Dinan Short Throw Shifter

5moreyears · Wed, Sep-14-2005, 06:28:58 PM

Well guys finally got my shifter installed this morning. On first inspection it looks almost identical to the stock shift lever besides the color. The shifter was 139.99 plus ½ hour of labor and tax so the total was around 250 (don’t know the exact amount b/c I also bought touch up paint). Anyways the first shift was noticeable shorter, not so much going into 2nd but really short going into 3rd ect. The sloppiness of the shifts while in gear was almost completely eliminated, almost no play in 1st and no play in 2nd 3rd 4th don’t really care about 5th 6th but still much less play. All in all very impressed with this upgrade, defiantly got me thinking about other Dinan parts (software, intake, ect.). In addition to the shorter throw and shifter’s more precise shifts, there was the same amount of vibration in the lever. I have heard about other shifters like UCC and others having more than desirable vibration. Anyways I’ll take some pic’s tonight and post them on the board.

Ced · Wed, Sep-14-2005, 07:18:36 PM

vibration should go away as it breaks in; 2 to 3K miles. Is it notchy?

ThatOneGuy · Wed, Sep-14-2005, 11:13:56 PM

I'm also interested in this shifter. Keep us posted...

CuriousOne · Thu, Sep-15-2005, 02:57:10 AM

I have a 2002 M3 (manual) and just got the Dinan Short Shift kit installed a few weeks ago. In short, I completely agree with 5MoreYears. It seems better than stock in every respect, so much so that I am bummed I didn't make the switch sooner (even my wife says it is a big improvement -

). While memories fade quickly, it doesn't feel any more notchy than the stock throw was (still notchiest from 1st to 2nd). I also don't sense that there is much, if any, additional throw effort required. I spent a lot of time looking into SS kits, and early on I was all but convinced I was going to go with either a Rogue or UUC kit. Ultimately though, the combination of the noise/vibration concerns, along with the rather substantial cost difference (esp. if you factor in a new boot cover), swung me over to the Dinan offering (suprising situation when Dinan has the cost advantage on their side).

On a related note, while the car was in the shop (Knauz BMW, north of Chicago) I had them install Dinan's stage 3 suspension (Koni), tower brace and a few other Dinan bits (I already had Dinan exhaust, ECU, and some other minor stuff - no exterior/styling mods whatsoever). The handling improvements, esp. understeer reduction, are quite impressive. With that said, I have never driven an M3 with anything but stock suspensions, so I can't say if the Dinan is worse or better than the many other possible setups out there (I had new PS2s put on before the suspension change, and the combination of the new tires and, now, the new suspension is remarkable.) The downside, from my perspective, is that the ride was a bit firmer than I had bargained for. I quickly got use to that though and now love it. Also, while Dinan does not believe in the slammed look, the suspension does lower your ride height a bit - I would guess 1 to 1-1/2" (I found this out the hard way with some parking lot curbs my front air dam had been able to clear in the past).

Last item. I am giving serious consideration to getting the Dinan S3 supercharger system (perhaps also a brake upgrade). I am probably going to wait until next Spring though before doing anything so I can see how the power/performance, reliability, etc. issues start to shake out. (Also, my car was one of those that had the engine lifted and the bearings replaced, so that tends to make me a bit more leery to begin with.) [CED - From having read the forum threads for the past few years, I know you are familiar with Dinan stuff -- any particular thoughts at this time on the supercharger? (other than, freakin' expensive)]

FlyPenFly · Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:10:42 AM

What kind of Dinan suspension upgrades are available and typically what do they cost...

They replace the stuff under the shifter like the plastic levers and such right?

**STALKER** · Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:15:44 AM

i didnt even know Dinan offered this mod. Is it their own, or did they relabel it?

HaroldC · Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:20:17 AM

I hate to break it to you guys ..... you just bought a re-labeled BMW shifter. Dinan takes a factory lever, from a 545i (IIRC), paints the top black and sticks a dinan sticker on it an sells it for almost $100 more than it costs from the dealership.

I know because I've taken one out of an S2 E46 M3. That guy was not a happy camper! If you don't believe me, take your boot off and take a look. It'll have a circle that is covered by a sticker. Look at part #6 on the EPC diagram, look familiar?

gspot · Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:32:25 AM

Wow.. the truth is out!

**Arnee** · Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:32:56 AM

Ouch. So anyone can get this part and just swap, right?

**STALKER** · Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:33:34 AM

thats gotta ****.

