25 11 000 Removing and installing shift lever M3

Special tools required: 

• 25 1 120 

See GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM - SPECIAL TOOLS .

Necessary preliminary tasks: 

• Remove exhaust system.  See 18 00 018 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM (S65) .
• Remove heat shield
• Remove knob   for shift lever
• Remove gaiter   for shift lever cover.

Remove shift rod   (2).

Installation: 

Grease shift rod pin.

Key:

1. Retainer
2. Shift rod

Fig 1: Identifying Shift Rod With Retainer

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Fig 2: Identifying Retaining Web

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Press mount upwards out of shift arm.

Fig 3: Inserting Special Tool (25 1 120) Into Mount

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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.

Fig 4: Locating U-Gaiter

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 5: Identifying Shift Lever, U-Gaiter Molded Section And U-Gaiter Lip

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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).

Fig 6: Aligning Retaining Lugs Of Mount

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.