Gear Shift Mechanism - Repair - e92/93 BMW M3 E90

Scheme 179

25 11 ... Replacing U-gaiter

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove «shift lever»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-000-removing-and-installing)
2. Remove «vibration damper»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-250-removing-and-installingreplacing) (if fitted).

Detach U-gaiter from shift lever.

If necessary, rub inside of molded section (1) beforehand with Circolight (sourcing reference: BMW Parts Service).

Scheme 180

Installation

1. Degrease shift lever (1)
2. Coat inside of molded section (2) with Circolight (sourcing reference: BMW Parts Service)
3. Pull U-gaiter from above over shift lever and align
4. Arrow on upper lip (3) must point crossways to mount eye (5) in direction of travel

Scheme 181

Key

1. Shift lever
2. U-gaiter molded section
3. U-gaiter lip
4. U-gaiter bead
5. Mount eye

25 11 000 Removing and installing shift lever M3

Special tools required

1. 25 1 120

See GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM - SPECIAL TOOLS .

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove exhaust system. See «18 00 018 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM (S65)»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/exhaust/#exhaust-system-repair-e9293__18-00-018-removing-and-installing) .
2. Remove heat shield
3. Remove «knob»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-071-replacing-knob-for) for shift lever
4. Remove «gaiter»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-replacing-u-gaiter) for shift lever cover.

Remove shift rod (2).

Installation

Grease shift rod pin.

Key

1. Retainer
2. Shift rod

Scheme 182

Scheme 183

Insert special tool 25 1 120 into mount and turn 90° counterclockwise.

Press mount upwards out of shift arm.

Scheme 184

Feed U-gaiter from shift arm and out of body cutout.

Lift out shift lever.

Installation

Pull U-gaiter from below completely over shift arm receptacle.

Scheme 185

Installation

Pull U-gaiter bead (4) over receptacle on shift arm and pop U-gaiter lips (3) into body cutout.

Make sure the arrow on the upper U-gaiter lip (3) is seated in the direction of travel and crossways to the shift lever eye (5).

Key

1. Shift lever
2. U-gaiter molded section
3. U-gaiter lips
4. U-gaiter bead
5. Shift lever eye

Installation

Grease shift lever ball.

Fit mount on shift arm receptacle.

Align retaining lugs of mount to openings in receptacle (crossways to direction of travel).

Press shift arm with mount downwards until mount snaps audibly into place (if necessary, use a pressing-in tool).

Scheme 186

25 11 001 Replacing complete shift lever

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove selector lever.
2. Remove «vibration damper»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-250-removing-and-installingreplacing) (if fitted).

Detach mount from selector lever.

Installation

Grease ball joint.

Scheme 187

Detach rubber gaiter from selector lever.

Scheme 188

Installation

Degrease selector lever (1).

Coat rubber bellows on inside of shaped section (2) with Circolight.

Pull rubber gaiter from above over selector lever and align. Arrow (3) on rubber gaiter must point in direction of travel (A).

Scheme 189

25 11 041 Replacing bearing shell for shift lever

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove shift lever

Detach mount from selector lever.

Installation

Grease ball joint.

25 11 071 Replacing knob for shift lever

Version 1 (shift lever knob and shift lever cover separate)

Press installation frame of gaiter (1) together a little and remove gaiter from center console.

Scheme 190

Note. Do not twist shift lever knob during removal as this would cause the turning lock in the knob to shear off.

Tug firmly to remove knob.

Installation

Fit shift lever knob on shift lever, align and press on until it snaps noticeably into place.

Scheme 191

Installation

Push gaiter (1) down until groove (2) is fully exposed.

Scheme 192

Version 2 (shift lever knob and shift lever one single part)

Press installation frame of gaiter (1) together a little and remove gaiter from center console.

Scheme 193

Note. Do not twist knob during removal as this would cause the turning lock in the knob to shear off.

Tug firmly to remove knob.

Installation

Fit knob on shift lever, align and press on until it snaps noticeably into place.

25 11 081 Replacing gaiter (shift lever cover) for shift lever

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove «shift lever knob»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-071-replacing-knob-for) .

Installation

Retaining lugs must not be damaged.

Scheme 194

25 11 101 Replacing shift rod

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove rear assembly underside protection
2. Remove reinforcement carrier on underbody
3. Remove exhaust system (M3 only). See «18 00 018 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM (S65)»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/exhaust/#exhaust-system-repair-e9293__18-00-018-removing-and-installing) .
4. Remove heat shields
5. Remove transmission cross-member. See «22 32 050 REPLACING CROSS-MEMBER FOR TRANSMISSION MOUNTING (S65)»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/mechanical/#engine-and-gearbox-suspension-repair-e9293__22-32-050-replacing-cross-member-for) .
6. Remove transmission support block (M3 only)

Detach locking clip.

