BMW Repair: Shifter Rebuild, bmw car club, bmw car club of america

Question
Hey Josh:  I can not believe I have found this site after 4 yrs. of learning almost every bolt on mine. Now I need some help. Please.  My shifter just became dissconnected at the shifter from the rod and from the rear connect joint.  This is most likely the broken part. The shifter is just a simple clip, etc. I may be  needing the whole shifting arm perhaps new selector rod and the rear rod joint connector.   Ok few questions is the exhaust in the way, I want to know how to unbolt rebolt the new shifting arm too it seems to be very loose/sloppy.  The shifter was always brutal sloppy with like 5-6 inches of play when in gear (side to side). How can I make this shift rebuild make the shifter perform tight?etc any help would be appreciated.  Do I need any special tools to replace that core?  Where to either ends of the straight selector rod connect.  I know the shifter itself and the rear connector are attached on the side mounted stubs but where do the ends exaactly connect.  The front is still connected the rear is not? My car is the 86 325e 2.7 L 6 cyl. E30 M20,   I would be so pleased to have a knowledgeable, and  much wiser BMW man than I to help out.  Thanks
420,000 KM and soon to be still rolling and loving every mile........  

Answer
Michael,
 Good to hear from a fellow BMW enthusiast.  It sounds like you are not in the USA, so there might be some differences.

 This is a break-down of the shifter:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1251&mospid=47261&btnr=25_0068&hg=...

and:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1251&mospid=47261&btnr=25_0195&hg=...


 Many, many, many, articles have been written on improving the shifting "feel" on these BMW's.  BMW still uses this linkage today, on the new cars.   In the USA if you are a member of the BMW Car Club of America (BMWCCA), you get discounts at the dealerships for new parts.  You should be able to rebuild the whole thing for $100.  That comes with a new knuckle on the back of the transmission, new shifter, and new shifter rod.  Make sure you buy the little yellow plastic washer's too, they keep everything tight.

 Good luck,
 Josh