VAC Motorsports - Interior / Short Shifters & Knobs / All Products

Kinematic BMW E36, E46, E90 Racing Short Shifter

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:42:34 GMT

Kinematic BMW E36, E46, E90 Racing Short Shifter
Buy Now: $699.00

Kinematic and VAC Motorsports have worked together on this geometry-corrected Race Shifter assembly. The Tall cockpit handle allows for proper racing ergonomics, this assembly allows for the quickest, most effortless shifts to limit the possibility of missing a gear and having that expensive MONEY SHIFT!!!

Auto-centering 3rd-4th gear postion for optimized shifts (reduced chance of missed shifts)
Adjustable side travel stops for 1st-2nd and 5th-6th gears.
One man install (captured fasteners)
Rigid ultra lightweight FEA optimized cast aluminum base
Integral boot sealing transmission tunnel upon install (no cutting up your old boot)
Sealed ball bearings throughout providing ultra smooth operation
365mm overall height from base to top of knob
Machined Delrin shift knob
Fitment optimized for all 'E' chassis 5 and 6 speed applications
Verified fitment within stock console for E36, E46, and E90/2
CNC machined, assembled, shipped, and supported at KinematicSpeed in North Carolina

We've worked our tails off to create the most refined race shifter option for the BMW community at an affordable price and are pumped to bring this to market! The entire experience from install to use has been optimized through rigorous R&D and countless rounds of prototypes and evaluation.

We've installed and used all kinds of race shifters in our years of building BMW's for track and race duty and knew there was room to improve the offering. Features like one person install capability, an integral boot to seal off the tunnel, fitment within stock consoles, and sealed ball bearings throughout for long term maintenance free operation are just the start with this shifter. The adjustable side travel stops and centering location let you dial in this shifter exactly to your application while the height positions the shifter optimally for quick shifts and less time with hands off the wheel. The cast aluminum base has been FEA optimized to ensure rigidity for the long haul at the lightest weight possible, we've really pulled out all the stops on this one.

A few notes on installation:

Shifter locates on a factory hole in the unibody on E36, E46, and E90/2 chassis. Drilling of two small holes on these chassis is required for mounting.
Captured fasteners provide anti-rotation features for the mounting bolts allowing for installation to be accomplished by one person

Detailed Installation Guides:

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UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line, BMW E46

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:45:39 GMT

UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line, BMW E46
Buy Now: $24.95

Stainless steel clutch line for improved clutch control

100% MADE IN USA

OEM clutch lines are constructed with rubber and can expand under the normal pressure of use. This expansion of the line negatively affects the clutch slave cylinder actuation, and makes for mushy pedal feedback.

UUC's Stainless Clutch Line is used to "performance tune" your clutch control. Inner Teflon® line is covered with woven stainless steel braid that will not expand under pressure.

The advantages include better clutch pedal feedback and superior clutch modulation. Results will be immediate.

Technical features:

- Line material fully compliant with DOT standards (MVSS-1006)
lines burst-tested to 6000psi
(Maximum tested pressure from a BMW hydraulic system is 1200psi)
- Teflon® inner line covered with a woven layer of stainless steel
and covered in an abrasion-resistant material (translucent blue plastic covering).
- End pieces perfectly match original BMW design for easy assembly.

Professional installation recommended.

Installer responsible for correct fitting and bleeding procedure as recommended by BMW.

Installer assumes all responsibilities and risks associated with clutch line replacement.

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UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line, BMW E36

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:35:22 GMT

UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line, BMW E36
Buy Now: $24.95

Stainless steel clutch line for improved clutch control

100% MADE IN USA

UUC's Stainless Clutch Line is used to "performance tune" your clutch control. Inner Teflon® line is covered with woven stainless steel braid that will not expand under pressure.

The advantages include better clutch pedal feedback and superior clutch modulation. Results will be immediate.

Technical features:

- Line material fully compliant with DOT standards (MVSS-1006)
lines burst-tested to 6000psi
(Maximum tested pressure from a BMW hydraulic system is 1200psi)
- Teflon® inner line covered with a woven layer of stainless steel
and covered in an abrasion-resistant material (translucent blue plastic covering).
- End pieces perfectly match original BMW design for easy assembly.

Professional installation recommended.

Installer responsible for correct fitting and bleeding procedure as recommended by BMW.

Installer assumes all responsibilities and risks associated with clutch line replacement.

Visit Short Shifters & Knobs to see additional products in this category.

UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line, BMW E30

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:13:46 GMT

UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line, BMW E30
Buy Now: $24.95

Stainless steel clutch line for improved clutch control

100% MADE IN USA

UUC's Stainless Clutch Line is used to "performance tune" your clutch control. Inner Teflon® line is covered with woven stainless steel braid that will not expand under pressure.

The advantages include better clutch pedal feedback and superior clutch modulation. Results will be immediate.

Technical features:

- Line material fully compliant with DOT standards (MVSS-1006)
lines burst-tested to 6000psi
(Maximum tested pressure from a BMW hydraulic system is 1200psi)
- Teflon® inner line covered with a woven layer of stainless steel
and covered in an abrasion-resistant material (translucent blue plastic covering).
- End pieces perfectly match original BMW design for easy assembly.

Professional installation recommended.

Installer responsible for correct fitting and bleeding procedure as recommended by BMW.

Installer assumes all responsibilities and risks associated with clutch line replacement.

Visit Short Shifters & Knobs to see additional products in this category.

Quaife Nylon Shift Knob

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 12:18:51 GMT

Quaife Nylon Shift Knob
Buy Now: $60.95

Nylon gear knob to suit all Quaife Sierra and Rocket short throw gear levers.

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VAC BMW Billet Shift Knob 4 Speed, 5 Speed, 6 Speed

Mon, 7 Mar 2016 08:06:00 GMT

VAC BMW Billet Shift Knob 4 Speed, 5 Speed, 6 Speed
Buy Now: $69.95

Upgrade your BMW’s shifting experience with the VAC Motorsports BMW Billet Shift Knob, engineered for precision, comfort, and style. Designed to complement BMW interiors from classic to modern models, this high-quality shift knob provides an optimal balance of weight and ergonomics to enhance your driving feel.

Key Features & Benefits:

✅ Premium Billet Construction – Choose between durable Delrin® polymer (Black) or high-quality anodized aluminum finishes in Glacier Breeze, Gunmetal Gray, and Metallic Sunset.

✅ Optimized Weight for Smooth Shifting – Designed with the perfect weight balance to improve shifting precision and responsiveness.

✅ Ergonomic Design for Ultimate Comfort – Available in two sizes to match your driving preference:

Short Version (3 inches / 7.5 cm): Lower profile, lighter weight, and more tactile "click" between gears.
Tall Version (3.75 inches / 9.5 cm): Extra height and weight for smoother shifts with reduced effort.

✅ Laser-Engraved Customization – Personalize with VAC logo, standard shift patterns, or custom artwork for a unique touch.

✅ Secure & Hassle-Free Installation – The "i-glide" sleeve and set screws ensure a firm attachment, even during aggressive driving and track use.

Fits BMW & Other Performance Vehicles

Designed to fit a wide range of BMW models and other manual transmission vehicles, this shift knob seamlessly integrates with your car’s interior while enhancing your shifting experience.

Customize Your Shift Knob

If your BMW’s reverse gear is in the upper right or lower left, simply note your preference at checkout at no extra cost.
Custom engraving available – Additional rates apply, and we’ll contact you via email for details.

Upgrade Your BMW’s Interior & Shifting Performance Today!

Enhance your driving experience with the VAC Motorsports BMW Billet Shift Knob – a premium blend of style, comfort, and performance. Order now and take your shifting precision to the next level!

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VAC Motorsports 'Better Than New' OEM + Shift kit, BMW E46 M3

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:14:00 GMT

VAC Motorsports 'Better Than New' OEM + Shift kit, BMW E46 M3
Buy Now: ~~$285.00~~ $269.95

Shorter shifts on the cheap, and done right!

A popular modification for many BMWs is a sports shifter or "short shift" kit. The idea is to shorten the throw between gears and eliminate any excess time taken to do so. This kit allows you to flow through your gearbox with ease and agility.The E46 M3 is a great sports coupe, but the factory shift throw is considered excessive by nearly all owners we have spoken to. Here, we offer a great alternative to expensive shift kits that use all OEM parts and will make your shifts smooth and tight with a slightly shorter change-distance between gears. You too will agree "This is better than new!" without the high cost and effort increases some shift kits experience. No ‘Made in China' parts here, even though this kit is low cost, it’s all BMW genuine components!This special combination of BMW parts makes a durable, high-quality kit at a fair price.

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UUC Evo 3 Ultimate Short Shifter, BMW E34

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 09:23:00 GMT

UUC Evo 3 Ultimate Short Shifter, BMW E34
Buy Now: $359.95

The UUC Ultimate Short Shifter design starts with the finest materials: T-304 stainless steel, T-6061 aircraft-grade aluminum, precision bearings, self-adjusting and lubricating primary pivot bearing, and the finest-grade silicone vibration absorbing material. UUC products are not modified BMW components, and they are not "one size fits all" as with lesser offerings.

