Getting Paranoid!!

[Audi_S4]

First of all I have a 1998 S4 , first Avant S4 ever made in europe as you see also old airco and old dash .

after waiting weeks for my JHM shifter to arrive + having to pay 95€ (150$) extra to customs I just found out there is no fu**ing way this thing will fit my car. I cannot unscrew all the bolts, the harnas is totally different with the one JHM sent me and I have a aluminum cage surrounding my shifter

+ the opening is even smaller then the B5 A4 from the shifter bushing upgrade movie from JHM as you see in the pictures I even cannot reach all the screws[O_O]

pfff this is really depressing, I hate the way my car shifts and now it seems I payd 400€ for something I can't use

here are the pics:









here you can see the aluminum cage surrounding the whole shifter.unscrewing those 2 bolts doesn't make a difference, they are there for nothing cause beneath there is still the alu cage without wholes or clips or whatsoever to remove it...

[AudiSportB5S4]

i would give Jason @ JHM a call. Im sure he'll help you out he's a good guy

[tike0rz]

Ohhh you must have a pre 2000 MY S4. I'm sure Jay can help you out, he is really a nice guy. About the customs fee, you might have to bite the bullet there

If you can't find anybody to take it from your hands, let me know

[Audi_S4]

yeah I know, but I wanted to know if someone could help me out or has ather opinions , I'm not pointing fingers @ jason cause he could not know this !

it's just depressing after waiting 3 weeks + all this shit with customs I finally got the thing and I cannot even undo my stock shifter, as you see in pics something doesn't seem right...

[S4 John]

i got to mine using this tool. idk if that helps.

[Eurotuned_A4]

looks exactly how my a4 shifter was before i replaced mine. i believe that the part around the shifter is part of the body. when i swapped my jhm shifter i already had the middle console out due to other things going in as well.

those 2 bolts closer to the ebrake handle and 1 other bolt that is under the console more towards the ashtray will losen the entire shifter thing so you can take it out. thats how it worked for me anyways. yours looks exactly the same though, so it still should be doable.

wish i would have taken picture to help you out more.

[Audi_S4]

the problem is the metal/alu cage, I have all the tools but there is a cage without screws/bolts/clips whatsoever surrounding the whole shifter stuff!


the bolts you see do not undo this, I screwed loose everything I could get to but the cage is still there , it almost looks like it is screwed from underneath , like you need to pull the trans to get to the shifter, weird but this is what it looks like.

also the plastic opening is wayyyy smaller then you guys s4's , even smaller then the A4 B5 in the video on JHM racing!

[jaybquick@JHM]

That is why I sold you the new plastic center base from the newer models (00-02). Everything is fine.

You need to undo the 4 10mm nuts that hold the box in. Then the box will be low enough to undo the 4 allen bolts. Then put the new shifter in with the new plastic B5 S4 base I supplied you.

That simple man.


Your car is just like the pre 99.5 A4s out here that I sell the updated bases to as well. They are not as roomy and are definitely harder to do, but I gave you all the parts you need. Unfortunately the pre 2000 center consoles just suck.

[Eurotuned_A4]

no no im saying there is another bolt to loosen it closer to the ashtray. my console was removed, so i didnt think it was a problem when i installed mine. once you loosen those 3 bolts the shifter will drop providing more room to loosen bolts.

my entire shifter and shifter area looked exactly like yours though. that aluminum cage you see is the opening in the body down the transmission. there is another more bowl shaped one on the under side that drops with those three bolts. once you get those 3 bolts, you will be able to loosen everything else.

edit: i said 3 bolts, but Jay is correct and its 4.

[Audi_S4]

ok, workin on it now! i'll let you guys know! thanks !!!

[stapo69]

I managed it on my 1998 S4, it was a bit bloody fiddley, but it's do-able. Think you need to undo the 2 bolts directly behind and in front of shifter, larger one at the front, smaller at the back, then the 2 bolts lower down towards the front, that hold the linkage to the shifter. Then the whole lot lifts out. The 2 brass bars stay in the car. Just take note where they all are to start with, there's massive amounts of adjustments, I couldn't select reverse the 1st few times I bolted it back together!

[Eurotuned_A4]

yeah, make sure you can get it in all gears. you most likely will have to adjust it. i had to adjust 2 times because i couldnt get reverse at first, but once i get that right i coudlnt get it into 1st. so be sure to check and amke sure you can get the gears.

[Audi_S4]

FINALLY!

damn what a job, but it's in there and shifting!

first impression:
- feels good , all gears are in place also reverse, but it feels a little notchy but it's new and I just put a little more grease on it + it could maybe use a little more adjusting but that's for tomorrow...
- the shifter does not jurk around anymore, before when I got on it it shuddered and stuff but now it's nice and firm without any play!

I'm happy, thanks guys and THANKS JASON @ JHM!

[jaybquick@JHM]

FINALLY!

damn what a job, but it's in there and shifting!

first impression:
- feels good , all gears are in place also reverse, but it feels a little notchy but it's new and I just put a little more grease on it + it could maybe use a little more adjusting but that's for tomorrow...
- the shifter does not jurk around anymore, before when I got on it it shuddered and stuff but now it's nice and firm without any play!

I'm happy, thanks guys and THANKS JASON @ JHM!

Your welcome man. Glad you enjoy it. When you shorten the throw you will feel the detents in the tranny even more. So if you don't get used to it, just move the lower bolt at the bottom of the shifter up to the top set of holes. This will lessen the reduction and give you better leverage to shift smoother, but with a little bit longer throw than it has now.

[Audi_S4]

Your welcome man. Glad you enjoy it. When you shorten the throw you will feel the detents in the tranny even more. So if you don't get used to it, just move the lower bolt at the bottom of the shifter up to the top set of holes. This will lessen the reduction and give you better leverage to shift smoother, but with a little bit longer throw than it has now.

okay man, But I think I will let it sit back there for a while, it's been a long fight against all the bolts
it feels good like this, I now finally know what it feels like to have a JHM shifter in the car!

thanks!

[jaybquick@JHM]

okay man, But I think I will let it sit back there for a while, it's been a long fight against all the bolts
it feels good like this, I now finally know what it feels like to have a JHM shifter in the car!

thanks!

Did you get my email?

[Audi_S4]

yup I got it!