 |
 |
 |
 |
Product DetailShifterWeighted Selector RodWhat is Ertalyte TX?
| Are you tired of a sloppy and
nonresponsive shifter? Then you have come to the right place.
Here at Modbargains we only advertise the best products available,
and these Rogue Engineering Short Shift Kits are no exception.
They spend years in R&D perfecting each and every SSK, so it will out
perform your expectations as well as the competition. Get the
smoothest and most responsive shifter you will ever find with this Rogue
Engineering Short Shift Kit.
The Rogue Engineering OCTANE short shifter
represents years of experience and research in BMW short shifting
products. With feedback from thousands of users and the measuring of
countless prototypes, OCTANE is the culmination of a tremendous amount
of research and development. This R&D is a continual process and does
not stop.
To
view more technical information on these Rogue Engineering Short Shift
Kits please check out the tabs above ^^^
|

E46 M3 OCTANE CNC |
|

E36 M3 OCTANE |
|
Rogue Engineering idea
of a short shift kit is not substituting levers in place
of factory ones just because "they fit". Throughout the 80s until
recently, BMW was notorious for using only a few specific shifter levers
for their manual transmission vehicles. For other companies, making
just a few "replacement levers" and offering them in place of those
factory part numbers was an easy way of calling it a short shift kit.
Unfortunately, for those companies, BMW started using many different
part numbers making it more difficult to just "swap in a lever".
Rogue Engineering
only develops it's short shift kit with test vehicles in
their facility, testing numerous prototypes, offering others to test it
before settling on it's final design. We feel that this old school,
real world testing is the best way when modifying OEM ergonomic,
sensory-based controls.
|
Customer
Testimonial
Wow! This is all
I can say, I ordered a Rogue Engineering Short Shift Kit for
my E90 335i and it is a 100 times better then oem.
Shifting is smooth as butter and never any notchiness.
A definite two thumbs up! I would recommend it to everyone.
Kevin W.
To view more customer testimonials CLICK HERE |
To appreciate the
specific advantages of the OCTANE short shifter lever, one must
understand the details that make it unique to all others, the heart of
the OCTANE short shift kit.
To view more technical
information on these Rogue Engineering Short Shift Kits please check out
the tabs above ^^^
Vehicle Applications
|
Vehicle |
SSK |
Part Number |
|
E30 M3 Only |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E30_M3 |
|
E36 M3 Euro 6-spd
2 |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E36_420 |
|
E39 540
|
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E39_420 |
|
E39 M5 |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E39_M5 |
|
E46 323/325 (not
Xi) |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E46_250 |
|
E46 328/330 5-spd (not Xi) |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E46_320 |
|
E46 330i/Ci/ZHP 6-spd |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E46_GS6 |
|
E46 M3 CNC Version
2 |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E46_420_CNC |
|
E60 545i/550i 6-speed |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E60_N62 |
|
E63 645/650
|
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E63_645 |
|
E9X 335 (not for
Xi) |
Rogue OCTANE SSK |
OCT_E9X_335 |
***Note:
More SSK's from Rogue Engineering are available, for more fitments or
and concerns please call us at 714-528-3330
Easy
Installation
The Rogue Engineering OCTANE WSR
is easy to install, even for the novice mechanic. Since the OCTANE WSR
is included with most OCTANE SSK, you simply install it when you install
the OCTANE SSK! There is no "universal" WSR since each is engineered
for specific applications.
The Rogue Engineering OCTANE short shift
kit comes complete with all necessary parts for a professional or
do-it-yourself install. Installation times will vary with experience
and available resources (access to the underside of the vehicle is
required.
Parts that are included with the kit are:
- Rogue Engineering OCTANE Short
Shifter Lever
- Rogue Engineering OCTANE Weighted
Selector Rod (not all models)
- Rogue Engineering Shifter Carrier
with Pivot Relocation Adapter (not all models)
- Rogue Engineering Delrin Carrier
Bushings (not all models)
- Factory replacement washers, clips
and grease
- Factory replacement carrier pin
(not all models)
- Fully detailed installation
directions
Please note that our OCTANE short shift
kits are complete kits. All OCTANE short shift kits include
OCTANE specific WSRs (which are different from our factory replacement
versions) unless otherwise noted. There are no additional bushings or
bearings to buy to inflate an artificially low price point. The prices
below reflect a kit with all required parts from our research at Rogue
Engineering. |
|
Shifter
Lever Upper
The RE OCTANE features a CNC-machined 303 stainless steel
upper section. This adds 150g more to the top of the shifter lever
(compared to aluminum), helping to improve shifter feel. This small
increase in mass above is compliments the incorporated
WSR (not all models). The outside profile has been designed to
mimic the factory lever. This means that
you can use your factory shift knob (including illuminated ones!)
Superior
Technology, Constantly Evolving
Until now, only the factory shifter lever was designed to be a
vibration-absorbing, acoustically damped unit. BMW engineers employ
vibration-dampening materials in their cars’ motor mounts,
transmission mounts, subframe mounts and in various other areas for good
reason – to isolate the cabin from excess vibration and noise. The
OCTANE short shifter lever uses superior materials, bonded and secured
to achieve a shorter, more positive shift throw without sacrificing the
vibration dampening that BMW engineers built in. Some companies may
allude that their "manufactured" lever is in some way superior to a
factory lever. Simply machining a three decade old shifter design is
not our idea of forward thinking. We do not take steps backward in
shifter technology, only forwards!
|