Scheme 195

Pull shift rod (1) out of shift rod joint (2).

Installation

Grease shift rod pin (3).

Scheme 196

Detach locking clip (1).

Remove selector rod (2).

Installation

Grease selector rod pin.

25 11 111 Replacing shift rod joint

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Release propeller shaft at transmission and center mount, tie propeller shaft to one side Tasks are described in Removing propeller shaft. See «26 11 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE PROPELLER SHAFT (CONSTANT-VELOCITY JOINT)»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/driveshaft-universal-joints/#propeller-shaft-repair-e92e93__26-11-000-removing-and-installing) .

Lift off retainer (1).

Disconnect shift rod (2).

Scheme 197

Installation

Grease shift rod.

Make sure shims (3) are in correct position.

Lever spring washer (1) out of groove and push a little towards rear.

Press dowel pin (2) upwards/downwards out of shift rod joint and remove shift rod joint.

Installation

Grease ball of selector shaft.

Replace spring washer (1).

Scheme 198

Installation

Check rubber ring (1) in shift rod joint (2) and replace if necessary.

Scheme 199

25 11 211 Replacing shift arm for shift-lever mount

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove «shift lever»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-000-removing-and-installing)

Lever support bearing (1) out of fixture.

Scheme 200

Installation

Install support bearing (1) with arrow (2) facing upwards in holder.

Scheme 201

Unlock bearing pin (1) in direction of arrow and remove.

Installation

Grease bearing pin.

Scheme 202

Remove shift arm.

Detach support bearing (1) from shift arm.

Installation

Grease bearing journal.

Attach support bearing (1) with opening (3) towards rear on shift arm.

Scheme 203

Replace bearing bush if damaged.

Press out bearing bush.

Coat new bearing bush with Circolight and then press into shift arm until side flanges of bearing bush protrude uniformly.

Scheme 204

25 11 235 Replacing bearing bushes for shift arm

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove «shift arm»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-211-replacing-shift-arm)

1. Press out bearing bush (1).
2. Coat new bearing bush with Circolight (sourcing reference: BMW Parts Service).
3. Then press into shift arm until side surface of bush protrudes uniformly.

Note. Illustration shows: shift arm simply supported.

25 11 245 Replacing shift arm support bearing M3

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove exhaust system. See «18 00 018 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM (S65)»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/exhaust/#exhaust-system-repair-e9293__18-00-018-removing-and-installing) .
2. Remove front middle heat shield

Lever support bearing (1) with a short screwdriver out of mounting.

Pull support off shift arm.

Installation

Grease bearing pin of shift arm.

Fit support bearing (1) with opening (2) towards top rear onto mounting.

25 11 250 Removing and installing/replacing vibration damper

Necessary preliminary tasks

1. Remove shift lever cover.
2. Remove «shift lever knob»(/bmw/m3/e90-2007-2013/remont/automatic-trans/#gear-shift-mechanism-repair-e9293__25-11-071-replacing-knob-for) .

Open clamp (1) on vibration damper with pliers.

Unlock vibration damper with screwdriver (2) (there is a locking notch on one side only).

Lift out vibration damper.

Scheme 205

Installation

In the case of a new vibration damper which has been attachment to the shift lever, only the retainer (1) still needs to be unlocked.

Make sure the vibration damper is correctly engaged in the shift lever.

Scheme 206

25 12 060 Replacing shift lever knob for twin clutch transmission S65

Press installation frame of gaiter (1) a little from front to rear and release gaiter from center console.

Scheme 207

Note. Do not twist shift lever knob during removal as this would cause the turning lock in the knob to shear off.

Tug firmly to remove knob.

Installation

Fit shift lever knob on shift lever, align and press on until it snaps noticeably into place.

Scheme 208

Disconnect connector (1).

Installation

Note installation position of cables.

Scheme 209

See also:
• GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM - SPECIAL TOOLS
• 18 00 018 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM (S65)
• 22 32 050 REPLACING CROSS-MEMBER FOR TRANSMISSION MOUNTING (S65)
• 26 11 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE PROPELLER SHAFT (CONSTANT-VELOCITY JOINT)
• shift lever
• vibration damper
• knob
• gaiter
• shift rod
• shift arm