This thread is to discuss the E46 manual shift lever bushing (Part number 25117507695 or 25111221822)
Installation?
The OEM bushing that BMW uses for the shifter lever is this rubber piece that I found impossible to install. In this video: YT Link, the 50's kid just sprays silicone grease over the part and pushes it into place. I tried this and failed; even tried using a full on press but could not get it in without damaging the rubber lip on either end. I froze the bushing and heated up the metal to try to get it in. No luck. I spent around 5 hours trying different ways to get it in before I had damaged the new bushing to a point were it wouldn't have been worth it to even use it.
Two Piece Version
Online there is a different version of this bushing that is actually two pieces. This is useful because each end of the oem bushing has a lip to keep it in place but you don't have to force the lip through the hole to install it. Several companies actually sell their own version of this bushing. Basically two-piece bushings that are way easier to install. I didn't have the time to order one of these so I designed and printed my own. Took me way less time to model, prototype, and print a final model than I wasted trying to install the oem bushing. If you don't have a printer or don't want the risk of it failing you can find these online printed or molded in [hopefully] higher quality plastics than a hobbyist could print themselves.
Circle vs Oval
Online I've found both circular and oval bushings. Not sure why both exists. The OEM bushing is an oval but it's also squishy rubber so I kinda of assumed it would mold into more of a circular shape after installation. I don't know why aftermarket non TPU or rubber bushings are made oval instead of round. If anyone has done research or work about this I'd love to know.
Print it yourself
I printed it in PLA and it hasn't melted on me yet with 1200 miles at the time of writing this. However I can't recommend this, you should print it in a more heat resistant filament such as ABS or PETG. I don't know how this would affect the clearances. I used a digital caliper and designed my model off of the gaps in the transmission and shifter lever. Gave it enough space to go in and out with effort but not enough to slide around. Another thing to consider is that different printers and different filaments have dimensional accuracies. I wasn't happy with my first couple model's fitment because I thought they were to lose and might rattle out or were to hard to install without using tools. I made it exact but it is probably only exact for setups the same or similar to mine. (Ender 3) No idea how different nicer printers like Prusa's would print this; maybe if it's anymore dimensionally accurate it might not fit as well. I made mine a circle before I knew there were oval shaped ones too. It works well [so far].
Buy it Online
Circle
Oval
BMW Rubber Bushing
Highly doubt it but if enough people want me to I would consider printing mine in Black ABS and shipping them out. You can use my file to print them for yourself for free.
Feel free to add to this thread with better prices or quality bushings
Installation?
The OEM bushing that BMW uses for the shifter lever is this rubber piece that I found impossible to install. In this video: YT Link, the 50's kid just sprays silicone grease over the part and pushes it into place. I tried this and failed; even tried using a full on press but could not get it in without damaging the rubber lip on either end. I froze the bushing and heated up the metal to try to get it in. No luck. I spent around 5 hours trying different ways to get it in before I had damaged the new bushing to a point were it wouldn't have been worth it to even use it.
Two Piece Version
Online there is a different version of this bushing that is actually two pieces. This is useful because each end of the oem bushing has a lip to keep it in place but you don't have to force the lip through the hole to install it. Several companies actually sell their own version of this bushing. Basically two-piece bushings that are way easier to install. I didn't have the time to order one of these so I designed and printed my own. Took me way less time to model, prototype, and print a final model than I wasted trying to install the oem bushing. If you don't have a printer or don't want the risk of it failing you can find these online printed or molded in [hopefully] higher quality plastics than a hobbyist could print themselves.
Circle vs Oval
Online I've found both circular and oval bushings. Not sure why both exists. The OEM bushing is an oval but it's also squishy rubber so I kinda of assumed it would mold into more of a circular shape after installation. I don't know why aftermarket non TPU or rubber bushings are made oval instead of round. If anyone has done research or work about this I'd love to know.
Print it yourself
I printed it in PLA and it hasn't melted on me yet with 1200 miles at the time of writing this. However I can't recommend this, you should print it in a more heat resistant filament such as ABS or PETG. I don't know how this would affect the clearances. I used a digital caliper and designed my model off of the gaps in the transmission and shifter lever. Gave it enough space to go in and out with effort but not enough to slide around. Another thing to consider is that different printers and different filaments have dimensional accuracies. I wasn't happy with my first couple model's fitment because I thought they were to lose and might rattle out or were to hard to install without using tools. I made it exact but it is probably only exact for setups the same or similar to mine. (Ender 3) No idea how different nicer printers like Prusa's would print this; maybe if it's anymore dimensionally accurate it might not fit as well. I made mine a circle before I knew there were oval shaped ones too. It works well [so far].
- Here is my file: My Bushing
- I also found an oval bushing file someone else made: Oval Bushing File
Buy it Online
Circle
Oval
BMW Rubber Bushing
Highly doubt it but if enough people want me to I would consider printing mine in Black ABS and shipping them out. You can use my file to print them for yourself for free.
Feel free to add to this thread with better prices or quality bushings
