Short shifter considerations ECS vs Eurocode

[lexcruiser]

What's up guys. Been doing some reading on the two options but wasn't able to find much info where someone did a direct experienced based comparison between them. I think I'm leaning towards the Eurocode at the moment... The gated R8 shifting feel is definitely what I'm looking for. Both sound great based on the reviews I've found so decision will probably be based on preference toward shifting feel.. Appreciate any feedback!

Does the ECS shifter have the same gated feel?

[mintytoo]

What's up guys. Been doing some reading on the two options but wasn't able to find much info where someone did a direct experienced based comparison between them. I think I'm leaning towards the Eurocode at the moment... The gated R8 shifting feel is definitely what I'm looking for. Both sound great based on the reviews I've found so decision will probably be based on preference toward shifting feel.. Appreciate any feedback!

Does the ECS shifter have the same gated feel?

I'm not sure but a member here, Aadel, also a rep for el1te is selling his ecs short shifter , brand new at a discount, I believe $229

[lexcruiser]

Thanks for the heads up man. I'll look in to it..

Anyone else with feedback on the shifters?

[Aadel@E1motorsports]

Brand new! Includes overnight shipping.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Personally I love the way our shifter feels in our B8 S4. It definitely gives you that "mechanical" feel you are looking for and a nice "thunk" when rowing through the gears.

Does so very effortlessly as well.

Jason

[torinalth]

agreed on the ECS. super smooth. great decision, just don't get set on the shortest height and throw, I didn't like the feel, so I backed it out a bit on each and am happier with the feel.

[Lensch09]

Or, look into the company who started their entire business by making shifters for Audis: JHM

To build an entire business around something as small as a short-shifter, speaks to the fact that they don't mess around with shifters.

Between the short-throw that I have from JHM, along with their "solid linkage" setup, I have a VERY precise/mechanical feel. I LOVE it to death.


https://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catal...-on-p-612.html

https://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catal...=21_56_273_279

Not only is the quality on point with JHM, but looks like their shifter is about $15 cheaper than the ECS as well. Only difference is that ECS throws in free shipping. I'd almost bet that if you call JHM, they will match the free shipping deal on a shifter (shifters come in a small bag/box and shipping is a bit of a moot point).

I've heard of reliability issues with EuroCodes transmission related products. When one fails, I've read they often blame the installer, and will not even open it up to discussion. I myself had to wait nearly 3 months for EuroCode swaybars that I bought and paid for, with no mention of out of stock... So, there's that too.

Trust me when I say you won't regret working with JHM. Great guys with the products to match.

-DL

[torinalth]

a lot of people like JHM, but several situations found on here relegates them to the same category as RocEuro: good parts, but questionable customer service. ECS is always late to the party, but always has good changes to the product and unbeatable CS.

[MrFunk]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of these choices.
I love my Eurocode SS and recommend it often. My friend with a 10' S4 drove mine after I installed it and purchased one for himself that very day. I've had it installed a couple years now with no issue and it has a great gated mechanical feel. I'll go as far as saying it's the most satisfying feeling shifter I have used in any MT car I've driven.

I haven't tried the ECS or JHM shifters. If you can get a deal on any of them then that should be your deciding factor.

[SteveYem]

I have the Eurocode shifter and am pretty happy with it. I'll say that it feels very good in warmer and more humid ambient conditions, whereas it can feel less cushioned and feel/sound more clunky in colder and/or dryer ambient conditions. In extremely cold ambient conditions (less than ~20 degrees F) the reverse spring can get bound up requiring me to manually lift the shift knob up to put it in gear, but Eurocode did make a change to the design of the lower reverse spring mount/collar which supposedly solves that problem. [I bought the collar but did not get around to installing it yet].

That being said, based on the few ECS products I have purchased and their great quality, I cannot imagine their short shifter being a bad choice, but I've never tried one so I don't really know. It is a fair bit less expensive than Eurocode while appearing to have similar build quality and design geometry, and as always I'm sure ECS customer service would be excellent in case of any questions or problems.

[bakedziti]

I could be incorrect, but I seem to recall that the Eurocode short shifter requires disassembly to be lubed at some sort of interval, but the ECS short shifter contains a closed bearing system that doesn't need to be lubed.

