How do I remove the gearlever?

[mef]

Hi all, I'm busy stripping this 1 Series 118D, almost ready to remove the engine and box but I cant figure out how I remove the gearlever, can anyone advise?

Also, do I need to undo the rubber donut from the output flange or does it pull out like on a Ford and stay on the propshaft (oil going everywhere from the back of the box!) ?

thanks,

martin

[ultegra]

The 1 series shifter looks like a derivation of the 3 series from e30 through e36 and e46.

Easiest dissasembly (I take it the engine and gearbox are still in the car?) is as follows.

1. All this is easier with the exhaust and the prop removed. Best to undo 3 of the bolts on the rubber guibo where the prop attaches to the back of the gearbox. It doesnt matter (i think) whether you leave the guibo attached to the gearbox or to the prop. Do whatever gives you easiest access. Those bolts are always farkin tight so use a long leverage. And no - its not like a Ford - the output flange stays bolted to the gearbox.

2. You need to disconnect the shift rod (#10). Do this by pinging the circlips (both #11) off. Catch any plastic shim washers that fall (not shown on the illustration so there might not be any...) The shift rod should now be able to be pulled away (sideways)and disconnected altogether from #12 and #6.

3. Remove #3 and #4 - you have to lever the clip part of them off the gearbox casting (they rotate around the pin axis) then withdraw them from out of the bushes (#2). That will free the console (#1) from the gearbox casting.

4. IF you want to remove the shift lever (#6) from the console (#1) you twist the plastic bush (#7) CLOCKWISE when viewed from above. Do this by inserting a couple of flat bladed screwdrivers into the plastic bush from above and cross them over one another, then twist. The shift lever then lifts out of the console with the plastic bush still attached to the lever. It requires a good yank - dont get it in the kisser..

Hope this helps...

[mef]

OK, thanks for that info, I'll give it a go tomorrow, there's a big alloy heatshield in the way, I'll have to remove that first to get at the propshaft coupling and up at the lever pivots.

cheers,

martin

[mef]

Thanks, that was easy!

Martin

[ultegra]

Glad it all came apart OK.

It's excellent to see someone breaking some new ground (doing a 1 series).

Keep the polaroids coming mate.