E46 M3 OCTANE CNC |
|

E36 M3 OCTANE |
|
Lowering
NVH
By using a custom-extruded neoprene rubber insert, the OCTANE shifter is
able to both minimize the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness)
more than any other shifter on the market. By being able to design
specific characteristics into the insert, we are able to minimize
unwanted shifter free play while minimizing excessive harshness.
Without sufficient material to address NVH issues in the driveline, you
wind up with a shifter that vibrates and buzzes. As a matter of fact,
the OCTANE shifter lever has now 308% more
vibration-absorbing material than the closest competitor. Shifter
"isolation" should not be mistaken for "vibration-absorbing". Just
because a shifter lever is built to be "isolated", do not mean that it
has adequate materials to both acoustically dampen or absorb
vibrations. If you want to maintain the vibration absorbing
characteristics of a factory shifter, then your shifter lever better be
made in a similar manner, using comparable materials!
Shifter
Lever Lower
The lower portion of the OCTANE short shifter is made from CNC'd 303
stainless steel. This material was selected because of its superior
corrosion resistance and strength. Although it
no difference in manufacturing costs to machine an
integrated pivot ball, we decided against this as you will shortly
discover why.

Pivot Ball and Pivot
Bushing
After extensive research and testing, we have discovered and implemented
what we feel is the ideal pivot material. The thermoplastic material
used in the OCTANE short shifter maintains the vibration-dampening
qualities and built-in lubricity of the stock shifters thermoplastic
pivot, but adds superior resistance to heat and wear. Unlike rigid
metal balls or bushings,
Ertalyte TX is proving to be the best material for the application.
With a coefficient of friction that is 421% better than a stainless
steel pivot ball, it combines all the benefits of smooth movement
with durability beyond all other thermoplastics. Even with all of the
fantastic properties of
Ertalyte TX, we have designed the lower pivot point to be
replaceable, should it ever need to be replaced in the future for any
reason.
Smooth Operator - The RE SAPP
The latest innovation implemented to the OCTANE short shifter is our
exclusive Self-Adjusting Pivot Point (SAPP). Most other shifters
(including the factory), rely on a pivot assembly that binds when new,
requiring a "break-in" period to allow for new washers and clips to wear
in. By the time these parts have "broken-in", unwanted play is now
introduced, resulting in a potentially sloppy shifter feel.
Rogue Engineering's SAPP eliminates
this break-in period, allowing the pivot to move freely at all
times. The simple spring mechanism used in the SAPP removes any play in
the pivot assembly, which continually loads the pivot assembly with a 6
lb. load (force), continuously compensates for bushing wear. The
effectiveness of the SAPP is also enhanced by its simplicity, as there
are no intricate mechanisms to ever fail. |
|
The OCTANE
Weighted Selector Rod (WSR)
Rogue Engineering is proud to introduce the most technologically
advanced short shift kits available for BMWs. At Rogue, we realize that
simply shortening the shift lever or moving the pivot point will not
produce optimal shift feel. The smooth action that sets the OCTANE
short shift kit apart from the others comes from our unique Weighted
Selector Rod.
With the introduction of the RE
Weighted Selector Rod, you can enjoy the benefits of a short shifter
while improving shifter smoothness and virtually eliminating the gearbox
notchiness and gear whine that is associated with some manufacturer
kits.

