[BruceM]

For those interested, these are my thoughts on these mods:

UCP--I should say to begin with that I don't like the stock MT feel in this car. As I've said in other threads, for me, the pedal stroke is too long and too light, and the shifter throw is too long, too light and not very positive in engagement. These are only my thoughts, not anybody else's. No right answer here. Still, I know the feel I want and the stock setup did not have it.

The UCP (Ultimate Clutch Pedal) shortens the stroke and allows you to select a pedal resistance. The choices are labeled Comfort (or something like that, I didn't pay attention), Sport and Race. To be on the safe side, I picked Sport, though I was tempted to pick Race.

I still might, but the Sport setting, especially combined with the clutch stop built in to the kit, is much, much better than stock. Pedal resistance is still not all that strong, but it is clearly stronger than stock, and pretty linear. I might try Race in a bit here, just to compare.

The short shift kit is from UUC. As far as I am concerned, like the UCP, this is the way the car should have come from the factory. Engagement is much more positive. Throws are maybe 25-30% shorter, and take more effort, but the act of shifting is more pleasurable, tactile. Stick is also lowered somewhat, although I started with the MPerformance carbon fiber inlay stick, which is already a bit lower. At some point I might replace the boot, pull off the cf knob and go with a bigger UUC knob I got with the SSK kit.

All in all, the stock feeling of the shifting process--everything being just too soft and easy and a little vague--is gone, and in its place is a shorter, more compact, more purposeful, "feel-some" experience. Highly recommend this UCP/SSK combination IF you like what I like in a manual tranny.

I also lowered with Eibach springs one inch all around, with Turner extended hub spacers, 12mm up front, 10 mm in the rear.

This is another mod I recommend highly. Car feels more connected to the road (I think I actually feel things through the wheel a little bit now!), less roll. It is NOT a radical change from stock, but it feels right. One inch still makes most bumps, etc. navigable. Drop looks good, as others have posted, but not overly slammed. If you want to avoid any real poke 12/10mm front/rear is about right. I think it would still look good at 15/12 if you like a little more poke, but I'm happy with 12/10.

I also swapped out grills for cf grills from IND, and put on some AA matte black tips, which seem to go well with the cf diffuser.

So, for now I'm done (famous last words). Will wait to install the Fabspeed sport-catted DP--which I have waiting in the basement--with the Dinan kit, when/if it ever shows up.

[mlust]

Id like to see some pics of your drop and spacers on the M2

[mrcheezle19]

I'm really interested in the clutch pedal as I would like a slightly shorter kick. Hmm tempting.

[sinajoon87]

Thanks for the write-up! I agree with everything you mentioned. Definitely post some pics of the new mods when you get the chance

[BAN_M2C]

Pics pics pics pics!

[Orange fever]

All that info but :
keep modding brotha ///

[BruceM]

Ok, I have pics on my phone, but how do you post the damn things? I can't find the tutorial anywhere...

[BAN_M2C]

Originally Posted by BruceM

Ok, I have pics on my phone, but how do you post the damn things? I can't find the tutorial anywhere...

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63888

[BAN_M2C]

If you are using the Bimmerpost App on your phone you can embed them also by clicking the paper clip on the bottom left..

[BruceM]

Sorry dudes, can't do it. Downloaded the Bimmerpost app on my Android, tried to log in with email and password, says it's an "invalid combination." Change password fine, use it to log in on my desktop no problem, but exact same combination of email address and password on phone app and I get the same "invalid" message.

Anyway, can't really take pics of the UPC or the SSK, and there a plenty of pics of the Eibach/spacer combo around here. Bummer, though....

[Rock Sweden]

Originally Posted by BruceM

Sorry dudes, can't do it. Downloaded the Bimmerpost app on my Android, tried to log in with email and password, says it's an "invalid combination." Change password fine, use it to log in on my desktop no problem, but exact same combination of email address and password on phone app and I get the same "invalid" message.

Anyway, can't really take pics of the UPC or the SSK, and there a plenty of pics of the Eibach/spacer combo around here. Bummer, though....

email them to yourself and post from desktop.

[Gimmethecash]

Originally Posted by Rock Sweden

email them to yourself and post from desktop.

