Will CAE Shifter fit F8X platform?

[doctorford]

Anyone tried installing the CAE shifter on an F80 or F82? I have a 6MT M4, and I already installed the UUC short shift kit, which I am not really in love with. I really want to try out the CAE shifter, since everything I have heard about it is extremely positive (both from friends who have it on their cars or from online reviews). However, CAE themselves said it may or may not fit the F8X platform, but they have not tested it yet. (Not sure if this is true or not; a sales rep from Turner told me that when I inquired about ordering one). He said CAE told him it "may need some custom work as well as a custom selector rod." But the description says the CAE shifter will work with "all modern BMWs with manual transmissions". Please help. I am not really trying to get into modifying or creating a custom selector rod. Not really looking for opinions on CAE shifter vs UUC vs Rogue vs stock vs etccccc...... Just wondering if anyone knows if it will fit or not. lol Thanks!!

[doctorford]

Anyone? Or does anyone know if the shifter/selector rod/linkage on an F8x is different from previous BMWs (E36, E46, E92)? CAE lists their BMW specific shifter as "fitting all modern BMWs with manual gearboxes", but then said they are not sure if it will fit the F8x platform without some modification/custom selector rod because they have not done testing on the F8x yet. Or, if the F8x versions of other short shifters (UUC, Rogue, etc) are the same as previous models (E92, E46...), then I'm guessing the CAE shifter will probably fit.

[NorCal f80]

sorry not sure about cae components .

a friend told me he likes his status gruppe short shifter . i dont see any reviews here on the site though .

http://statusgruppe.com/collections/...-short-shifter

[doctorford]

I really want that CAE experience. The boys at Supreme Power said they can fab a piece to make it work if it isn't a direct fit. I'll update once we get into it!

[Dumpspec]

i would also love to see this installed on f8x. i had it on my E90 m3 and loved it. i currently have the UUC SSK on my M4 and to be honest it's not bad at all. alot better than stock.

[MischiMischi]

Any news here?

[CPWINCH]

Originally Posted by MischiMischi

Any news here?

He got it done and it works

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by MischiMischi

Any news here?

DoctorFord isn't really active here on the forum, but he's super active on Instagram. He did the install in April. His posts seem to indicate that it works well.

This mod has moved to the top of my list.

[AlexNFH]

Guys,

I am in contact with Christian from CAE. A new shifter for the F8X platform will be released shortly. I went to see him back in April and tested is M2 shifter. The old shifter will work as seen in the pic but the new one should be better as the tunnel sheet metal has a 7 degree angle and the new shifter will take this into account.

I should get mine shortly and will do a full write up on it.

Alex

[gatorfast]

Very subtle

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by AlexNFH

Guys,

I am in contact with Christian from CAE. A new shifter for the F8X platform will be released shortly. I went to see him back in April and tested is M2 shifter. The old shifter will work as seen in the pic but the new one should be better as the tunnel sheet metal has a 7 degree angle and the new shifter will take this into account.

I should get mine shortly and will do a full write up on it.

Alex

Are these available now or is it still in development? I actually ordered one today. I wonder if I'll be getting the new one.

[schnell1982]

The OP now has a shifter boot installed as well.
I've seen it a few times installed on the car and it looks great.
I wonder what revision the company will offer on the shifter..

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by schnell1982

The OP now has a shifter boot installed as well.
I've seen it a few times installed on the car and it looks great.
I wonder what revision the company will offer on the shifter..

Below is a pic of doctorford's CAE with the shift boot installed. The black and blue one is the version they just came out with for the M2 (the version that AlexNFH is referring to).

[AlexNFH]

Christian was not that happy with the shift on his M2 prototype. When I tested it back in April I loved it. He made a few modifications to some parts. I will pick mine up next week from him directly when I am in Germany.

I will ask about the differences. One that I know of is to accommodated the angled sheet metal of the tunnel.

I will snap some pics when I am at his shop.

Alex

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by AlexNFH

Christian was not that happy with the shift on his M2 prototype. When I tested it back in April I loved it. He made a few modifications to some parts. I will pick mine up next week from him directly when I am in Germany.

I will ask about the differences. One that I know of is to accommodated the angled sheet metal of the tunnel.

I will snap some pics when I am at his shop.

Alex

Is the angle compensation from the top view or a horizontal compensation?

[Mandi90TT]

That's like...the opposite of a short shifter...

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

That's like...the opposite of a short shifter...

I too, tried to figure out what the benefits were. I guess the throws are short, shifts are very "bolt action rifle like" and most importantly, for the track, it places the shifter closer to the steering wheel for less time away from the steering wheel.

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

That's like...the opposite of a short shifter...

Not sure if you're joking or if you don't know what a short shifter is. The CAE should have a shorter throw than all the other SSKs available; including the UUC I currently have.

[MasterP]

The CAE throw is super short. It's direct and very positive. Height is to keep it close to the steering wheel. Ideal for track cars. I think the one I drove needed to be adjusted. The 5-4, 4-3 downshifts were fine. But the 3-2 was extremely notchy even for a kit like this.

[NorCal f80]

just added a custom knob to mine . love it . super short throw .

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by exo-shell

Not sure if you're joking or if you don't know what a short shifter is. The CAE should have a shorter throw than all the other SSKs available; including the UUC I currently have.

I always thought a short shifter had shorter throws, yes, but also was less...long, I guess is the word I am looking for, or less high, I suppose.

Maybe I was wrong on that second part.

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

I always thought a short shifter had shorter throws, yes, but also was less...long, I guess is the word I am looking for, or less high, I suppose.

Maybe I was wrong on that second part.

I do understand the assumption. Back in the day, we used to just take a dremel to the OEM shifter shaft to lower the shift knob. I think the term "short shift kit" got mixed up with this ghetto fabulous mod. In reality a short shift kit (or short throw shift kit) changes the geometry/fulcrum of the shifter to make the throws shorter.

The CAE shifter is mechanically engineered to make the throws not only shorter but more precise. There is also a lock out for reverse and a "return to center" for 1st and 2nd gear to help prevent money shifts. The throws are so short that they can make the shaft really tall to keep the knob closer to the steering wheel. Even with the extra height, the resulting throws are still extremely short.

Personally I don't care for it being so tall, but the short and precise throws are what made me smile every time I've tried it. I'm glad it works on the F80; I just didn't want to be the first one.