[fitzydude]

good parts, but questionable customer service

Absolutely incorrect statement about JHM, those guys go above and beyond. They won't just blame the installer too :)

[SteveYem]

I could be incorrect, but I seem to recall that the Eurocode short shifter requires disassembly to be lubed at some sort of interval, but the ECS short shifter contains a closed bearing system that doesn't need to be lubed.

That is true (per ECS' advertising), but keep in mind that many/most Eurocode shifter owners will tell you that they have been using the shifter for ~2+ years without ever having to service the spherical bearing.

[xuandatou]

You can't go wrong with any of the three.

Been running with Eurocode SS for my 13' S5 for more than 3 years without any issues, love dat "virgin tight" feeling

Had JHM SS installed for my B5 S4 about 2 years ago and couldn't be happier since then

No matter which way you end up going with, make sure you also consider the following three add-ons:
Save yourself some $ on labor and enjoy the ultimate shifting experience !

1. JHM Weighter Shift Knob:
https://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catal...21_276_277_280

[IMG]IMG_3523 by Da Tou, on Flickr[/IMG]


[IMG]IMG_3529 by Da Tou, on Flickr[/IMG]


2. JHM Solid Shift Linkage:
https://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catal...=21_56_273_279

[IMG]L1019686 by Da Tou, on Flickr[/IMG]


[IMG]L1019713 by Da Tou, on Flickr[/IMG]


3. USP Stainless Steel Clutch Lines:
http://www.uspmotorsports.com/Audi--...and-A5-S5.html

[lexcruiser]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the feedback..! Cost is a consideration, but I don't mind paying more to get exactly what I want.. Buy once cry once and all that..
May have to hit up a local meet one of these days to see if I can check out someone's SS in person.
Will keep you guys posted. Thanks again.

[ModItNow]

Thanks for the recommendations for the add ons! Added the jhm shift linkage to my ecs short shifter install for tomorrow. I'll report back with my experience. Definitely need the clutch line but I'll do that another time.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Audizine mobile app

[ModItNow]

Got the jhm shift linkage and ecs shifter installed today. The feeling shifting into every gear is awesome and so much more precise. Even more fun to drive. Love it!

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[xuandatou]

Got the jhm shift linkage and ecs shifter installed today. The feeling shifting into every gear is awesome and so much more precise. Even more fun to drive. Love it!

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

Great !

Can't wait to get mine installed tomorrow !

Will probably upload some pics and short videos !

[ModItNow]

Great !

Can't wait to get mine installed tomorrow !

Will probably upload some pics and short videos !

Awesome, you will really like it.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[lexcruiser]

Got the jhm shift linkage and ecs shifter installed today. The feeling shifting into every gear is awesome and so much more precise. Even more fun to drive. Love it!

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

Nice! Can you describe the shift feel? "Gated" like on the R8?

[ModItNow]

I'm not sure what an R8 feels like but yes gated. There is no side to side movement at all. You can feel the shifter suck you into gears so you know it's in gear. Feels really nice and confident. Keep in mind I replaced the shift linkage too but I don't think it makes the shifter feel different, I think it is just much more durable and can take more abuse.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Thanks for the orders! Glad those with our shifter installed are loving it!

Jason

[lexcruiser]

Just a quick update:

I ended up going with neither of the original choices and instead went with a full JHM setup (short shifter, solid linkage and weighted shift knob).
In general I'm really liking it but it wasn't what I expected based on all the comments. Some observations after 1+ weeks -

- Was expecting the throws to be shorter (asked shop to use the shortest setting) and the shifting itself to be "tighter."
- It feels really smooth but I wouldn't describe it as firm or tight. This is the main thing that bugs me a bit. Is something off with the components or the install?
- The weight knob definitely drops it into gear so loving that.
- This is my first short shifter so I've no basis for comparison..

Decided to also take a video of the throws (you can see there's side to side movement while in gear).. For those who have a similar setup, can you comment if this is similar to what your shifting is like?

[Lensch09]

Just a quick update:

I ended up going with neither of the original choices and instead went with a full JHM setup (short shifter, solid linkage and weighted shift knob).
In general I'm really liking it but it wasn't what I expected based on all the comments. Some observations after 1+ weeks -

- Was expecting the throws to be shorter (asked shop to use the shortest setting) and the shifting itself to be "tighter."
- It feels really smooth but I wouldn't describe it as firm or tight. This is the main thing that bugs me a bit. Is something off with the components or the install?
- The weight knob definitely drops it into gear so loving that.
- This is my first short shifter so I've no basis for comparison..