This.

Thanks for the review - I've been interested in the UCP since I saw HP post info on it - I'm not looking to turn my comfortably light clutch action into a stiff leg workout when I'm stuck in traffic, but having a shorter throw and less lift to reach it does interest me, so I'm going to give the UCP a shot.

I'm on MP coils and I'm going to also follow the lead here with 12/10mm spacers F/R. Looking for a good stud & fancy pants lug setup while I'm at it. Pics of your setup with the 12mm fronts would be helpful.

How much of a pain is the short shifter install? I don't hate the stock throw/action, but shorter and firmer would feel sportier. I've installed short shift kits on other cars in the past, some are easy - some not so much.

Also debating black or CF grills on my BSM, but I know CF is a slippery slope...once you start adding CF, anything shiny or plastic starts looking like it needs the treatment. Pics would be helpful (except for my wallet).

[BruceM]

Originally Posted by Gimmethecash

This.

Thanks for the review - I've been interested in the UCP since I saw HP post info on it - I'm not looking to turn my comfortably light clutch action into a stiff leg workout when I'm stuck in traffic, but having a shorter throw and less lift to reach it does interest me, so I'm going to give the UCP a shot.

I'm on MP coils and I'm going to also follow the lead here with 12/10mm spacers F/R. Looking for a good stud & fancy pants lug setup while I'm at it. Pics of your setup with the 12mm fronts would be helpful.

How much of a pain is the short shifter install? I don't hate the stock throw/action, but shorter and firmer would feel sportier. I've installed short shift kits on other cars in the past, some are easy - some not so much.

Also debating black or CF grills on my BSM, but I know CF is a slippery slope...once you start adding CF, anything shiny or plastic starts looking like it needs the treatment. Pics would be helpful (except for my wallet).

I would love to help, but posting from my desktop is also a mystery to me. What does that mean, exactly? I emailed pics to my desktop, but from there have no idea how to transfer those to this thread...

On the merits, make sure to look at this thread, pages 7 and 8:

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...1300272&page=8

There are pics of a 10mm all around set-up on Eibachs, with the poster's opinion that 12 mm up front would have been ideal...

The UUC on the Sport setting is by no means a recipe for a stiff leg workout. It just changes the resistance from almost non-existent in my view, to existent. I'm half-tempted to experiment with Race, myself. Correct, linear resistance just feels better. But Sport will not be too much, I can just about guarantee that. And the built-in bump stop is great. Not radical, but a nice difference.

This SSK install was a bitch, unfortunately, at least according to my shop. Required removal of exhaust shields and "moving the drivetrain," whatever that means--and I wasn't there.. But the results are excellent--the action is indeed shorter, and more "slotted" without requiring tons more effort. Some more, but not a lot. It is exactly what I would have wanted from the factory--although nowadays it seems BMW believes those few of us who want a MT want something so smooth and light, in pedal and shifter, that you can barely feel the process with your hands and feet.

[Gimmethecash]

Thanks for the feedback and the link. 12mm front definitely looks to be the way to go from those pics, along with just eyeballing the difference between front & rear on my own setup after lowering.

I'm definitely going to try the clutch pedal and I'm guessing that during the short shifter install, the driveshaft will need to be disconnected on the transmission end so it can be moved out of the way. Might make for a fun Saturday project, or along with an exhaust upgrade if I go that route.

[BAN_M2C]

Posting this for BruceM

I got the same pic in the two emails, were you trying to send a different shot?

[BAN_M2C]

Shot to see his spacers setup..

[Gimmethecash]

I finally installed my UCP today - install was pretty straightforward except I had to do a lot of cursing to finally get past the backup camera module that prevents the clutch lever from sliding far enough left to come off until I found the way to remove the module.

I initially decided to go hardcore & put it on the "race" setting. I drove it around a while, but didn't really like it, at least not on the street. It was pretty firm for the first half of the short travel, and then just basically fell to the floor for the second half. There was hardly any travel at all from fully depressed to engagement, which is good, but it just felt weird on the way down. Maybe it would be better without the springs or with just the small center one. That might be the way to go for a track car, as there should be better feel all around.