Rogue
Engineering E46 M3 WSR (front) |

Rogue
Engineering E46 M3 WSR (back) |
How Does it
Work?
To fully understand and appreciate the beauty and benefit of the
RE Weighted Selector Rod, we must first revisit the mechanics of a
short shift kit. When a short shift kit is installed, the throw
reduction is directly proportional to an increase in shift effort. In
simple terms, if a short shift kit reduces throws by 30%, then the
effort required to shift into gear increases by the same amount
(30%). While some people find this increase acceptable, others do not
like the increased gearbox "notchiness" that is associated with the
increased effort. The latter group describes the increased notchiness
as a decrease in gearbox smoothness, and a departure from the feeling of
refinement that led them to choose BMW in the first place.
The Rogue Engineering
WSR replaces the factory selector rod with a higher quality, CNC'd 303
stainless version that has significantly greater mass. This mass, added
on the low side of the shifter assembly, is completely hidden from the
users view, but its benefits are obvious. Honda (known for its
silky-smooth short-throw shifters) uses heavy cables to actuate the
shifting. Now the secret is out for BMWs.
The following chart shows the
differences between the BMW's factory selector rod and RE's WSR:
| |
Factory
Selector Rod
(E36 M3/328) |
RE WSR
(E36 M3/328) |
|
Construction |
Cadmium-Plated, Mild Steel
Fusion Welded |
303 Stainless Steel
CNC Machined
Grade 12.9 Hardware
TIG Welded |
|
Mass |
180g |
606g |
|
Difference |
-- |
426g heavier |
As documented in the
case of the 1995-99 E36 M3, adding 426g (nearly 1 pound) to the selector
rod reduces most gearbox notchiness and improves smoothness.
Just say NO to
ugly shift knobs
A common "Band-Aid" to address the increased notchiness and required
effort of short shift kits has been the addition of a heavy aftermarket
shift knob. Whereas a factory BMW shift knob typically weighs 3.0
ounces, some aftermarket shift knobs can weigh nearly TEN times this
amount. While this additional mass can counteract the notchiness of the
short shift kit, it can also make the user feel much like they're
manipulating a grapefruit. Additionally, most metallic shift knobs
(aluminum, steel, titanium, etc.) can get blazing hot in the summer and
ice cold in the winter. Most generally overlook this detail until they
actually touch the knob, either searing their hand or getting
frostbite.
Another disadvantage
to the heavyweight aftermarket shift knobs is that they do not match
factory interiors like factory BMW knobs. Most of our E46 M3 and E39 M5
customers love their factory BMW illuminated shift knobs. Even with the
addition of our short shift kit, they prefer to continue to use the
illuminated shift knob. Now they continue to retain their factory shift
knob while benefiting from smooth, notch-free shifting with the Rogue
Engineering Weighted Selector Rod.
How Much is Too
Much?
At Rogue Engineering, we also know that it is possible to have too
much of a good thing. While prototyping the RE WSR, we found that
adding too much mass made the shifter feel too smooth. So we
experimented and tested various different weights and found a perfect
balance between "too much" and "not enough" mass. The end result was
our current WSR. This perfect balance allows decreases notchiness while
retaining a comfortable and acceptable amount of gearbox effort.
Easy
Installation
The Rogue Engineering OCTANE WSR is easy to install, even for the
novice mechanic. Since the OCTANE WSR is included with most OCTANE SSK,
you simply install it when you install the OCTANE SSK! There is no
"universal" WSR since each is engineered for specific applications.
|
What is
Ertalyte TX?
Ertalyte TX is an internally lubricated thermoplastic polyester that
provides enhanced wear and inertness over general-purpose nylon and
acetyl products. Ertalyte TX contains a uniformly dispersed solid
lubricant, providing a lower wear rate and coefficient of friction than
unmodified polyesters like PET or PBT and even internally lubricated
materials like Delrin AF.

