Subject: Lever Author: erwin : member since November, 2007 : 880 posts Posted on: 2008-03-04 22:26:55

You need to cut the stock lever length, cut a new slot at 90 degrees to the original, and grind down the outer diameter

Look at the top of the lever, you can see the bottom of the original slot. Use this as a reference for where to cut the lever.


The E38 lever is thinner than the E32, 14mm vs 15mm. Although you can push the E38 wood handle over the E32 lever, apparently the inner diameter of the E38 handle tapers smaller at the top, where the anti-rotation tangs are. So, you can make the slot at the top of the E32 lever plenty wide, but you'll never get the tangs to go into the slot without grinding down the E32 lever diameter. Ask me how I know. Once you do this, the E38 handle fits very snugly on the E32 lever.


Cutting the E32 lever to this length places the E38 handle as high as it can go while letting you open the ash tray with the shifter in park. If you cut it shorter, the leather boot will bunch up at the bottom and can get caught in the mechanism and not allow moving the shifter to first gear. Again, ask me how I know. Ok, I'll tell you. I had to buy an extra shifter from beach_911 after cutting my lever too short.

Erwin 89 750iL Lowered (a little)

Engine Wolf chips 19 lb, 4-hole (Design 3) fuel injectors PowerFlow Intake Air Filters Royal Purple 20W-50 In process: Custom Cold Air Boxes Interior Phone removed, replaced with cut-to-length dash wood trim on hinge E38 Shifter Knob M-Tech 2 M-technic Steering Wheel - air bag deleted E38 Self-Dimming Mirror 2B Installed: E38 shifter surround plate and boot Audio BMW Business CD Player "CD43" Head Unit Refurbished factory amp w/equalizer Bass blockers (300hz/4ohm) on stock front kick panel speakers Rear deck speakers: Alpine SPS-13C2 5.25" 2 way 175 Watt with bass blockers Subwoofers: 2 JBL GTO804 8" 4-ohm subs Subwoofer install: custom sealed enclosure mounted behind ski bag opening Subwoofer amp: Alpine MRP-M450 400w MONO CD changer relocated to driver's door bottom pocket actuated by bio- mechanical arm controlled by semi-intelligent nut behind the wheel Suspension H&R Lowering Springs (1/2 coil removed from fronts) Koni adjustable front shocks Stock rear shocks (self leveling) Racing Dynamics Stress Bar Stock front sway bar Dinan rear sway bar - 21mm M5 aluminum lower control arms Front tires: 245-40-18 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 on 8.5" EuroTech rims Rear tires: 275-40-18 Michelin Pilot Sport PS1 on 9.5" EuroTech rims Exterior 25% Side tint 5% Rear tint BMW Mud flaps - rears trimmed to tire width Rear fender lips rolled Smoked side markers Zymol wax Way too many paint chips touched up Brakes Front Rotors: 850CSi, 324 X 30 mm, cross-drilled and slotted Rear Rotors: stock size, cross-drilled and slotted Pads: Hawk Performance Ceramic (may switch to HPS) Stainless steel lines Racing Blue brake fluid

• E38 Shifter Install Done - erwin 2008-03-04 22:10:39 (3305 views)
  • nice idea & well done, thanks for the write-up (nt) - steinway 2008-03-05 13:58:18 (558 views)
  • Very creative work! (nt) - DavidC 2008-03-05 13:23:25 (275 views)
    • Thanks for the comments, guys - erwin 2008-03-06 14:30:10 (216 views)
  • Wiring (pic) - erwin 2008-03-04 23:34:03 (1232 views)
  • Indicator switch connector (pic) - erwin 2008-03-04 22:58:47 (879 views)
    • More details about connector - erwin 2008-03-05 11:39:29 (367 views)
  • E38 indicator switch mounting (pic) - erwin 2008-03-04 22:37:22 (900 views)
  • Lever (pic) - erwin 2008-03-04 22:26:55 (1080 views)
  • Console Plate (pic) - erwin 2008-03-04 22:15:42 (1069 views)
    • Doh. I was about to ask 'did you put in a 5 spd auto' - Ed 2008-03-05 11:40:13 (262 views)
    • Congrats on a great mod Erwin! WOW! - bcweir750 2008-03-05 00:48:34 (176 views)
      • Great inventiveness - Paparon 2008-03-05 09:32:58 (171 views)