I then switched it to "sport" mode - the middle position. Much more to my liking and what I would call the "goldilocks" setting from my perspective. Firmer than stock, but not so biphasic as race mode was with both springs installed. Shorter travel, quicker engagement & disengagement, and with a lower resting point than stock. I might try removing the springs and trying race mode again some day, but the sport setting is perfect for now, given that I do a lot of city driving and sometimes get stuck in LA traffic.

The stock lever has the clutch pedal resting higher than the brake, but on sport setting, it sits slightly lower.

The only issue I ran into (besides some soreness from all the contorting and lost time figuring out how to get the rear camera module out of the way) is with clearance to the under-dash trim panel. I noticed a "clack" noise when the clutch would come to resting position, and after crawling back under, I found that the clutch lever was *just* hitting the trim panel. It appears to be a manufacturing tolerance thing (lever or trim panel), but it was easily solved by trimming about 1/4" off the trim panel where the lever was hitting it.

[BruceM]

Originally Posted by Gimmethecash

I finally installed my UCP today - install was pretty straightforward except I had to do a lot of cursing to finally get past the backup camera module that prevents the clutch lever from sliding far enough left to come off until I found the way to remove the module.

I initially decided to go hardcore & put it on the "race" setting. I drove it around a while, but didn't really like it, at least not on the street. It was pretty firm for the first half of the short travel, and then just basically fell to the floor for the second half. There was hardly any travel at all from fully depressed to engagement, which is good, but it just felt weird on the way down. Maybe it would be better without the springs or with just the small center one. That might be the way to go for a track car, as there should be better feel all around.

I then switched it to "sport" mode - the middle position. Much more to my liking and what I would call the "goldilocks" setting from my perspective. Firmer than stock, but not so biphasic as race mode was with both springs installed. Shorter travel, quicker engagement & disengagement, and with a lower resting point than stock. I might try removing the springs and trying race mode again some day, but the sport setting is perfect for now, given that I do a lot of city driving and sometimes get stuck in LA traffic.

The stock lever has the clutch pedal resting higher than the brake, but on sport setting, it sits slightly lower.

The only issue I ran into (besides some soreness from all the contorting and lost time figuring out how to get the rear camera module out of the way) is with clearance to the under-dash trim panel. I noticed a "clack" noise when the clutch would come to resting position, and after crawling back under, I found that the clutch lever was *just* hitting the trim panel. It appears to be a manufacturing tolerance thing (lever or trim panel), but it was easily solved by trimming about 1/4" off the trim panel where the lever was hitting it.

Good work! And thanks for trying that Race setting. I think you talked me out of it. I've been toying with the idea. If the Race setting was just the same as Sport, but uniformly stiffer, I would do it. But your description does not sound good. Sport is still much better for me than stock, so I think I'm set there.

Are you going to try an SSK? I dig mine.

[Gimmethecash]

Thanks - yeah race mode might be OK without the springs - they really pull it to the floor once you get about half way down, and it's definitely stiffer for the first half of travel. I'm content with the sport setting though and plan to leave it there.

I also got my Turner Motorsports spacers installed today - 10mm all around and I really like the look.

I'm debating the SSK; same goes for Fabspeed downpipe. If I stop debating and start purchasing, I'll do them both at the same time.

[R0ME0]

@BruceM we gotta do a meet up. I wanna checkout your setup in person.

[BruceM]

Originally Posted by Gimmethecash

Thanks - yeah race mode might be OK without the springs - they really pull it to the floor once you get about half way down, and it's definitely stiffer for the first half of travel. I'm content with the sport setting though and plan to leave it there.

I also got my Turner Motorsports spacers installed today - 10mm all around and I really like the look.

I'm debating the SSK; same goes for Fabspeed downpipe. If I stop debating and start purchasing, I'll do them both at the same time.

Do it. I can vouch for the SSK. I'm having the DP installed at the same time as the Dinan kit, so that will make it difficult to say too terribly much about it, but the consensus is pretty overwhelming by now that it's a solid bang-for-the- buck mod.

[BruceM]

Originally Posted by R0ME0

@BruceM we gotta do a meet up. I wanna checkout your setup in person.

Glad to do it. But give me 2-3 more weeks. Car is about to change a bit