Wed, Sep-14-2005, 06:28:58 PM	#1
5moreyears 05242005 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 865 Reputation: 0 Location: Philadelphia, PA	Dinan Short Throw Shifter Well guys finally got my shifter installed this morning. On first inspection it looks almost identical to the stock shift lever besides the color. The shifter was 139.99 plus ½ hour of labor and tax so the total was around 250 (don’t know the exact amount b/c I also bought touch up paint). Anyways the first shift was noticeable shorter, not so much going into 2nd but really short going into 3rd ect. The sloppiness of the shifts while in gear was almost completely eliminated, almost no play in 1st and no play in 2nd 3rd 4th don’t really care about 5th 6th but still much less play. All in all very impressed with this upgrade, defiantly got me thinking about other Dinan parts (software, intake, ect.). In addition to the shorter throw and shifter’s more precise shifts, there was the same amount of vibration in the lever. I have heard about other shifters like UCC and others having more than desirable vibration. Anyways I’ll take some pic’s tonight and post them on the board. __________________

Wed, Sep-14-2005, 07:18:36 PM	#2
Ced UH OH Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 8,438 Reputation: 0	vibration should go away as it breaks in; 2 to 3K miles. Is it notchy? __________________

Thu, Sep-15-2005, 02:57:10 AM	#4
CuriousOne Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0	I have a 2002 M3 (manual) and just got the Dinan Short Shift kit installed a few weeks ago. In short, I completely agree with 5MoreYears. It seems better than stock in every respect, so much so that I am bummed I didn't make the switch sooner (even my wife says it is a big improvement - ). While memories fade quickly, it doesn't feel any more notchy than the stock throw was (still notchiest from 1st to 2nd). I also don't sense that there is much, if any, additional throw effort required. I spent a lot of time looking into SS kits, and early on I was all but convinced I was going to go with either a Rogue or UUC kit. Ultimately though, the combination of the noise/vibration concerns, along with the rather substantial cost difference (esp. if you factor in a new boot cover), swung me over to the Dinan offering (suprising situation when Dinan has the cost advantage on their side). On a related note, while the car was in the shop (Knauz BMW, north of Chicago) I had them install Dinan's stage 3 suspension (Koni), tower brace and a few other Dinan bits (I already had Dinan exhaust, ECU, and some other minor stuff - no exterior/styling mods whatsoever). The handling improvements, esp. understeer reduction, are quite impressive. With that said, I have never driven an M3 with anything but stock suspensions, so I can't say if the Dinan is worse or better than the many other possible setups out there (I had new PS2s put on before the suspension change, and the combination of the new tires and, now, the new suspension is remarkable.) The downside, from my perspective, is that the ride was a bit firmer than I had bargained for. I quickly got use to that though and now love it. Also, while Dinan does not believe in the slammed look, the suspension does lower your ride height a bit - I would guess 1 to 1-1/2" (I found this out the hard way with some parking lot curbs my front air dam had been able to clear in the past). Last item. I am giving serious consideration to getting the Dinan S3 supercharger system (perhaps also a brake upgrade). I am probably going to wait until next Spring though before doing anything so I can see how the power/performance, reliability, etc. issues start to shake out. (Also, my car was one of those that had the engine lifted and the bearings replaced, so that tends to make me a bit more leery to begin with.) [CED - From having read the forum threads for the past few years, I know you are familiar with Dinan stuff -- any particular thoughts at this time on the supercharger? (other than, freakin' expensive)] Last edited by CuriousOne; Thu, Sep-15-2005 at 03:08:18 AM.

Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:20:17 AM	#7
HaroldC Yes, it's stock..... Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,018 Reputation: 0 Location: NYC Area	I hate to break it to you guys ..... you just bought a re-labeled BMW shifter. Dinan takes a factory lever, from a 545i (IIRC), paints the top black and sticks a dinan sticker on it an sells it for almost $100 more than it costs from the dealership. I know because I've taken one out of an S2 E46 M3. That guy was not a happy camper! If you don't believe me, take your boot off and take a look. It'll have a circle that is covered by a sticker. Look at part #6 on the EPC diagram, look familiar? __________________

Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:32:25 AM	#8
gspot Xray Doc Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,276 Reputation: 0 Location: Philly	Wow.. the truth is out! __________________

Wed, Sep-14-2005, 11:13:56 PM	#3
ThatOneGuy In the left lane, flashing to pass. Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,473 Reputation: 0 Location: SF, CA	I'm also interested in this shifter. Keep us posted...

Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:10:42 AM	#5
FlyPenFly Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,342 Reputation: 0 Location: San Diego, CA	What kind of Dinan suspension upgrades are available and typically what do they cost... They replace the stuff under the shifter like the plastic levers and such right?

Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:15:44 AM	#6
STALKER Moderator Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,272 Reputation: 578 Location: Toronto, ON	i didnt even know Dinan offered this mod. Is it their own, or did they relabel it? __________________ 2008 AW/FR E90 M3-SOLD 2013 991 C4S-Produced, but not delivered.

Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:32:56 AM	#9
Arnee Banned Join Date: Apr 2005 Age: 34 Posts: 3,965 Reputation: 0 Location: SoCal	Ouch. So anyone can get this part and just swap, right?

Thu, Sep-15-2005, 03:33:34 AM	#10
STALKER Moderator Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,272 Reputation: 578 Location: Toronto, ON	thats gotta ****. __________________ 2008 AW/FR E90 M3-SOLD 2013 991 C4S-Produced, but not delivered.

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