any update on this?

 

Have been tied up in meetings all week. Have had no time to follow up with Fidanza. Will follow up Monday.

 

Fidanza got a number of the 135/235/335i shift kits in today and will start to look into compatibility with the F-Type. My contact there said he would try to look into this over the next few days, but may be slow making progress as they are preparing for the Nov. 3-6 SEMA Show. Might be another 2-3 weeks before I have something additional to report. My Jag service advisor is also checking to see if one of their techs is willing to take on this project. I'll know next Monday when the tech gets back from vacation. If he is willing, I will be taking copious notes regarding procedures for removing the shift knob and arm. If not, I may subscribe to a workshop manual so that I can do it myself. Fidanza will not offer their kit for F-Types until mine has been successfully installed even if they think it will fit.

 

any updates?

 

Fidanza is participating heavily in the SEMA show which ends this Friday. My contact promised to focus on this project when he got back next week.

 

2 Questions


1) Who would you trust to do the install (as it's beyond my skillset) - Dealer? Transmission shop?
2) What do you think the implications would be at the end of lease - would you get dinged hard on it or would it be viewed as an improvement?


Thoughts?

 

There are no answers to your questions at this point. There's no way of knowing until someone finds an option that will fit, tries, it, we see how well (or not) it works, and whether it proves to be reliable, etc.

If it works as well as short-shifters on other cars, the leasing company wouldn't even notice.

 

+1. An early adoption of any new mod carries with it some risk. If the short shift option that I found turns out not to work, it is unlikely to cause any damage and can be easily reversed. my out of pocket could be a couple hours labor to try to make it work and another hour to go back to stock if it doesn't work. For installation, I have chosen to go with a Fidanza dealer in Sterling, VA.

 

The units that Fidanza got in for inspection were the wrong ones. The specific unit they are looking for fits the E90 BMW. Fidanza is till working on this and will hopefully have it sorted out by the time I get back to town at the end of the month.

 

any updates on the short shifter?

 

Fidanza has located a shifter kit that they believe will work. I am coordinating with them and one of their local dealers in northern Virginia a time that we can test fit it on my V6S. Will probably be some time after the holidays.

 

Fidanza has identified the right shifter and is in the process of assembling the full kit. They will ship mid next week. Their dealer in northern VA will be doing the test fit (perhaps the following week if it's not snowing too hard). Keep your fingers crossed. We may have a solution shortly.

 

Great! Can't wait!

It's it's pretty much confirmed that special tools are needed to remove the shift knob in order to get the shifter out? It's one of those things I would rather do myself than have the dealer do.

And would it be possible for a DIY thread?

 

I'll watch the installation. If it works, I'll post the entire process. I believe the knob just snaps down onto the lever, but removal requires something similar to a bearing puller.

 

Nice

Any update on pricing so far?

 

I think it will be in the $3-400 range on the parts. Labor will depend on whether it can be done solely from above or access is needed from below. That might require removal of the exhaust system and maybe the tranny support brace. Stay tuned.

 

While I'm contemplating a fresh 4" of snow already on the ground and another 20"+ on the way by tomorrow afternoon, I just received an email from my local tuner that the Fidanza short shifter has arrived. Sooo...no telling how long it will be before the streets clear off enough for me to get the car over to him. Hoping it will drop right in, but giving it a 50/50 probability that it will need further tweaking by my tuner and/or Fidanza.

 

any updates so far?

 

Ignorant question...what's "throw"?

 

In the manual transmission, the throw is literally the distance from one gear to the next. If you shorten the throw, shifting is a bit more exact and faster... and more fun. =)