As the table above
shows, most thermoplastics have very low coefficient of friction, making
them a good choice as a pivot material. In the past, even BMW used
steel shifter pivot balls, but moved on to thermoplastic in the late
90s. All new BMWs now have thermoplastic shifter pivot balls, from
their least expensive BMW all the way to the $130,000 Z8.
At Rogue Engineering, we know that
stainless steel is not an idea pivot material, because of its relatively
high coefficient of friction and its inability to dampen vibration. Ertalyte
TX is 421% more lubricous than stainless steel and dampens
vibration.

k = in.^3-min/ft. lbs. hr. x 10^-10
Though thermoplastics have their
benefits, using just any thermoplastic would not be ideal. Durability
is also an issue that must be considered. As shown in the table above,
some materials wear more quickly than others do. If lesser materials
are used, premature wear can result. Whereas UHMW had the lowest
coefficient of friction, it also has inferior wear characteristics.
What good is a pivot that wears out too quickly? Ertlayte TX is 315%
more durable than UHMW.

The ambient
temperature of a BMW drive train can reach 200°F. At these
temperatures, some thermoplastics can start losing their advertised
chemical and physical properties. Extended exposure to higher service
temperatures cause some thermoplastic parts to become brittle, and
eventually fail. We have seen the non-replaceable thermoplastic pivots
of BMW factory shift levers become brittle after just a few years of
use. None of the above listed thermoplastics meet the requirement of
200°F, except for Ertalyte TX. Even though Ertalyte TX is designed
to handle such temperature and wear, the pivot of the OCTANE short
shifter lever is replaceable, if ever required.
But what about
those steel balls?
Many hours of research and
development go into our products to make sure that all bases are
covered. BMW's change to a thermoplastic pivot was hardly a cost
savings measure, as using multiple materials in the manufacture of a
single part dictates a more complicated manufacturing process. Although
it would have been much simpler to machine a pivot ball
into our stainless steel lower shaft of the lower section of our shifter
lever, we knew that this would not be the best solution. It safe to say
that those manufacturers using steel pivot balls are actually the ones
taking short cuts.

Perfection?
We've got the CNC program to prove it.
Like many of the
parts in the Rogue Engineering OCTANE short shift kit, CNC machining is
the only method to accurately duplicate the parts required. This ensures
that the end user gets the same product that we continue to improve and
develop on a regular basis. An important data point during development
was the actual tolerance of the pivot ball. During our development, we
actually tested more than ten different samples of pivot dimensions, in
the effort to find the optimal solution. What we discovered was that
"factory-like" tolerances were in fact, a bit stiff. Naturally, by
machining new samples in specific increments, we were able to determine
dimensions that were unacceptably loose and those that were too tight
within the pivot. After selecting the best fitting sample, we were able
to test our findings. What we found was that our pivot was in fact, 41%
smoother than stock. An alarming discovery was that our pivot was 300%
smoother than another popular aftermarket shifter.
Although a detail
such as the actual pivot resistance may seem trivial in the scheme of
things, we're used to sweating the details. At Rogue Engineering, we
wouldn't have it any other way. |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Be the first to write a review. |
 |
| No customer review found. |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|