Decided to also take a video of the throws (you can see there's side to side movement while in gear).. For those who have a similar setup, can you comment if this is similar to what your shifting is like?

I would have to sit in your car to determine if it feels different than mine. But, it looks right to me. I still have the stock knob, and it DEFINITELY feels firm and crisp on my setup (same as yours). Maybe the weighted shift-knob gives it a different feel?

Regardless, I'm still glad I did it.
-DL

[SteveYem]

I would have to sit in your car to determine if it feels different than mine. But, it looks right to me. I still have the stock knob, and it DEFINITELY feels firm and crisp on my setup (same as yours). Maybe the weighted shift-knob gives it a different feel?

Regardless, I'm still glad I did it.
-DL

I think you are onto it. The heavier the shift knob, the less effort the driver has to put in to push the shift lever into gear....the increased weight of the knob on the end of the lever does some more of the work for you. Depending on how much heavier than stock the knob is, the resulting feel might be less effort to engage gears than was required with the stock setup.

[rulaxin12]

I went with Eurocode and lowered it to the lowest setting and shortest throw. It feels immensely different than stock. It provides a real nice thunking feel/sound when you shift. Makes rowing through gears much more engaging. After a couple months, I added all the eurocode transmission mounts. Do yourself a favor and add those while you're at it. Really makes the transmission feel super tight to the drivetrain. It almost makes the car feel more rear biased, and there's never the 1-2 clunk that sometimes happens when shifting lazily.

[Lensch09]

I think you are onto it. The heavier the shift knob, the less effort the driver has to put in to push the shift lever into gear....the increased weight of the knob on the end of the lever does some more of the work for you. Depending on how much heavier than stock the knob is, the resulting feel might be less effort to engage gears than was required with the stock setup.

Kinda what I was thinking. More of a pendulum effect.

-DL

[ModItNow]

Just a quick update:

I ended up going with neither of the original choices and instead went with a full JHM setup (short shifter, solid linkage and weighted shift knob).
In general I'm really liking it but it wasn't what I expected based on all the comments. Some observations after 1+ weeks -

- Was expecting the throws to be shorter (asked shop to use the shortest setting) and the shifting itself to be "tighter."
- It feels really smooth but I wouldn't describe it as firm or tight. This is the main thing that bugs me a bit. Is something off with the components or the install?
- The weight knob definitely drops it into gear so loving that.
- This is my first short shifter so I've no basis for comparison..

Decided to also take a video of the throws (you can see there's side to side movement while in gear).. For those who have a similar setup, can you comment if this is similar to what your shifting is like?

I have the ecs with shift linkage and I don't have any play in first and second gear. I do have some play in the rest of the gears though, it started about 4 or 5 after installing it. I have a oem sift knob.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Audizine mobile app

[lexcruiser]

Thanks guys. It's likely as you say, the weighted shift knob is making the shifts much easier (not a bad thing) when at first I expected more "tightness/effort" with the solid linkage.
I checked JHM's website and their shift knob is about 10x heavier (~1.6lbs) than the stock knob. :-)

[Jake@JHM]

Just a quick update:

I ended up going with neither of the original choices and instead went with a full JHM setup (short shifter, solid linkage and weighted shift knob).
In general I'm really liking it but it wasn't what I expected based on all the comments. Some observations after 1+ weeks -

- Was expecting the throws to be shorter (asked shop to use the shortest setting) and the shifting itself to be "tighter."
- It feels really smooth but I wouldn't describe it as firm or tight. This is the main thing that bugs me a bit. Is something off with the components or the install?
- The weight knob definitely drops it into gear so loving that.
- This is my first short shifter so I've no basis for comparison..

Decided to also take a video of the throws (you can see there's side to side movement while in gear).. For those who have a similar setup, can you comment if this is similar to what your shifting is like?

Hard to say without feeling it.

We ship it in the shortest setting, so maybe the put it in the other setting thinking it was the opposite? The shifter + Linkage is a HUGE difference. Shifter adjustment also plays into what gears feel tight vs sloppy as well.