don't forget to have plenty of lighting like a shop light, no AA flashlight. :)

///Michael

[Red Baron]

No need to drop any exhaust.
I did mine alone, no need to get under unless you drop the circlip.
* Michael was more of a distraction/in the way, than a help.:D

[Airbag79]

You shouldn't have to drop the exhaust; instead, we bent the aluminum exhaust shield to get clearance to fit our hands in. What's more important is getting your car at a good height on jackstands so you won't feel cramped. Robert did his E46 by himself and we did mine (one under the car, one inside the car). And don't forget to have plenty of lighting like a shop light, no AA flashlight. :)

///Michael

So does that mean I cant use the one from the glovebox :(

[Red Baron]

So does that mean I cant use the one from the glovebox :(

Exactly, is just to powerful and can blind you and you won't see anything after that.