Rogue Engineering - OCTANE Short Shift Kit - BMW E46 M3 ^Sale

One of the most satisfying upgrades you can make to your BMW is to its factory shifter mechanism. By reducing the shifter's throw, you can give your manual transmission BMW a sportier, more precise feel. However, with so many different "short shift kits" out there, how can you be sure you're making the right decision? With the introduction of the Rogue Engineering OCTANE short shift kit, the choice is now crystal clear!

Rogue Engineering refuses to compromise with "lever substitution" as a method of short shift kit development. Rather than using actual test vehicles for their products, some companies actually dig through OEM factory parts diagrams to determine which factory levers can be substituted with others. This "lever substitution" method of introducing product is unacceptable for us. To find out more about this industry "shortcut", follow the links above.

Rogue Engineering shift kits have been developed and perfected through years of experience in proven short shifter technology, by our Co-Founder, Ben Liaw. As longtime BMW enthusiasts know, Ben was single-handedly responsible for introducing and developing the idea of affordable, BMW factory-like, short shift kits for late model BMWs (BL/SS for those young enough to remember!). By employing his original, proven concepts and incorporating specific improvements developed over the years (along with advanced manufacturing processes) we are pleased to introduce a short shift kit to call entirely our own.

The Shifter Lever
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.

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.

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.

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!)


E46 M3 OCTANE SSK
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 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!

Lowering NVH
New! We have recently changed our trusty rubber neoprene insert with a custom molded, urethane insert. While the durometer remains the same, we have made external changes to the insert that increased its surface area by 21% over the previous insert to allow for more adhesive to bond to the insert when inserted into the shifter upper. The OCTANE shifter continues 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
New! Since both the lower shifter portion and main pivot ball are both 303 stainless steel, we have gone a step further by allowing them to be adjustable so shift throw can be adjusted to the users liking (within reason). The distance will be pre-set by Rogue Engineering, but can be modified by the user.

Pivot Ball and Pivot Bushing
By using a stainless pivot ball, this change offers durability in addition to the unique adjustable feature. We have changed the lower pivot bushings to Delrin AF, which has proven to be a heat resistant as well as excellent material for use in this position.

Smooth Operator
The latest innovation implemented to the OCTANE short shifter is our exclusive Self-Adjusting Pivot Point. 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 unique wave spring mechanism used in the SAPP removes any play in the pivot assembly, which continually loads the pivot assembly with a consistent load (force), compensating 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 RE Weighted Selector Rod, you can enjoy the benefits of a short shifter while improving smoothness and virtually eliminating the gearbox notchiness and gear whine that is associated with some manufacturers kits.

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 high 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. Like a police battering ram, it uses it's additional mass to counteract the shorter throws, providing more energy when in motion. In the case of the 1995-99 E36 M3, adding 225g (nearly 1/2 pound) to the selector rod reduces most gearbox notchiness and improves smoothness.

Quality Construction, Made in the USA
At Rogue Engineering, we are always looking to evolve and better our products. The current iteration of the WSR uses a 5/8" square 303 stainless steel body. Each body of the WSR is then CNC bent according to the specific shifter design. Once this is done, the body is then CNC Milled to accommodate the 303 Stainless Steel CNC'd pins. These pins are pressed in place and finally TIG welded on both sides.

What about reducing shifter sloppiness?
There are those out there that will have you believe their "miracle" linkage will reduce all sorts of inherit shifter sloppiness. This is absolutely NOT true. If you have shifter sloppiness at the selector rod gear joint, the joint needs to be replaced. Trying to address selector rod gear joint play by surrounding it is like trying to fix a wheel bearing by tightening lug bolts on the wheel more. The problem is, the wheel bearing is still bad and you have not fixed the issue. If your selector rod gear joint is bad, replace it. At about $20 from the dealer, it's a no brainer on high mileage cars.

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 "heavy". By experimenting and testing various weights, we were able to find a 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.

Installation
Installation of these and other drivetrain components require access to the underside and middle of the vehicle which can be dangerous. If you do have the proper tools or resources, we recommend you seek professional help to perform the installation. Ensure they read the directions enclosed so they do not miss crucial steps that can deter from full enjoyment of the short shift kit.

Note: Rogue Engineering kits are engineered specifically for each vehicle. This also means that every model is different.  Some kits include many parts (shifter lever, replacement carrier, selector rod) while other kits may only include as little as only a replacement lever with new bushings.  Hence, there is a wide range of pricing on our kits.  If you're curious about what your kit will include, feel free to contact us by email or by phone.

Vehicles Supported
BMW E46 M3