Rogue Engineering OCTANE Short Shift Kits

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 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  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 user’s 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:

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.

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Factory vs. RE

Factory
Selector Rod

RE WSR
Installed