TMS Weekly Article 31 | Turner Motorsport

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TMS Weekly Article 31

The Ultimate Shifting Experience

As of 2016, roughly 18% of drivers in the United States know how to drive a manual transmission car. An even sadder 3% of drivers choose to row their own gears on a daily basis. That 3% includes most of us here at Turner Motorsport and a good amount of our supporters. While the number of stick shift drivers is at an all-time low, those who still prefer the engagement of a manual gearbox are more die-hard than ever in the defense of their beloved transmissions. We feel the same way here, which is why we developed the Turner Motorsport Double-Adjustable Short Shift Kits to offer BMW drivers the most precise and engaging shifting experience possible, all tailored to your specific settings, so you have yet another reason to keep that third pedal.

With fewer cars every year offered in a stick variant, those of us determined to defend our manual gearboxes should enjoy them to their fullest ability. We will lose chances every year with classic BMWs being harder to find and newer automatics becoming more abundant. So why wouldn’t we want to make each gear change the best feeling possible to remind ourselves why we drive what we do? Simply put, your gearshift and steering wheel are the two most engaging parts of your interior, so using a short shift kit and perfect shift knob makes logical sense to offer a significant change in your driving feel. That change needs to be the biggest improvement in how it feels, engages, and looks in your interior.

We have covered short shift kits and shifter assemblies before on Turner Motorsport Keys to Performance , but this week is all about our answer to a few shortcomings in both the BMW factory shifter and other aftermarket assemblies available. To clarify, there is nothing inherently wrong with either option, as shift feel comes down entirely to preference, but we did feel that no kit previously available offered all the customization and experience we wanted. Naturally, we designed our own.

The Turner Motorsport engineering team CAD designed this shift kit in-house as a labor of love. This is something we wanted in our cars for the ultimate shifting experience. While the BMW shifter is fine, its throws are too long. This is a problem solved by some short shifters, but a lack of adjustability means the height of the shift knob may not be to our liking. Additionally, the kits on the market usually accept OEM-style push-on knobs but do not readily mate with other knobs we wanted to use. Namely, a rally-style lever for an incredibly short distance from the steering wheel to the shifter. Our kit needed to address all those factors, which is why our engineers set out to design the adjustable short shift kit with those major complaints in mind.

Our design features both height and throw adjustability, which gives you the range of options to create a perfect feel and look not offered by fixed kits. Its precisely machined shifter bearing cup assembly encapsulates all the shifter components, which makes for a simple installation and a refined, crisp, and a tight shift feel. The feeling of a direct linkage shifter without installing a dominant fixture that upsets your factory interior is a major benefit to this design, one we decided when we set out to offer the best shift kit on the market. Additionally, that look is important. Our kit allows for both OEM style knobs and other threaded applications for you to choose based on your liking. Now, you can have a factory-like look, with incredibly short throws, that are precise and rewarding all from a single unit that can be re-customized from inside the car easily for a completely different look and feel.

Since we are the distinguished few who choose to mechanically change gear, we felt this shifter deserved to be in the hands of those who refuse to give up the last vestiges of connected driving before that means wifi access. The Turner Motorsport Double-Adjustable Short Shifter is the most engaging option, tailored exclusively for your preferences, available for your BMW with a proper gearbox. We are proud to have been able to produce it before the market dictates otherwise, so thanks to you manual drivers, here it is. You deserve it.