The unique characteristics of the design include:

- Height adjustment via upper-section length change (this does not change linkage geometry like moving-ball designs).
- Flex and rotation-free lever construction with full-length vibration-absorbing bushing.
- Linkage geometry perfectly corrected, with self-adjusting primary pivot bearing that permanently retains lubrication and precision (some models).
- Zero-tolerance lower pivot bearings that never require lubrication and eliminate significant mechanism friction. These do not wear or ovalize like solid-metal or plastic designs with expanding tolerances.

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UUC Double Shear Selector Rod, BMW E30

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:03:00 GMT

UUC Double Shear Selector Rod, BMW E30
Buy Now: $144.95

The UUC DSSR Shifter Rod increases the precision and smoothness of ALL shifters -- OE and aftermarket. Whether you have a factory stock shifter or aftermarket short shift kit, this Dual Shear Selector Rod (DSSR) will dramatically improve it.

The Goal

While producing a "short" shifter, UUC’s guiding goal in improving the BMW shifter assembly is to increase the precision and smoothness of the overall operation.

The Problem
One significant problem area is the wear and ovalization of linkage connection points at the transmission and the shifter's lower pivot.
In the original BMW design, the connection at both ends has a large injection-molded plastic bushing. Plastic wears greatly in automotive applications, and these areas are not an exception.

The design of the selector rod includes a pin at 90° to the main rod, which exerts a tremendous amount of leveraged force on the selector joint bushing from one side (known as a single shear force). The result is a steady deformation of the bushing, resulting in looseness and slop in the entire mechanism.

Looseness and slop are magnified by the leverage-multiplication effect of the shift lever itself. The result is an in-gear shifter "free play" of 3/4" and up to 1" in either direction, over 35mm total.

The Cure
A temporary fix is to simply replace the selector joint. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary fix as the new joint's bushing will exhibit the same rapid deformation. To permanently fix this, a change in the fundamental design of the pivot is required, changing the assembly to a double shear system with the UUC Double Shear Selector Rod (DSSR).

The DSSR redistributes the torsional forces from the pin/bushing interface to the complete face area on both sides of the selector joint. By taking advantage of the strength of steel in the DSSR and the body of the joint, the problem of deformation is eliminated and the movement of the selector rod correlates directly to movement of the selector joint - the only "free play" movement remaining in the shifter assembly is from within the transmission itself. In-gear "free play" is reduced to approximately 10mm total when used with a UUC EVO3 shifter.

OEM and aftermarket shifters (except UUC, which uses deformation-free bearings) contain a plastic bushing similar to the selector joint, and the exact same wear and ovalization causes those shifters to get sloppy. The DSSR permanently fixes these shifters also. The DSSR is compatible with all brand shifters, OEM BMW or aftermarket. When used with the original BMW shifter or other aftermarket shifters, the amount of "free play" will be greatly reduced but varies by shifter (flexation of the shifter shaft contributes to the total "free play" travel).

No Other Solutions.
While there are other aftermarket replacement selector rods (including "no tolerance" brass and "heavy" selector rods), none will get rid of the slop and "free play" in the BMW shifter assembly. These alternate products are not actually improving shift feel at all, but are simply rods with alternate geometry (either bent or twisted), an accommodation to make the "universal fit" aftermarket shifters fit properly.

These other aftermarket shifters, even with their "heavy" selector rods, will still be as sloppy as the original BMW shifters they are replacing. While the throw may be shorter, the precision of the assembly is no better than OEM, and will develop the same slop within a few thousand miles.

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UUC Evo 3 Ultimate Short Shifter, BMW E36

Fri, 14 May 2010 10:00:00 GMT

UUC Evo 3 Ultimate Short Shifter, BMW E36
Buy Now: $499.95

Unique Design Characteristics Include:

- Height adjustment via upper-section length change (this does not change linkage geometry like moving-ball designs).
- Flex and rotation-free lever construction with full-length vibration-absorbing bushing.
- Linkage geometry perfectly corrected, with self-adjusting primary pivot bearing that permanently retains lubrication and precision (some models).
- Zero-tolerance lower pivot bearings that never require lubrication and eliminate significant mechanism friction. These do not wear or ovalize like solid-metal or plastic designs with expanding tolerances.

Visit Short Shifters & Knobs to see additional products in this category.